A West Virginia University animal scientist who has helped West Virginia farmers increase livestock production through innovative breeding methods has won the schools highest service award.
Paul E. Lewis, director of animal and veterinary sciences in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, is the recipient of the Ethel and Gerry Heebink Award for Distinguished State Service.
“I am honored by this,”Dr. Lewis said.”I see this as an award not only for me, but for the division and college as well. My view is that people are awarded honors, but few people accomplish anything in a vacuum. They need the support of colleagues and students, which Ive been fortunate to have.”
C.B. Wilson, associate provost for academic personnel and chairman of the selection committee, said Lewis demonstrates the qualities that the late David Heebink would have expected in a recipient when he established the award 20 years ago in memory of his parents.
“Professor Lewis has gone beyond the call of duty in his service work, and the states agricultural community will reap the benefits of this for years to come,”Wilson said.”As a recipient of the Heebink Award, he helps us celebrate the important public service contributions of the entire WVU community.”
Lewis, who grew up in Beverly, Randolph County, joined WVU in 1978 as an animal scientist in the Allegheny Highlands Project. Through this program, he taught farmers in nine counties the importance of performance testing, crossbreeding, artificial insemination and pregnancy testing to increase production in beef cattle and sheep.
In 1980, he came to WVU s Morgantown campus, where he continued his research on reproductive management of beef cattle and sheep. Improved breeding practices he developed include out-of-season breeding in sheep, postpartum reproduction management in beef cattle, ewe and heifer development programs, and increased pregnancy testing on farms.
He has shared his research with colleagues, students and the states agriculture industry. He has also co-authored 25 journal articles directly relevant to agriculture.
Lewis was director of the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences from 1988-93 and agreed to head the division again beginning in May 2001. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in animal sciences during his 22 years in Morgantown.
He has a bachelors degree in agriculture from Berea (Ky.) College and masters and doctoral degrees in reproductive physiology from WVU . He was an assistant professor at Lincoln University of Missouri before coming to WVU . He is also a U.S. Army veteran.
Being associated with a college and university that emphasizes service to the community is a reward in itself, Lewis said.
“The service agenda is the basis of our existence,”he said.”It has to be a primary mission for us. That in reality was set when we were granted the land-grant status.”
Lewis resides in Morgantown with his wife, Sandy. They have one son, Chad, who lives in Denver.
David Heebink created the Heebink Award in 1982 in memory of his parents Ethel, a long-time WVU English professor, and Gerry, an Extension dairyman in Ag-Forestry from 1935-56. The $2,500 annual award goes to a faculty or staff member who has provided extended service to the state. A second Heebink Award for distinguished service over a shorter time is awarded every two years.