Lloyd Dale Van Vleck

Dale was born on June 11, 1933. He grew up near Clearwater,

Nebraska on his family farm. Dale earned his bachelor’s (1954) and master’s (1955)

degrees from the University of Nebraska prior to serving in the U.S. Army Chemical

Corps. He then continued his education at Cornell University, where he earned his

Ph.D. in 1960, working with Dr. Charles Henderson. Continuing his career at Cornell,

he served as a research geneticist prior to a tenure-track position in which he was

promoted through the ranks earning full professorship in 1973. While a student, he

married Dolores (Dee) who would be his wife of 55 years (d. 2013). Along with his

career, he also built his family, which included daughter Elizabeth, son John, and later

his granddaughter, Audrey.

Dale’s first retirement was in 1988, when he left Cornell and became a research

geneticist with the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. His

position included an appointment as professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Although his second official retirement was in 2007, he never truly retired. Until COVID,

he continued to go to the office daily and actively contribute to both research and

student training. He persistently investigated new ideas related to animal breeding,

asked insightful questions at student seminars, and kept a stockpile of Little Debbie

snack cakes.

Known for developing pioneering methods that improved and expedited animal

evaluation, his greatest legacy is through his training of young scientists. Dale formally

advised 52 Ph.D. and 39 M.S. students, and 77 research associates. Over half of these

mentees came from one of 33 countries outside of the U.S. His memory was

unmatched – he could recall not only details about scientific studies, but of each of his

student’s interests, the grade they earned in the courses he taught, and their career

paths. He continued correspondence with many long after their training was complete.

Dr. Van Vleck’s body of work was remarkable, comprising 14 books (including “The

Green Book”), 11 book chapters, 376 peer-reviewed publications, and 377 proceedings

and abstracts. Although he was never one to brag, the list of awards Dr. Van Vleck

earned is long, including recognition as a Fellow of the American Society of Animal

Science (1999), Beef Improvement Federation Pioneer Award (2002), the ASAS

Morrison Award (2005), and induction into the ARS Science Hall of Fame (2010).

Dale was generous, kind, brilliant, and humble. He will be missed.

In lieu of flowers to the Dee and Dale Fellowship Fund c/o The University of Nebraska Foundation or through the Animal Science Department, or to favorite wildlife or nature conservancy organizations.

Services will be at a later date.