In Memory – Dr. Thomas A. Bryan, Retired Purdue Avian Diagnostician

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community mourns the passing of a dedicated poultry veterinarian and esteemed avian diagnostician, Dr. Thomas A. Bryan, who passed away Feb. 21, 2025 in Carmel, Indiana, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 81.

A native of Scott City, Kansas, Dr. Bryan devoted his career to veterinary medicine, specializing in poultry health. He worked as a Purdue avian diagnostician for the Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center (SIPAC) in Dubois County, and served Indiana and the poultry industry with dedication for 30 years before retiring in 2011.

Dr. Bryan is remembered for the great joy he derived from driving his truck through the hills of southern Indiana to visit his poultry “patients.” Through his work at Purdue, he made significant contributions to his field, particularly in avian disease prevention.

In 1994, working with the turkey industry, Dr. Bryan and colleague Tom Hooper helped recognize turkey coronavirus and developed diagnostic tests that assisted in the disease being eradicated from Indiana. Dr. Bryan received the Indiana State Poultry Association’s prestigious Golden Egg Award in recognition of his groundbreaking avian coronavirus research and his impact on poultry health and disease control.

Dr. Bryan also was known as a quiet and thoughtful man who cherished his family and was deeply dedicated to his work, faith, and values. He taught Sunday school at Huntingburg United Methodist Church in Huntingburg, Indiana, for more than 35 years, and devoted many Saturdays to the church’s work at Maple Grove Campground.

A service to celebrate Dr. Bryan’s life was held at Huntingburg United Methodist Church Thursday, Feb. 27. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Maple Grove Campground and Foundation at historicmaplegrovehuntingburg.org or the Carmel United Methodist Food Pantry at CarmelUMC.org, in honor of his lifelong dedication to faith and service. Bussell Family Funerals is handling arrangements. Click here to view a complete obituary.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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