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This is Fred Ball for Zions bank, speaking on business.
Dr. Deon W. Kelsey knew very early in his life that he wanted to be a veterinarian. He was born in the small Utah town, New Harmony, and his father had a couple of cows. Dr. Kelsey told me the reason his father had the cows was that he wanted to know at least twice each day where his son was.
One day, one of the cows came down with ìmilk feverî a disease that is caused by a decrease in calcium in the blood stream. Young Dean watched in horror, as the cow appeared to be dying. His father treated the cow and Dean was fascinated by the miracle of the cow suddenly being better. ìItís like magic,î he thought. He then knew that someday he would like to be a vet.
Fort Collins, Colo., is the home of one of the finest veterinarian schools in the country. Deon graduated in 1981, worked for a time in a small animal hospital in Glendale, Calif., and then with a partner opened a clinic in Richfield, Utah. In 1988 he opened his own practice. Dr. Kelsey has a ìmixed practice.î He treats small and big animals. Most of his business is conducted in the office, but he told me that he sometimes visits farms for large animal treatments.
The business and the community of Richfield have been good to Deon Kelsey. He tries to repay by spending many Saturdays in surrounding smaller towns by providing rabies shots, animal licensing work, spaying and neutering and other needs of small animals and owners.
While I was in the office, a lady came out with a box of six little puppies. They were two hours old and the mother appeared not inclined to take care of her new litter. The lady showed me how she would be the surrogate mother with a tiny tube with a nipple that she would use to feed the beautiful new puppies.
Being a vet is a great way for Dr. Deon W. Kelsey to view the magic of medicine. On October 18, 2002, No More Homeless Pets of Utah named Dr. Kelsey the veterinarian of the year for the state of Utah in Salt Lake City.
For Zions Bank, Iím Fred ball. Iím speaking on business.