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Former Texas A&M ag dean Kunkel diesTexas Dr. H. O. "Harry" Kunkel, former agriculture dean and professor emeritus in the departments of animal science, biochemistry and biophysics, and nutrition and food science at Texas A&M University, died Sept. 15 at College Station Medical Center. He was 87. Services for Kunkel, who served as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences from 1967-1988, and associate director and director of Texas AgriLife Research from 1962-1972, were scheduled to be held Sept. 18 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 1200 Foxfire Drive in College Station. In these top administrative positions, Kunkel established Texas A&M's Agricultural Research and Extension Centers in 11 locations around the state. This achievement helped focus Texas A&M's agricultural expertise on addressing agricultural and natural resources problems in practically every Texas region. Kunkel returned to the classroom in 1988, after serving 20 years as the nation's longest-tenured dean of agriculture. Then-Texas A&M president Dr. Frank Vandiver praised Kunkel's role in making the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences nationally prominent. "Many of our agricultural programs are pre-eminent in their particualr fields, and the college overall ranks among the very best," Vandiver said. Under Kunkel's leadership, academic programs were expanded to include degrees in forestry, nutritional sciences and genetics, and the departments of forest science and horticultural sciences were established. Kunkel earned his bachelor's degree in animal husbandry and his master's degree in biochemistry and nutrition from Texas A&M. He received his doctorate in biochemistry from Cornell University. He taught courses in principles of animal nutrition, general biochemistry, biochemical genetics, enzymes, large animal nutrition, food and humanity, and issues in animal agriculture. Kunkel's early research interest focused on the role of magnesium in animal nutrition, urinary calculi, ruminal development and carbohydrate metabolism, and the basis for genetically variable growth in animals. His latest interests included the human nutrition-agriculture interface, the missions of science and education for agriculture and curricular reform. "We deeply mourn the passing of a great educator, scientist and administrator," said Dr. Mark Hussey, vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences for the Texas A&M University System. "For 40 years, Dr. Kunkel had a major influence in helping find new discoveries relating to animal and human nutrition. His teaching roles had a great impact on students here in the college. His presence here for many years well beyond his retirement will leave a lasting memory."
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