| June 9, 2009 CONTACT: Dr. Don Topliff, 806-651-3570, dtopliff@wtamu.edu
Dr. John Pipkin, 806-651-2557, jpipkin@wtamu.edu COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu ESS Recognizes WTAMU Professor with Top Award  CANYON, Texas—Dr. Don Topliff, associate dean of the College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering at West Texas A&M University, has been awarded the coveted Distinguished Service Award in Equine Science by the Equine Science Society (ESS).
The 2009 award, the most prestigious honor presented by the society, was presented during the 21st Equine Science Society Meeting May 29-31 in Keystone, Colo. The award is designed to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of equine science. “Dr. Topliff is an exceptional example of a servant-leader, and he was recognized with this prestigious award for his more than 25 years of significant service to the Equine Science Society, as well as his tremendous service to the equine industry during his professional lifetime,” Dr. John Pipkin, professor of animal science and director of WTAMU’s equine industry program, said. “He also brings worldwide recognition to WTAMU. He is recognized as one of the leading equine educators and researchers in the world and is considered one of the best horse show judges in the world.” Topliff, who joined the WTAMU faculty in 1998, has an extensive track record in teaching and research in the equine sciences and serving the horse industry at the state, national and international level. His teaching background includes more than 15 years at Oklahoma State University, where he built a nationally recognized teaching program and coached national-title teams. As an administrator at WTAMU, Topliff has been instrumental in increasing the department’s external research funding to more than $7 million. He also played a role in the implementation of WTAMU’s first Ph.D. program—a multidisciplinary program in systems agriculture. He is active in many equine-related activities and served as ESS secretary/treasurer in 1999, vice president in 2001 and president from 2003-2005. Topliff also has served two three-year terms on the National Research Council’s committee on animal nutrition. He is an approved judge with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and has served in numerous AQHA positions through the years, including a three-year term as chair of the AQHA Equine Research Committee. In 2009 he was appointed to AQHA’s International Committee. He also was involved in the writing of Emergency Preparedness Plans for AQHA World Championship Shows and writing an updated piece about the use of horses in research for FASS. He is very interested in issues important to the equine industry and often lobbies on behalf of those issues at the state and national level. —WTAMU— | 
