Articles: Horse News
Dr. Dee Ellis Selected to Take Reins of Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
Contact:
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242,
ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
Veterinarian Dee Ellis of Rockdale has been named as Texas new state
veterinarian and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission
(TAHC), the states livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. Dr. Ellis
will replace Dr. Bob Hillman, who will retire December 31 after serving in
livestock and poultry health leadership capacities for more than three
decades and as Texas state veterinarian nearly seven years. The 13
governor-appointed TAHC commissioners, representing the public, livestock
and poultry industries, announced the selection of Dr. Ellis at the TAHC
commission meeting in Austin Tuesday, December 8.
I am confident that Dr. Dee Ellis will be a fine state veterinarian and TAHC
executive director. For five years, Dr. Ellis has served as the TAHC
assistant state veterinarian, and his work ethic, abilities, training and
qualifications are exemplary, said TAHC Chairman Ernie Morales of Devine,
who also represents the feedlot industry on the 13-member commission.
I am proud to have served as a commissioner during Dr. Bob Hillmans service
at the TAHC and wish him the best in his retirement. In preparing for his
succession, Dr. Hillman mentored and prepared staff for leadership, and
Dr. Ellis is ready for this new challenge as executive director, said TAHC
Commissioner Coleman H. Locke, beef industry representative and a member of
executive search committee.
Dr. Ellis, originally from Comanche, was raised with a farming and dairy
background. While completing his animal science degree from Southwest Texas
State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Dr. Ellis
worked as a TAHC animal health inspector.
In 1984, Dr. Ellis obtained his doctorate of veterinary medicine at Texas
A&M University, and practiced as an associate veterinarian in Gonzales. He
returned to the TAHC as a field veterinarian in Wharton during some of the
toughest battles to eradicate cattle brucellosis. Recognized for his
leadership and innovation, Dr. Ellis was promoted in 1986 to area director
for Central Texas, a position he held for 18 years. In 2002, Dr. Ellis
completed a masters degree in Public Administration from Texas State
University. In 2003, he transferred to the TAHCs Austin headquarters as the
staff veterinarian to oversee the statewide cattle tuberculosis (TB) testing
dairies and purebred beef cattle, and a year later was named assistant state
veterinarian
Dr. Ellis has invaluable field experience fighting foreign animal diseases.
He was detailed to Great Britain during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
in 2001, helped eradicate exotic Newcastle disease in California and Texas
in 2003, and worked on the Texas avian influenza outbreak in 2004. He is a
foreign animal disease diagnostician, and has broad experience in emergency
management and epidemiology, said Chairman Morales. Dr. Ellis is nationally
recognized among regulatory veterinarians and policy makers, has worked
closely with Mexican animal health officials on cattle disease issues, and
has been sought after as a speaker for livestock industry meetings. He can
quickly digest a problem and seek solutions with working groups, an
attribute that we have come to appreciate and expect from the TAHCs
excellent leadership.
The TAHCs role has expanded in recent years to include not only disease, but
also disasters. Dr. Ellis and the TAHC staff have gained invaluable
experience in handling animal issues during Hurricanes Rita and Ike,
wildfires in the Panhandle and floods in East Texas. Under his leadership,
the TAHC will be ready to work closely with the livestock and poultry
industries to address dire situations, whether it is a disease outbreak,
manmade or natural calamity, said Mr. Locke.
Dr. Ellis resides in Rockdale, near Austin, where he has been involved in
civic groups and youth sports activities. He and his wife Cheryln, math and
science curriculum specialist for the Rockdale Junior High and High schools,
are the parents of Toni and Chris, a senior and a sophomore, respectively,
at the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University in College Station.
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