Dr. William J. Roenigk was born January 26, 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a pioneer educator and clinician in veterinary radiology. He passed away on August 25, 2010, in Bryan/College Station, TX.
Dr. Roenigk graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954. He also earned a Master of Science degree in cardiovascular surgery from Baylor University in 1958, where he conducted award winning research and film documentation on the surgical removal of heartworms in dogs, as part of a project in conjunction with physician surgeons, Drs. Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley. He received further training in radiology under noted physician radiologist, Dr. Benjamin Felson at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati and was as an Associate Professor of radiology and Associate Professor of laboratory animal medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
He served on the veterinary faculties of The Ohio State University, Cornell University, and Texas A&M University. He was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and he served as President of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association in 1970. He was a member and became President of the Educators in Veterinary Radiology, and he was a member of the American Veterinary Radiological Society. He became a Diplomate by examination of the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 1966 and was President of the ACVR in 1967.
Dr. Roenigk was a veteran of the Army Veterinary Corps and was in the Army Reserves, where he achieved the rank of Colonel. He was also a consultant in the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Service in San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to teaching hundreds of veterinary medical students, Dr. Roenigk taught continuing education courses on veterinary radiology with his distinguished peers, Drs. Robert Barrett and Robert Lewis. Dr. Roenigk participated in radiological research and co‐authored scientific articles in such prestigious journals as The American Journal of Medical Sciences (An Experimental Investigation of the Nephrotoxic Effects of Oral Cholecystographic Agents), and The American Journal of Surgery (Dangers and Fallibilities of Iodinated Radiopaque Media in Obstruction of the Small Bowel).
Dr. Roenigk was mentor to many radiology residents. In addition to his many academic and service accomplishments, Dr. Roenigk will be remembered for his seemingly ever‐present, happy smile. Dr. Roenigk is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Jean S. Roenigk, their son, three daughters, and seven grandchildren.