Dr. Allison was born September 4, 1927 near Ballinger, Texas to Edward Allison and Krehbiel Flanagan Allison. He attended Ballinger Elementary School and San Angelo High School. After graduation, he entered Texas A & M University. In 1945 his college education was interrupted by the Korean War where he served as Staff Sargent in the U. S. Army Signal Corps in Yung Dung Po, Korea until 1948. He returned to Texas A & M where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine.
He entered private practice in Montgomery County, Kansas where he operated two clinics for a number of years. In 1971 he established a pork production consulting practice, consulting throughout the United States and in numerous countries including Haiti, Nigeria, Mexico, Costa Rica and Malaysia. He and wife, Hazel established and operated several businesses including Allison Enterprises, Applied Swine Research, Osage Pork Farm and Midwest Veterinary Supply.
“Doc” Allison, as he was known, was very active in professional and civic organizations. He was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Society of Animal Science and co-founder of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants, serving as president and on the board of directors. He was a charter member of the International Society of Agricultural Consultants, the International Society of Preventative Medicine, Society of Theriogenology, Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association and North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. He attended the first Congress of the International Pig Veterinary Society at Kings College in Cambridge, England. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Career Education Coop, Southeast Kansas Vocational Farm and Ranch Institute and served as Agricultural Advisor to the President Ford Campaign. Dr. Allison was listed in Who’s Who in America, International Directory of Biographies and received many awards. He published many articles in his field of expertise.
While in practice, Dr. Allison served as chairman of the Ralph Mitchell Zoo and Riverside Park Board and was the official zoo veterinarian. During his tenure, he was the veterinarian for Miss Abel, a monkey at the zoo who was selected as the first monkey to travel in outer space.
Dr. and Mrs. Allison resided in Independence, Kansas until 1992 when he and Mrs. Allison relocated to Corsicana, Texas. In 2008, upon retirement, they moved to Greenwood, Arkansas where he was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Dr. Allison was preceded in death by his brother, John Allison; father, Edward Allison; mother, Krebiel Greenwood and stepfather, Leslie Greenwood. He leaves his wife, Hazel and four children and their spouses; Cynthia Ann Thomas (Larry) of Robert E. Lee, Texas, Donna Goldstein (Joel) of Greenwood, Arkansas, Layne Allison of Greenwood, Arkansas and James E. Allison, Jr. (Paula) of Dumas, Texas. He is also survived by a sister, Lorene Allison of Ballinger, Texas, grandchildren, Kresta Thomas, O’Neal Thomas, Allison Woods Frederick, Jodie Popp, Sherie Shaw, Melissa Dunn, Patrick Allison, Brandi Joseph and Jami Allison and numerous great grand-children.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Dr. Allison’s memory may direct them to Friends of Riverside Park and Zoo (FORPAZ), P. O. Box 9, Independence, Kansas 67301.
