George E. Staples
Encyclopedia
George E. Staples was a veterinary researcher in animal nutrition and diarheal treatment, and the author of three publications of the Cooperative Extension Service
, North Dakota State University
. This particular research contributed to the improvement of the livestock industry in the area from the early 1970s to mid-1980s.
who is widely credited for making south central Utah hospitable for settlers by befriending many tribes in the area, including Pahvant Ute Chief Kanosh
, for whom the town was named.
Like so many others of his generation, Staples joined the military shortly after the Pearl Harbor Attack in December 1941 and, after failing to get into the Naval Air Corps, was accepted in Officer Candidate School, served on various vessels for short durations in training and was finally assigned to the as communications officer until the end of the Pacific War
.
Following his discharge, he graduated from Utah State Agricultural College
at Logan, Utah
with a B.S. in Animal Science, went on to South Dakota State College of Agricultural & Mechanical Arts
at Brookings, South Dakota
for his Master's Degree and finally to Colorado A&M
at Ft. Collins, Colorado for his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
He worked in private practice at Afton, Wyoming
for a few years before landing a field position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he was able to work out of his hometown of Kanosh during the peak of the atomic testing in the late 1950s, by which time his family had grown to four sons and a daughter. However, by the end of that decade, some people in that area begin to show symptoms of radiation poisoning
and Staples felt it prudent to move his family out in the summer of 1960. The fifth Staples son was born shortly after that move, but died in infancy.
His sixth and last son was born in Topeka, Kansas
in 1962, where the family had relocated for his employment with Morris Research Laboratories, pioneers in pet nutrition and now part of the Hill's Pet Nutrition
Group. Staples' work in the relatively new field attracted the attention of North Dakota State University. He was hired and made the move there December 29, 1964.
His unique experience in private practice, USDA field work with livestock diseases and pioneering research in pet nutrition was used to improve the livestock industry in North Dakota. At least one notorious trafficker in diseased cattle was put out of business by the techniques Staples shared in early disease detection and treatment of livestock diseases, particularly calf scours.
A major breakthrough to treatment of the disease was put on the market through Staples research shortly after publication of his 1982 publication Calf scours: Causes, prevention, treatment. However, the ingredients were so simple and inexpensive that none of the major pharmeceutical companies felt it profitable.
from radiation exposure during his USDA field work more than a quarter century earlier. His eldest son died at age 32 in 1983, Staples died in 1993 and his second son died from the same type of illness in 2003 at age 51.
Cooperative extension service
The Cooperative Extension Service, also known as the Extension Service of the USDA, is a non-formal educational program implemented in the United States designed to help people use research-based knowledge to improve their lives. The service is provided by the state's designated land-grant...
, North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
. This particular research contributed to the improvement of the livestock industry in the area from the early 1970s to mid-1980s.
Early life
He was the great-grandson of English immigrant George Staples (1834-1890), the adopted SiouxSioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
who is widely credited for making south central Utah hospitable for settlers by befriending many tribes in the area, including Pahvant Ute Chief Kanosh
Kanosh (Pahvant Chief)
Kanosh was a nineteenth century leader of the Pahvant band of the Ute Indians.It is believed Kanosh was born in Spanish Fork Canyon, but this is not certain."Kanosh learned to speak good English for an Indian...
, for whom the town was named.
Like so many others of his generation, Staples joined the military shortly after the Pearl Harbor Attack in December 1941 and, after failing to get into the Naval Air Corps, was accepted in Officer Candidate School, served on various vessels for short durations in training and was finally assigned to the as communications officer until the end of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
.
Following his discharge, he graduated from Utah State Agricultural College
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
at Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
with a B.S. in Animal Science, went on to South Dakota State College of Agricultural & Mechanical Arts
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
at Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 22,056 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher...
for his Master's Degree and finally to Colorado A&M
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
at Ft. Collins, Colorado for his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
He worked in private practice at Afton, Wyoming
Afton, Wyoming
Afton is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census.Afton is home to the world's largest elk horn arch...
for a few years before landing a field position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he was able to work out of his hometown of Kanosh during the peak of the atomic testing in the late 1950s, by which time his family had grown to four sons and a daughter. However, by the end of that decade, some people in that area begin to show symptoms of radiation poisoning
Radiation poisoning
Acute radiation syndrome also known as radiation poisoning, radiation sickness or radiation toxicity, is a constellation of health effects which occur within several months of exposure to high amounts of ionizing radiation...
and Staples felt it prudent to move his family out in the summer of 1960. The fifth Staples son was born shortly after that move, but died in infancy.
His sixth and last son was born in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
in 1962, where the family had relocated for his employment with Morris Research Laboratories, pioneers in pet nutrition and now part of the Hill's Pet Nutrition
Hill's Pet Nutrition
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive Company. They are a large scale provider of dog and cat foods.- History :In 1928, Dr. Mark L. Morris Sr. established Raritan Hospital for Animals in Edison, New Jersey. At the time, this was one of only two small animal hospitals in the...
Group. Staples' work in the relatively new field attracted the attention of North Dakota State University. He was hired and made the move there December 29, 1964.
His unique experience in private practice, USDA field work with livestock diseases and pioneering research in pet nutrition was used to improve the livestock industry in North Dakota. At least one notorious trafficker in diseased cattle was put out of business by the techniques Staples shared in early disease detection and treatment of livestock diseases, particularly calf scours.
A major breakthrough to treatment of the disease was put on the market through Staples research shortly after publication of his 1982 publication Calf scours: Causes, prevention, treatment. However, the ingredients were so simple and inexpensive that none of the major pharmeceutical companies felt it profitable.
Illness and death
Shortly before his retirement from the university, Staples was diagnosed with myelofibrosisMyelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis, also known as myeloid metaplasia, chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, osteomyelofibrosis and primary myelofibrosis is a disorder of the bone marrow...
from radiation exposure during his USDA field work more than a quarter century earlier. His eldest son died at age 32 in 1983, Staples died in 1993 and his second son died from the same type of illness in 2003 at age 51.
Selected publications
- Co-authored article on Digestion Trials (Jourmal of Animal Science), 1951
- Selecting healthy baby calves (Circular A-566), 1971
- The calf scour problem (Circular A-527 Rev), 1973
- Calf scours: Causes, prevention, treatment (AS-776), 1982