Hondo Veterinary Hospital: A Texas Heritage PracticeThe Hondo, Texas, clinic has served the surrounding communities for 75 years

摘要

Valdina Orphan crossed the finish line in third place at the Kentucky Derby on May 2,1942. Dr. E. Floyd Kelley, Texas A&M University Class of 1939, had bottle-raised the orphan horse after its mother died shortly after birth. He likely thought that his career as an elite equine veterinarian at the famed Valdi-na Farms, which straddled the Uvalde and Medina County line, was firmly established. Unfortunately, his boss, Mr. E.F. Woodward, who was also the owner of the farm, died one year later along with Mrs. Woodward when their car was crushed by a train at a railroad crossing in D'Hanis, Texas. The Woodwards' grandson, Robert Woodward, inherited the large estate and put an end to the Valdina Farms racing interests along with Dr. Kelley's first job out of veterinary school. At a time when the world was at war and his job had vanished in the blink of an eye, one can imagine the rising panic and bewilderment Dr. Kelley felt as he had to adjust to his new reality. According to Mrs. Jill Kelley, Dr. Kel-ley's daughter-in-law, Medina County had no veterinarian at the time. Therefore, Dr. Kelley took an obvious option and started Hondo Veterinary Hospital in 1943. The hospital operated out of a small commercial building on the town square in Hondo acrossfrom the county courthouse. In addition to the hospital, Dr. Kelley also operated a small compounding pharmacy. He formulated and mixed many of his own drugs and sold them to the public. He retained his love of horses and became well-known throughout thearea as a wonderful horseman. He worked by himself for 20 years until 1962, when Dr. Judge Sandusky, A&M Class of i960, took over the practice. Dr. Kelley remained in Hondo until his death at the age of 91.