A new professorship was established in the College of Veterinary Medicine. E.A. Benbrook, who headed the Iowa State veterinary pathology department from 1919 to 1957 and worked at ISU until his death in 1967, is the namesake for the professorship.

Benbrook’s son and daughter in-law, Stanley C. Benbrook and Jane Stallings Benbrook of Buchanan Dam, Texas, established The Benbrook Professorship in Veterinary Medicine with a gift of more than $1 million.

“We’re enormously grateful for this planned gift that will further strengthen our veterinary pathology department,” said Richard Ross, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Stan and Jane Benbrook are loyal supporters of Iowa State University and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Their generosity is a very fitting tribute to Dr. E.A. Benbrook and the Benbrook family,” Ross said.

Stanley Benbrook graduated from ISU in 1949 with a degree in veterinary medicine and spent most of his career in the Army Veterinary Corps. Jane Stallings Benbrook graduated from ISU in 1941 in home economics which is now family and consumer sciences.

The gift, which will go toward a professorship in either pathology or parasitology, will provide a source of revenue to supplement college support for research activities and teaching of the scholar who holds the professorship.

The Benbrook Professorship in Veterinary Medicine is not the only gift that the Benbrooks have given to ISU. They fund scholarships in the College of Design and the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and are contributing to the renovation of the Gentle Doctor relief at the veterinary medicine building.

The College of Veterinary Medicine will also receive a piano from the Benbrooks to honor Stan Benbrook’s mother, Jessie W. Benbrook.

Jim Brehm, director of development for the College of Veterinary Medicine, said the college will receive the $1 million gift upon the Benbrooks’ passing, and place it in an endowment fund.

Current or new faculty members will be designated by a committee as Benbrook Professors based on their past work and how they plan to use the money.

Brehm said, “This [professorship] is a great way to attract and retain the most outstanding veterinary scientists.”