February 15, 1941 – May 5, 2023
Bruce Hull, DVM, DACVS, of Westerville, OH, passed away on May 5, 2023, after a short struggle with Parkinson’s. He was 82. Dr. Hull served on the ACVS Board of Regents and as ACVS president in 1995. In 2017, he received the ACVS Foundation Legends Award for his dedication and contributions to veterinary surgery.
Dr. Hull was born on February 15, 1941, to A. Lansing and Esther Hull in Albany, NY. After graduating from Ravena-Coeymans High School, he attended Cornell University and received his veterinary degree in 1965. He later achieved his master’s degree from Iowa State University in 1971.
He loved his time on Ralph and Joyce Hull’s dairy farm, which ignited his passion for animals and led to his successful veterinary career. Dr. Hull was very involved with Boy Scouts and achieved the Eagle rank. His hard work ethic was developed in the family business of the Ravena Diner. Helping at Nancy’s Restaurant in Columbus brought back fond memories of his childhood experience at the diner. Patrons referred to him as “Doc.”
He was briefly employed in private practice before being called into the Army where he served at Fort Hood, TX, as a food safety inspector. After completing his service, he moved to Iowa where he started his teaching career at Iowa State University.
Dr. Hull moved to The Ohio State University and continued to teach and mentor countless students where he retired as a professor emeritus in 2004. He wrote more than 70 articles and co-authored a textbook where his revolutionary technique on displaced abomasum repair is still practiced today. He was a professor and department head of veterinary clinical sciences–food animal medicine and surgery. For many years, he was an advisor for the Omega Tau Sigma veterinary fraternity.
He was recognized as an OSU Honorary Distinguished Alumnus in 2022. OSU students awarded him with the Outstanding Teacher Award (classes of 1977 and 1978). He also received the National Gamma Award, Clinical Teaching Awards, and more. He received multiple awards from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, including the Alpharma Award of Excellence and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Mentor of the Year.
Dr. Hull met his first wife Karen Bruner while studying at Cornell; they married in 1965 and had two daughters (Kristina and Kimberly). He later married fellow veterinarian Margaret Mitchell of Saskatchewan, Canada, in 2001. He was a devoted father and grandfather. He attended countless sporting events, music concerts, and plays. He was a teacher throughout his life and taught his children and grandchildren about household repairs, woodworking, and animal care. Bruce showed his love of family and community by plowing snow, making bread and meals, and including out of town students in holidays meals.
Veterinary opportunities allowed him to travel all over the world. He had speaking engagements in South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and Europe. He enjoyed taking his family to Outer Banks, NC, and loved walking on the beach. He also enjoyed traveling to Boundary Waters, MN, and visiting family and former students. Bruce and Margaret enjoyed their travels to many locations, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Italy, UK, France, Galapagos Islands, South Africa, and Alaska.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Bruce L. Hull Food Animal Student Fund # 643334, Office of Advancement, Veterinary Medicine Academic Building, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210.
