2010 UTAH VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR

Dr. John G. Mathis


John was born in Monroe, Utah in 1953 and raised on a small dairy farm where he developed an interest in animal medicine from watching and helping his father care for their stock. He graduated from South Seiver High School in 1971, served an LDS mission in Canada, attended Snow College, and graduated from Brigham Young University in 1977. He attended veterinary school at Colorado State University, graduating in January of 1981. He began practicing with Dr. Doug Murphy that year. Dr. Murphy was a great mentor and example.
John has always loved the outdoors and being involved in hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. He has been involved in his church and community. He served as an LDS Bishop’s counselor, Bishop, and High Councilman, and participated in Scouting with his boys. He worked with the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo for many years, serving as president in 2001, and on the Uintah Basin Jr. Livestock show, serving as president in 1998. He was elected as mayor of the City of Naples in 1994 and served as mayor for 8 years. He was also chairman of the Uintah Basin Association of Governments, and a board member of the Uintah Basin Economic Development Board. John was appointed by Governor Mike Leavitt to serve on the Permanent Community Impact Fund Board for the years 1998-2002. He was elected to serve in the Utah Legislature in 2004 and has been in the House of Representatives since then, serving as the vice-chairman of the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and the Environment standing committee, as member of the Government Operations committee, and as a member of the Natural Resources appropriations sub-committee. He is also a current member of the Utah State University-Uintah Basin advisory board.
John’s greatest passion, however, next to his family, is practicing veterinary medicine. He has loved the association with his clients and the challenge (and joys) of a mixed rural practice. One of the greatest honors of his life was having his oldest son choose to follow in his footsteps and become a veterinarian. John has four sons, one daughter and four beautiful grandchildren. He and his wife, Wendy, live in Vernal and have a hobby ranch with a few cows, calves, and horses. He hopes to continue practicing veterinary medicine for many years to come. He says, “I feel very honored to be recognized by my peers and receive this award, and I thank you very much. Veterinary medicine truly is the greatest profession in the world.”