Dr. Jack Walther grew up in Nevada and received his veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis in 1963. His equine practice in Reno NV, was punctuated by two years of service in the Army Veterinary Corps during the Vietnam war. He later established three small animal hospitals, also in the Reno area. Active in veterinary associations at both the state and national levels, Dr. Walther ultimately served as the 140th president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 2003-04. His agenda as president included expanding the public relations programs of the AVMA, and facilitating the formation of a privately-managed testing service for veterinary graduates of foreign and non-accredited colleges. Dr. Walther has served as president of the Western Veterinary Conference and will be recognized in 2013 when the conference program will be named in his honor. In his community activities, Dr. Walther was responsible for transforming the Reno Rodeo, for which he was given the designation, Man of the Decade. He promoted expansion of the Washoe County Airport Authority, assuring improved passenger and commercial air service in the Reno/Sparks area. He was also chair of the board of the National Championship Air Races, for which he was named Man of the Year in 2001. Dr. Walther has three children.