Gerald Gale Wagner

Dr. Gerald Gale Wagner passed away on Monday, May 15, 2023. Gale was born in Plainview, Texas, on June 3, 1941. He attended school in Plainview from elementary through high school, and graduated in 1959. Gale attended Texas Tech University from 1959-1963, receiving a BS degree in Bacteriology. On August 16, 1962, he married Beverly Hamilton. They moved to Lawrence, Kansas after graduating, where Gale received his Master’s Degree from Kansas University in Microbiology in 1966, and his PhD in Immunochemistry in 1967.

Gale and Beverly’s first child, Kristin, was born in 1965, and in 1967, daughter Lisa joined the family. After graduating from KU, Gale was offered a Post Doctorate in Microbiology at the Plum Island Infectious Disease Lab, off of Long Island, New York. The family lived in Southold, NY for 3 years. Gale was then offered a research position in Nairobi, Kenya. He spent 6 years in Kenya, working for the USDA to develop a vaccine for East Coast Fever.

In 1977, Gale and Beverly decided they wanted to return to Texas; bringing their daughters back to be close to their grandparents. Gale was asked to be Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology, and Coordinator of International Programs, in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology of Texas A&M University. Gale loved his work in Aggieland, and his students. Graduate students came to work with him from the United States, as well as, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Germany, China and Japan.

Gale received many awards and honors for his research. He received the Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in International Teaching, and the Real Academia Deciencias Veterinarias in Madrid. He was also named a Texas A&M University Provost in 2012. He retired in 2013 after 36 years at the TAMU School of Veterinary Medicine.

In addition to his illustrious career and many professional achievements, his personal life is what stood out most to those who loved him. Gale loved animals, collecting various artifacts from outdoors (“natures” as he referred to them with his children and grandchildren), and creative projects of all kinds. He was affectionately called “Frydaddy” and “Dadada” by his grandchildren, all of whom adored him. He was married to the love of his life for 60 years, and they created a beautiful example of marriage and family, for his children and grandchildren to strive for themselves.

Gale is survived by his wife, Beverly; daughter Kristin and her husband, Walter Harry; and daughter Lisa, and her husband, Sean Calliham. His grandchildren Bethany, and her husband, Seth Caldwell; Sara, and her husband, Philip Abrams; Nathan, and his wife, Abigail; Ashley, and her husband, Nick Porter; and Haley Calliham. His six great grandchildren, Roy, Robin and Ronin Caldwell, Murphy and Sammy Abrams, and Oaklynn Kate Harry. And sisters, Sally and her husband H.G. Doyle, Carrie Elizabeth Wagner, and Joanne Fairchild-Kidd and her husband Randy Kidd.