T.D. Tanksley Jr.
T.D. Tanksley Jr., 86, of Bertram died April 12, 2011. He was born in Bertram on March 7, 1925, to T.D. and Olivia (Beal) Tanksley.
He graduated from Bertram High School at 16 and enrolled at Texas A&M College before being drafted into the Army at Fort Sam Houston for officer and pilot training. After 30 months as a bomber pilot, he returned home and married Margaret McAndrew, his high school sweetheart, on Aug. 12, 1945.
He received his bachelor of science degree in agriculture education, graduating as valedictorian in 1947. For the next 10 years in Llano County, he worked first as a vocational agricultural teacher and then, in 1954, as the county agricultural agent. His work there earned him recognition as one of the Five Outstanding Young Texans in 1956 by the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce.
In December 1956, he joined the staff of the Texas A&M College of Animal Science Department as extension swine specialist while working toward his doctorate. In 1968, he received his doctorate in biochemistry and nutrition and assumed leadership of the Department of Animal Science swine research and teaching program in addition to part-time Texas Agricultural Extension Service responsibilities. That same year, he was promoted to associate professor, and then in 1973, to professor. “Tank,” as he was affectionately known to producers and students, was named professor emeritus, animal science, when he retired in 1985.
He twice earned the Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching and Outstanding Professor Award from Texas A&M University. His intimate knowledge of swine production and nutrition, coupled with his ability to communicate, made him an effective and well-known speaker. He was a program participant in 15 countries and delivered lectures at 32 conferences outside of Texas since 1974.
His early research focused on the use of sorghum and cottonseed meal as swine feedstuffs, and he was one of the first U.S. researchers to determine the calcium and phosphorous requirements needed to maximize development and strength of bone in fast-growing boars. His work in determining the digestibility of amino acids in swine feedstuffs gained international attention, and he authored or coauthored more than 100 publications and served on the research advisory committees of the National Pork Producers Council, American Soybean Association, Farmland Industries and American Hoechst Corp. He received the Animal Management 1985 Award and was named Honorary Fellow in 1986 by the American Society of Animal Science and won the Outstanding Achievement in Sorghum Utilization in 1987.
In the 1970s, he was one of the first to recognize the hazards of continued selection with lean meat production without considering reproductive and feed lot productive traits. He applied his expertise while serving as a member of the NPPC committee that developed the first procedures to evaluate market hog performance. The Texas Pork Producers inducted him into the Texas Pork Producers Association Hall of Honor in 1995. Additionally, he received the industry’s Distinguished Service Award during the National Pork Industry Forum in 2000.
His first love was livestock shows and youth programs. He worked with the Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston swine shows and educational programs for 4-H and FFA programs. In 1997, he was recognized by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for 50 continuous years of support as an exhibitor, 4-H and FFA youth adviser and superintendent of the Market Swine and the 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest.
Upon his retirement 26 years ago, he returned to his Bertram ranch and worked toward restoring it and raising 40 high-quality cows from special genetic lines to be bred to produce show steers for 4-H and FFA youth projects throughout the state. Many of the steers went on to win as major show champions.
He and his wife were devout Christians. He remodeled and renovated First Christian Church of Bertram. He served as deacon, elder, officer, trustee and lay leader of First Christian Churches of Bryan/College Station and Bertram, where he was named Elder Emeritus.
He loved spending time with his grandchildren, attending their livestock and athletic activities. He also loved working in his garden and sharing fruits and vegetables with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years Margaret A. Tanksley; son Spencer and wife Linda; daughters Pat and husband Larry and Janice Christian; grandchildren Scott L. Boleman and wife Shanna, Chris Boleman and wife Randi, Craig Boleman and wife Kass, Colin Tanksley and wife Susan, Courtney Tanksley, Josh Bishop and Jake Bishop; great-grandsons Seth and Sage Boleman, Cole and Cade Tanksley and Peyton and Kade Bishop.
Visitation is 6-8 p.m. April 14 at Edgar Funeral Home, 109 N. Main St. in Burnet, (512) 756-4444. A service is 10 a.m. April 15 at First Baptist Church, 325 S. Gabriel in Bertram, with the reverends Gregory Ross and Margaret Clemings officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Zion Cemetery in Bertram.
Memorials may be made to Texas 4-H Foundation for the Dr. T.D. Tanksley Jr. Memorial Youth Livestock Project Enhancement; Texas Pork Producers for T.D. Tanksley Scholarship Fund or First Christian Church Building Fund in Bertram.