When William Omar Reece received his DVM from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954, he expected to enter private veterinary practice, as did 99% of his classmates. According to him, they knew very little about alternative veterinary careers except doing meat inspection for the government. He did not expect to get a Ph.D. and probably did not expect to be looking back at 33 years of a diverse and distinguished academic career at ISU CVM. He did not know then that his life would take this path, but I think I speak for the many others who have been fortunate enough to meet, work with, or be taught by Dr. Reece when I say, we are certainly glad that it did. When I spoke to Dr. Reece this spring about his 1998 retirement, he said he has "no regrets".