A longtime supporter and former faculty member with Texas Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences has received the American Meat Science Association's '2020 Industry and Organizational Leadership Award.' Gordon W. Davis is the founder and chairman of CEV Multimedia Ltd., one of the nation's leading producers of career and technical education materials.

Davis will receive the honor in early August during the virtual 66th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology and the AMSA 73rd Reciprocal Meat Conference awards presentation. Program officials report that the award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in an area related to the meat industry.

Separately, Kelley Vierck, a doctoral student with Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences who graduated in May, was honored with the AMSA's Student Teaching 'Cleaver' Award (Ph.D. category). Sponsored by the AMSA Student membership, the award recognizes a student's excellence in teaching and assisting faculty with meat, animal or food science courses.

At Texas Tech, Vierck served as a graduate research assistant, teaching animal and food science courses, and produced scientific research publications. She also participated in the National Cattlemen's Beef Association-Product Quality Research Program. Her advisor at Texas Tech was Associate Professor Jerrad Legako in Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

Vierck joined the University of Arkansas' Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences faculty in June as an assistant professor. Her focus will be on meat science and muscle biology. Her master's degree is from Kansas State University and her bachelor's degree is from Oklahoma State University.

Founded in 1984, Davis' Lubbock-based CEV Multimedia firm is at the forefront of innovative educational materials, providing quality curriculum and educational resources for the subject areas of agricultural science and technology, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, trade and industry, and career orientation.

Davis previously served as an associate professor at Texas Tech. In 1985, 1996 and 2005, Davis co-founded three endowments for meat science excellence administered by Texas Tech, including the Gordon W. Davis Regent's Chair in Meat & Muscle Biology currently held by muscle biologist Brad Johnson (see separate 2020 AMSA award story here).

Davis coached two national championship meat judging teams (Texas A&M 1973; Texas Tech 1989) and was the recipient of Distinguished Master's Graduate Student at Texas A&M (1975). He is the recipient of an Outstanding Teacher and Hall of Fame - Distinguished Service awards from the Department of Animal Science (Texas Tech 2004; Washington State University 2008); along with the Tom Glazier Award - Texas FFA (2008); Passion for Excellence Award - Texas FFA Foundation (2008); and CASNR Outstanding Agriculturalist - Agribusiness (2009).

CONTACT: William Brown, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or william.f.brown@ttu.edu

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Editor's Note: A new online, video-orientated Red Raider Orientation is now available for our Fall 2020 incoming students. The microsite features a 'Meet the Deans' introduction, six CASNR department videos, three 'How To' videos, four 'Helpful Links' and a FAQ section.