In his career Dr. Doane was instrumental in revising animal science courses and curriculum, and, demonstrated his leadership and innovation as a teacher in developing laboratory manuals. As an extension specialist, Dr. Doane developed new approaches and concepts and helped establish the Nebraska Sheep Council. When asked what he enjoyed most about his career, Ted says, “I enjoyed everything. Everything. I can’t hardly recall a bad day.”
Ted Doane is a good shepherd.
Whether we're talking about sheep, young (and some of us not-so-young) people, curriculum, committees or organizations, Ted has watched over and looked out-for so many over the years. He has tended, led, herded, and brought his flocks safely home, and he's still doing so today. I first became aware of Ted through my father-in-law, Wilbur Pauley. Wilbur was one of not that many sheep producers in the state. He thought highly of Ted. Before I go any further, let me also thank Alice Doane for all she has done for the students of this university.
It is such an honor tonight for me to present this tribute to Ted, my colleague and friend who has contributed so greatly to Nebraska and its people, and who has enjoyed it all. I know that's true because when you ask Ted what he enjoyed most about his distinguished career the answer comes swiftly. "I enjoyed everything," he says. "Everything. I can't hardly recall a bad day."
While Ted officially retired from the university in 1996, he, along with his wife Alice, continue to make many, many contributions to our state, our land-grant university, and Nebraska agriculture. Dr. Doane grew up – well, let me rephrase that. When you ask Ted where he grew up, he grins and says, "I never did."
So, let's just say that while the growing up part remains debated, Ted was born and raised on a farm six miles south of Fairview, Oklahoma, a farm that remains in the family today. He doesn't remember a time that animals weren't part of his life – sheep, cattle, hogs, chickens, all are part of his earliest memories. Various animals have been part of his teaching, too, although he is most known for his work with sheep.
His flock of sheep put him through college at Oklahoma A&M, where he graduated in 1952. He worked in the sheep barn there while attending college, and at Kansas State University, where he received his master's degree in 1953.
Then it was off to the Army. Upon discharge in 1955 he joined the University of Nebraska as an extension educator – then extension agent – in Dawson County. He moved to Lincoln in the fall of 1956 as a University of Nebraska-Lincoln animal science extension specialist. Except for the time he spent at K-State earning his Ph.D. in 1959, this was the base of Dr. Doane's career until he retired in 1996.
As a teacher and extension specialist who also did some research, Dr. Doane touched so many lives, advising nearly 1,200 students and teaching over 10,000. Students often noted Dr. Doane made a special effort to get to know them, and to help them in every way possible. My wife, Jane, was one of Ted's unofficial advisees. She had an official adviser by the name of Dale Flowerday, but when she needed guidance with classes or Block and Bridle activities, she turned to Ted.
Yes, Ted Doane is a good shepherd.
In addition, there are the younger youth he worked with in 4-H and FFA. Ted was a 4-H club leader for 20 years and worked with youth at county and state fairs and Ak-Sar-Ben for decades.
There also are the college student clubs and professional organizations of teaching and livestock colleagues he has shepherded. He and Alice established the Doane Undergraduate Scholarship here in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, which is awarded annually to help an animal science student attend college.
When the winter 12-week Japanese Agricultural Training Program began on East Campus in 1967, Dr. Doane was one of the lead teachers for that new program, along with his usual teaching load, and served as a lead teacher until 1972. After retiring from the university, in 1997 he returned to the program as teacher and then program coordinator, which he did through 2007. In the intervening years, between 1972 and 1997, Ted worked occasionally with the program, and he and Alice hosted more than 40 of the 1,400 students who came through the program over the years, serving as home while the students were in Nebraska.
In 1964-1966, Ted and Alice spent two years at Ataturk University in Turkey, and in the 1970s, two years at Kabul University in Afghanistan, lending their expertise to university teaching and extension programs. They've led student study tours to Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, England, Morocco and Ecuador. We think it's likely Ted's was the first study tour curriculum on East Campus; we know for certain that whether he and Alice were shepherding Nebraska students only, as they did on their first study abroad tours, or the combinations of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa students who came later, it was always with an interest in broadening students' experiences and understanding. I have seen pictures of one of those study abroad adventures. Looks like they had a good time.
When it comes to awards, it's hard to corral all those that have come Ted's way but let me give you some highlights.
Not only did he receive the UNL Distinguished Teaching Award, Dr. Doane also received the Parents of Students Teaching Award four times, as well as the Gamma Sigma Delta Teaching Award of Merit. He was named the L.K. Crowe Outstanding Student Advisor in the College, received the Walnut Grove Livestock Service Award, the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Fellow Award, The CASNR Alumni Association Legacy Award and the Doc Elliott Award from the UNL Alumni Association, and the Award of Merit from the Nebraska Agriculture Youth Council.
Now there's this great honor we celebrate tonight as Ted is one of two 2013 honorees in the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. This is such a well-deserved honor, as it is for NHAA's co-honoree, Keith Olsen. My heartiest congratulations to you as well, Keith.
In his career Dr. Doane taught 12 different courses, was instrumental in revising animal science courses and curriculum, and, when assigned to teach a new course called Animal Management, helped make it one of the most popular courses in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. At one time, about 2/3 of CASNR undergrads took that class.
His teaching assignments included "Introduction to Animal Science," and he demonstrated his leadership and innovation as a teacher in molding that course, which included developing a laboratory manual that was used at several other institutions, as well. He strengthened the sheep production course as one of the first in the Animal Science Department to include hands-on laboratory sessions dealing with practical animal management techniques. He was a leader in developing sheep marketing and record-keeping programs for computers.
As an extension specialist Dr. Doane developed a number of new approaches and concepts and helped lead establishing the Nebraska Sheep Council. He conducted schools for training sheep shearers and added Angora goat production to his extension portfolio.
Ted advised Block and Bridle Club, was a member of the Undergraduate Committee, the Faculty Advisory Committee, the Coalition of Animal Welfare Guidelines Committee, and the Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado High Plains Sheep Symposium.
He chaired the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, was an advisor for the Nebraska Registered Sheep Association, director of the Nebraska Ram Test Stations, and superintendent of the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Sheep Show for 33 years and State Fair 4-H Sheep Show more than 30 years.
Ted is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Zeta, and the National Association of College Teachers in Agriculture. He and Alice, who were married in 1954, have two daughters, Bonnie Lemke, a farmer near Walton, and Amy Kica, who works in the psychology department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Ted, thank you for all you have done on behalf of Nebraska agriculture. From 4-H youth through our college students and Nebraska producers you have provided so much knowledge, touched so many lives, and made so many contributions for a better Nebraska and a better world. You, Ted Doane, are a very good shepherd. We thank you.
