June 19, 2002
AMES, Iowa - Solon A. (Bud) Ewing, a longtime leader in animal science at Iowa State University, died of septicemia on June 19 in Ames. He was 71.
Ewing joined the ISU faculty in 1958, and remained at ISU with the exception of four years, 1964 to 1968, when he taught at Oklahoma State University, his alma mater. From 1968 to 1973, he was assistant director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. Ewing served as the head of ISU's Department of Animal Science from 1973 to 1992.
"Bud Ewing's unique leadership style allowed him to develop the department to the stage that it is recognized as one of the top animal science departments in the nation and the world," said Richard William, distinguished professor emeritus of animal science.
"His efforts in developing value-added product processing and marketing, systems analyses and computer applications for refined management decisions in animal production and marketing, and molecular biology have benefited all of Iowa animal agriculture," said Willham.
After stepping down as department head, Ewing continued to teach and conduct research and became professor emeritus in 1997. In 1999, he published a textbook on animal welfare, stress physiology and related influences.
During his tenure as head of animal science, Ewing provided leadership in the development of several research and teaching facilities on campus to serve students and the livestock industry. They included the Meat Laboratory, the Meat Export Research Center, the Swine Nutrition and Management Research Center, the Iowa Livestock Extension Initiative, the Linear Accelerator Facility and the National Swine Research and Information Center.
Ewing's many honors include the Animal Science Hall of Fame Award, the Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit for Distinguished Services to Agriculture, the Iowa Cattleman's Hall of Fame Award, the ISU Faculty Citation, Distinguished Graduate in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University, Honorary Master Pork Producer, and a Fellow of the American Society of Animal Science.
He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Ames and served on the Friends of University Museums Council, the Northcrest Retirement Community Board and the Iowa Barn Foundation Board.
Ewing was born July 21, 1930, in Jackson County, Oklahoma. He graduated from Headrick, Okla., High School and earned a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry in 1952 from Oklahoma State University. He married Dorothy Folks in 1952. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1954. Ewing returned to Oklahoma State University and earned his master's degree in swine nutrition in 1956 and his Ph.D. in beef cattle nutrition in 1958. In 1958, the Ewings moved to Ames, where he joined the faculty of Iowa State, teaching beef nutrition research.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Ann Ewing of Stillwater, Okla., and Linda Schmatz of Prairie Village, Kansas; four grandchildren; and a brother, Burnice (Bill) Ewing of Owasso, Okla.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m., Friday, June 21, at Adams Funeral Home in Ames. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 22, at the First Baptist Church, Ames. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be specified to the Ewing Animal Science Scholarship. Contributions are payable to, and may be sent to, the Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 Elwood Drive, Ames, IA 50014.