Obituary for Dr. Ken D. Dorris Dr. Ken D. Dorris June 9, 1933 – November 24, 2018 Services for Dr. Kenneth D. Dorris, Sr., 85 will be held at 2 PM Thursday, November 29, at Cowboy Church of Erath County with Werth Mayes officiating. Burial will follow at West End Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8pm Wednesday, Nov 28 at Stephenville Funeral Home.
Ken was born on June 9, 1933 in Fort Worth, Tx. to the late Paul Dean and Mattie Sockwell Dorris. Ken is known for his passion of veterinary practice, horses, rodeo, Texas A&M, Tarleton State University, love of family and friends, and the western way of life.
He graduated from Arlington Heights High School – Class of 1951. After high school he attended Tarleton State College for one year before being drafted into the Armed Forces of the United State during the Korean War. At Tarleton, he was a member of the Army R.O.T.C.
, National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association representing Tarleton State College. He was also a member and competed in RCA sanctioned rodeos. On June 26, 1954, Ken married his high school sweetheart Virginia Alexander.
They started their family while being stationed at Camp Chaffee, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Completing active duty, Ken returned to Tarleton and earned an Associate of Science degree in 1957. He then attended Texas A&M University earning his Bachelor of Science in 1960 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1964.
After graduation, Dr. Dorris practiced for 1 year in Ft. Worth before returning to Stephenville to pursue a large animal practice. He opened Dorris Veterinary Hospital in 1968.
During those years he lovingly raised his family, volunteered and actively supported his community. Dr. Dorris was an active member of the Erath County Livestock Association, the North Texas Veterinary Medical Association, and lifetime member of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, having served as president of each organization. He coordinated the effort recognize Tarleton Rodeo athletes through scholarship funding, establishing the TSU Rodeo Committee.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 267 in Stephenville, the Scottish Rite and the Mozlah Shrine in Fort Worth. In 1979, Dr. Dorris accepted a request from TSU to teach several classes for graduate students.
This turned into a 16 year commitment of teaching a class on Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals to support the Pre-Vet curriculum. Dr. Dorris served on the TSU President’s Commission from 1982 to 1990 under Pres. Barry B. Thompson.
In 1983, Texas Governor Mark White appointed Dr. Dorris to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. He served as Vice President in 1986. That same year he was appointed to the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Dr. Dorris was actively involved in the passage of legislation to enhance animal health standards and the eradication of communicable diseases. Dr. Dorris owned Dorris Veterinary Hospital in Stephenville for 44 years, until his retirement in 2010. Together, he and wife Virginia, were instrumental in the creation of the “Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame”.
Dr. Dorris was inducted into the Tarleton State University Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2012. Dr. Dorris is survived by wife Virginia, daughter Debbie of Stephenville, son Ken Dorris and wife Julie of Ft. Worth, three grandchildren, Katherine Dorris, Caroline Dorris, and William Dorris, sister, Patsy Hale of Cadwell, Georgia and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Tarleton State University Dr. Ken Dorris Fund, Box T-0260 Stephenville, Tx 76402. To send flowers to the family of Dr. Ken D. Dorris, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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