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Horace Van Cleave '52 January 11, 2018 8:47 AM updated: January 18, 2018 4:23 PM

SWAIM FUNERAL CHAPEL obituary
1901 6th Ave
Dodge City, KS 67801
(620) 227-2136

Dr. Horace "Buddy" Van Cleave
July 09, 1931 - January 07, 2018

Dr. Horace W. ("Buddy") Van Cleave, 86, of Cimarron, Kansas, (formerly of College Station, Texas), passed away at the Western Plains Medical Complex, Dodge City, Kansas on Sunday, January 7, 2018.

Horace was born to Robert and Louise (Wilkins) Van Cleave in Cherryvale, Kansas. He grew up in the Rio Grande Valley at Mission, Texas. He graduated from Mission High School in 1948. In 1952, he received his B.S. degree in Agriculture Education from Texas A&M University.

Upon graduation he was commissioned into the United States Army during the Korean War. As his troop transport ship left California for Korea, the armistice suspending hostilities was announced. He served as a Field Artillery Officer with the 40th Infantry Division stationed in the Cheorwon Valley 3 miles south of the DMZ. In the uneasy peace during the winter of 1953-1954, Van Cleave taught his first formal course (Farm Management) 2 evenings each week to 20 infantrymen, artillerymen, and medics from front line units. He was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant.

Following his discharge, he returned to his hometown and taught Vocational Agriculture at Mission High School for 2 years. During this time he taught the only female student enrolled in Vocational Agriculture in all Texas high schools.

In 1956, he married Beth Shilling in Mission, Texas. They moved to College Station, Texas and he began his entomology career as a graduate teaching assistant at Texas A&M University.

Following receipt of his M.S. degree in Entomology in 1958, he moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma where he was employed first as a survey entomologist, then a graduate teaching assistant, and finally as an instructor at Oklahoma State University, where he taught over 200 students in a 3-year period while beginning his PhD program (completing his PhD in 1969). He returned to College Station and Texas A&M University in 1964 as an Assistant Professor. Over the years of his A&M career he eventually served as Associate Professor, Professor, as well as Assistant Head of the Department of Entomology, and Associate Head for Academic Programs for the Department of Entomology. He retired in 1997 and was awarded the title Professor Emeritus.

Throughout his career, Dr. Van Cleave embraced his role as a teacher and mentor. He taught over 5000 students in introductory entomology courses and supervised 12 graduate students' research programs. In an era where universities across the country began to emphasize research over instruction, he received 8 teaching awards from his students, former students, and professional societies including the Entomological Society of America "Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award." He served as coordinator of undergraduate student counseling for the Entomology Department and received 3 awards in this area including the "Certificate of Merit" in 1984, which was presented by the American College Testing Program and the National Academic Advising Association, National Recognition Program for Academic Advising. He was elected advisor to 6 different student organizations during his academic career and was elected academic advisor for 13 consecutive years to Company B-1, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets. He served on advisory committees to the Department Head, Dean of Agriculture, Vice President of Agriculture (later deputy Chancellor of Agriculture), and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He has been active on most departmental committees and several major university committees.

In the area of research, he directed the basic biology studies of the hickory shuckworm, pecan weevil, and the pecan aphid complex, which served as the cornerstones for the pest management program for pecans in Texas and surrounding states. He directed the basic biology studies and host plant resistant investigations for the grass/rangeland spittlebug complex in northern Mexico, which threatened to invade Texas and the Southern United States in the late 1970's and early 1980's. In the early 1990's he served on the Texas Africanized Bee Advisory Committee when the bees (also known as "killer bees") began invading Texas. NASA also consulted him concerning taking insects into space. He was an active member and served in numerous leadership roles in professional and honor societies. During his professional career he was an active member of 22 committees, chaired 16 committees, and served in one or more elected offices for 13 years in entomological organizations at the regional and/or national levels. He received 5 major awards for leadership activities including the Southwestern Branch's "Ta-Que-Ne-Whap" Award and the ARPE "Distinguished Entomologist Award." Most recently, in 2013, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University.

Van Cleave was an active member of the A&M United Methodist Church for over 50 years serving as Lay Leader and on numerous committees. He was a proud member of the Golden Rule Sunday School Class.

He was a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Sul Ross Lodge #1300, College Station.

Van Cleave pursued various hobbies during his lifetime. He was an accomplished artist. He was also an avid hunter and enjoyed the fellowship of his deer lease friends. He made and gifted over 100 turkey calls that he mounted and were works of art in and of themselves. Following his retirement he took up woodworking. He enjoyed making and gifting wooden pens. He also made over 90 walking canes for friends or acquaintances who either had surgery or were having difficulty walking. This was a special mission to him in his retirement and he took great joy in providing a beautiful wooden cane, sometimes intricately carved, for those who were having a difficult time walking.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Beth Van Cleave, of Cimarron, Kansas. He is survived by his brother, Robert Van Cleave, Tyler, Texas. He is also survived by his 2 children, Diana and Bryan Boroughs, Cimarron, Kansas, and Scott and Lisa Van Cleave, Louisville, Kentucky, his 6 grandchildren Amy Van Cleave and Jay Sims, Dallas, Texas, Laura Beth and Ryan Haffner, Hays, Kansas, Jason Van Cleave, Louisville, Kentucky, Benjamin and Mara (Sloan) Boroughs, Washington, D.C., Jordan Van Cleave, Boone, North Carolina, and Austin Van Cleave, Louisville, Kentucky, 5 great-grandchildren, Park, Althea, and Odessa Van Cleave, Louisville, Kentucky, and Layne and Adelaide Haffner, Hays, Kansas. Furthermore, he also leaves 3 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends, colleagues, and students who played very important roles in his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James E. Van Cleave and sister-in-law Loretta Van Cleave.

A memorial service will be held Monday, February 19, 2018 at A&M United Methodist Church of College Station, Texas at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to A&M United Methodist Church, College Station, Texas, Cimarron United Methodist Church, Cimarron, Kansas, or the Department of Entomology Scholarship Fund, Texas A&M University, if desired. Arrangements are by Swaim Funeral Chapel, Dodge City, KS.


TAMU Memorial Information:

Checks payable to:
TAMU Foundation
Account# 34079
In MEMO: In Memory of Dr. Horace Van Cleave

Mail to:
TAMU Department of Entomology
Attn: Carla Smith
Minnie Belle Heep Center Rm. 412
MS 2475
College Station, TX 77843-2475
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) January 11, 2018

Van Cleave, Dr. Horace

Dr. Horace Van Cleave, 86, of Cimarron, KS, formerly of College Station,, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2018. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 19, at A & M United Methodist Church, College Station. Arrangements are in the care of Swaim Funeral Chapel of Dodge City, Kansas.


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