Retired Virologist William H. McCollum Dead

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William H. McCollum, an authority on equine infectious diseases, died July 1 at a Lexington hospital. He was 83.

McCollum began working at the University of Kentucky in 1947 and retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2004 after 55 years of service to the horse industry. One of his greatest contributions was development of a vaccine against equine viral arteritis (EVA) long before it was called into use for the Thoroughbred industry outbreak in 1984.

McCollum, who was a professor in equine viral diseases at UK's Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington for many years, published more than 100 scientific papers. Known as "Dr. Mac" by many of his colleagues, friends, and students, McCollum served in the Marines during World War II before finishing his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Kentucky. He received his Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin.

McCollum started his career at the University of Kentucky as an assistant bacteriologist after receiving his masters degree. He became a faculty member after completing his Ph.D. From 1962-64 he was a visiting professor at the Institute Pertanian Bogor in Indonesia.

During his career he became known around the world as an expert on equine viral arteritis. He was part of the team that created the 2001 U.S. Department of Agriculture video entitled "Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA): A Manageable Problem."

McCollum's survivors include his wife, Suann, and a stepson, Mark.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested for the Youth Building Fund at Trinity Hill Methodist Church in Lexington or the Methodist Children's Home in Versailles, Ky. By Kimberly S. Brown

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