Decades after his tenure at Washington State University, Dr. Richard L. Ott’s impact continues to shape veterinary medicine through the Richard L. Ott Endowed Chair in Small Animal Medicine and Research. Established in his honor, the endowed chair supports advancements in small animal health, reflecting Ott’s brilliance as an educator, researcher, and leader.
For more than 40 years, Ott was a cornerstone of WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Colleagues, students, and mentors alike described him as “brilliant,” a fitting tribute to his sharp diagnostic skills, pioneering research, and unwavering dedication to teaching. Whether in the classroom, the clinic, or the laboratory, he inspired excellence and innovation, earning the respect of peers and the admiration of students who affectionately called him “King Richard.”
Born in Santa Barbara, California, in 1923, Ott graduated magna cum laude from Washington State College in 1944 and earned his DVM the following year. His career took him from private practice in Yakima, Washington, to military service during World War II, where he was part of a research team that identified the presence of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus in the Philippines. He returned to WSU in 1949 as an assistant professor, setting the stage for a lifelong career dedicated to advancing veterinary medicine.
Ott’s research focused on improving disease prevention and treatment in small animals. He played a key role in pioneering immunization techniques for newborn animals and contributed significantly to the understanding of rickettsial disease in dogs and leukemia in cats. As chair of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine and Surgery from 1955 to 1973, he helped guide WSU’s veterinary program through a period of tremendous growth, securing funding to expand and renovate McCoy Hall.
His contributions were widely recognized, earning him accolades such as the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Gaines Medal, multiple Veterinarian of the Year awards, and WSU’s Alumni Achievement Award. Yet, for all his professional success, Ott’s true passion lay in teaching. He challenged students to think critically, demanded their best work, and approached education with humor and dedication.
Ott was a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the recipient of several awards in teaching and research. His honors included recognition as the American Animal Hospital Associated Veterinarian of the Year (1962); and the American Veterinary Medical Association Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in the Field of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery (Gaines Medal 1964). In 1965 Ott was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year by senior veterinary students at WSU. He again was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association in 1975. In 1984 he received the WSU Alumni Achievement Award.
Ott retired in 1983, but his influence remains deeply embedded in WSU’s veterinary program. The Richard L. Ott Endowed Chair in Small Animal Medicine and Research ensures that his legacy of excellence, innovation, and commitment to student success continues for generations to come.