Tom was born on Dec 26th 1924 in Pueblo Colorado. He was the fourth of six children of Arthur Clay McChesney II and Francis Lillian Cadwell McChesney. He is survived by his brother John Hardin McChesney of Lake Tahoe CA.
Tom graduated from Trinidad High School, then attended Colorado State University graduating with a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1944 as did his three brothers Art, John and Al McChesney. He was then commissioned in the Army. Tom married Barbara Jane Turner of Center Co in 1944, they were married for 76 yrs, Barbara passed away on Nov 4, 2020. They had two children Thomas Sharp McChesney DVM who passed away on Jan 14, 2004 and Sharon McChesney Gillette DVM PhD of Ft Collins Co. He is also survived by daughter in law Connie Van Meter DVM of Carefree Az and her three sons Thomas McChesney of Huntington Beach Ca, Billy McChesney of Wellington Co and Mike McChesney of Ft Collins Co. He also had two Great Grandchildren Colton and June McChesney, children of Mike McChesney and Savanna Zitek. Tom served 30 years in the Army Veterinary Corps reaching the rank of Colonel. He served in Korea and Vietnam. Tom was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Meritorious Service medal, Legion of Merit award and two Oak Leaf clusters. He had enjoyable tours of duty in Hawaii where his son was born and in Puerto Rico a paradise for golfing and horse racing. After discharge from the Army in 1976 he became the director of the state meat inspection program for the Arkansas Dept. of Health, becoming Chief of Veterinary Public Health in 1980. In 1985 he became the state epidemiologist responsible for monitoring communicable diseases and environmental exposures in the state. After 27 yrs. in Arkansas he and Barbara returned to Ft Collins, Co to be near family. Tom’s passions were golf, gardening and horseracing. A perfect Saturday would be golfing in the morning and an afternoon at the races. He owned many racehorses over the years and made many lasting friendships through racing and golf.
Contributions may be made to Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, DVM Class of 1944 Scholarship Endowment (42515) in memory of Dr. Thomas McChesney. To give online go to colostate.edu be sure to select the fund 42515.
Funeral Service is 11:00am Thursday, January 7, 2021 at Allnutt Drake Chapel. Interment will be in Fort Logan National Cemetery on Friday, January 8, 2021.
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