Kenealy honored with Ralph Keeling Leadership Award
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
simmet@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 08/02/2012 2:06 PM
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INDEPENDENCE, Iowa — Recently retired Iowa State University animal science professor M. Douglas Kenealy, forte is working with students..
"I've enjoyed all the things I've done with the dairy industry, but advising and teaching students was really what I was meant to do," said Kenealy. "To all my students in the audience and those in other places, you're what made me who I am."
The Iowa State Dairy Association honored Kenealy as one of two recipients of its 2012 Ralph Keeling Leadership Award at the Dairy Iowa meeting at the Heartland Agribition Center in Independence.
The selection committee also chose Wayne Dykshorn, a dairy farmer from Ireton, for the award. Dykshorn was recognized at the June Dairy Month Proclamation Signing at the Iowa Capitol.
Kenealy received a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science and a PhD in Animal Nutrition and Physiology from ISU. In 1975 he was hired by ISU's Animal Science Department to advise undergraduates in dairy science and teach animal nutrition and introductory animal science.
Over the past 37 years, Kenealy taught and advised more than 15,000 students. He taught two to four courses per semester and served as academic advisor to between 50 and 90 undergraduates.He was sought out for co-curricular advising to numerous clubs and events, including Ag Council, Block and Bridle Club and spent 36 years as the adviser to the Dairy Science Club.
Kenealy was named professor-in-charge of dairy science and section leader for animal science teaching.
Kenealy and his wife, Carol, reside in Ames. They have two children, Sean, who lives in Austin, Texas, and Shannon, who lives near San Diego with her husband and two children, Elise and Steven Douglas.
The Ralph Keeling Leadership Award is given in honor of the late Ralph Keeling. Keeling operated a successful dairy farm and business, devoting much of his time and talents to help the progress of Iowa's dairy industry.