The Dr. Merle L. Ruth Henrikson Scholarship
Ruth M. Henrikson, Emporia, Kansas, recently established a scholarship to benefit students enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine through the KSU Foundation. The Dr. Merle L. and Ruth M. Henrikson Scholarship will honor the lives of both Ruth and her late husband. The recipient of the award will be a senior veterinary student who has an interest in pursuing a career in a mixed practice. Preference will be given to students from Lyon, Greenwood, Chase and Coffey counties in the state of Kansas, close to Emporia. "Our family has three generations of veterinarians: Merle and his brother, Keith; our sons, Duane and Warren; and our grandson, Todd. Our granddaughter, Sarah, is currently a junior veterinary student at K-State," Ruth said. "I just wanted to do something to help students complete their veterinary training." Dr. Henrikson was raised on a farm near Concordia, Kansas and completed a doctor of medicine degree from K-State in the spring of 1939. He married Ruth Jones, an Emporia native, in November of that same year. They had met four years prior in a doctor's office where Ruth worked as a medical technician. The couple has two sons and one daughter. Ruth chose to stay home with their three children throughout their high school years. She returned to work once all three children were in college. Duane, the eldest, and Warren, the youngest, followed in their father's footsteps by completing professional veterinary degrees in 1967 and 1972, respectively. Marilee earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1968. After graduating from K-State, Dr. Henrikson opened Emporia Veterinary Hospital as the sole owner. He interrupted his practice from 1942-1946 to serve as a Captain and Major in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corp. In 1951 he hired his first partner, Dr. Irwin Collinge (DVM '51). The mixed animal practice typically had four or five practitioners on staff, all of whom have been K-State graduates. Duane and Warren joined their father's team shortly after graduating from veterinary school. Dr. Henrikson's veterinary career in Emporia spanned 52 years. He retired in 1989. Dr. Henrikson, who is described as
"just a good guy" by his wife, assumed an active position within his
community and profession. He was active within Boy Scouts of America and
Rotary International. He served as President of the Board of Education
for the Emporia public school district from 1954 to 1962 and served as
Mayor of Emporia in 1968. He also served a four-year term on the City
Commission. The Kansas Veterinary Medical Association honored Dr.
Henrikson as Veterinarian of the Year in 1957, and he received the
association's Distinguished Service Award in 1971. He served as
President of the KVMA in 1958 and served as a National Delegate for 12
years. He also was a member of the board of examiners, the State Board
of Health and the K-State Alumni Board of Directors. The K-State College
of Veterinary Medicine awarded Dr. Henrikson the Distinguished Service
Award in 1973. He passed away in September of 1990. |
