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Memorial services honoring the life of Dr. Ralph Kampschmidt, 87, will be Saturday at 11 a.m, January 22, 2011, in the Centennial Chapel of Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home and Crematory with Reverend Dan Patman officiating. A time of visitation and support for the family and friends will be this evening at the funeral home from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Born in 1923 in Gerald, Missouri, to the late Alma Vogt Kampschmidt and Louis Kampschmidt; the family moved to Fayette, Mo., where Ralph attended grade and high school; he became an outstanding athlete on the high school track and field teams.
Following graduation he entered the University of Missouri. His education was interrupted by a period of two years of military service in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant.
Returning to the University of Missouri, he received his PhD in Bio Medicine. While there, he taught courses in Animal Husbandry at Stevens and William Woods Colleges, where he trained many of Missouri’s first veterinarians.
After graduating, he was employed by Armour and Co., at Chicago, Illinois, in the research department.
While there he discovered the method, still used today, to keep pork and other meats from turning green under the display lights in butcher shops.
In 1954 Ralph and the former Frances I. Jackson were married. Later that year he accepted a job with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, and they moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma.
At the Noble Foundation he did basic research, eventually discovering the body protein, known as Interleukin 1.
Among his accomplishments was his election as “Oklahoma Scientist of the Year” in 1985, as well as an award from the Oklahoma Academy of Science for “Meritorious Service to Science in Oklahoma”. He was most proud of his lifetime honorary membership to the Reticuloendothelial Society, presented to him in Ithaca, N.Y., in 1985. He had published 89 articles and reports in scientific journals and 12 chapters in books.
In 1992 Dr. “Kamp” was chosen “Alumni of the Year” by the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, as well as the preceding year’s Citation of Merit from the University of Missouri Alumni Society.
In 2007 Ralph was chosen to be honored by the Ardmore Military Museum. A commemorative plaque hangs in the Hall of Honor at the Southwest Historical Museum.
A member of the First United Methodist Church, Ralph had been former Chairman of the Board of the First United Methodist Church of Ardmore, and served in other board positions. He had also served as Chairman of the Board at the Ardmore YMCA. A longtime member of the Ardmore Kiwanis Club, Ralph has served as President and held numerous other offices within the club. He is especially remembered by Kiwanians for his talk to them (with songs); on the subject of “I’ll take Liver”. He gave of his time generously to many other civic organizations and activities.
Memorial services honoring the life of Dr. Ralph Kampschmidt, 87, will be Saturday at 11 a.m, January 22, 2011, in the Centennial Chapel of Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home and Crematory with Reverend Dan Patman officiating. A time of visitation and support for the family and friends will be this evening at the funeral home from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Born in 1923 in Gerald, Missouri, to the late Alma Vogt Kampschmidt and Louis Kampschmidt; the family moved to Fayette, Mo., where Ralph attended grade and high school; he became an outstanding athlete on the high school track and field teams.
Following graduation he entered the University of Missouri. His education was interrupted by a period of two years of military service in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant.
Returning to the University of Missouri, he received his PhD in Bio Medicine. While there, he taught courses in Animal Husbandry at Stevens and William Woods Colleges, where he trained many of Missouri’s first veterinarians.
After graduating, he was employed by Armour and Co., at Chicago, Illinois, in the research department.
While there he discovered the method, still used today, to keep pork and other meats from turning green under the display lights in butcher shops.
In 1954 Ralph and the former Frances I. Jackson were married. Later that year he accepted a job with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, and they moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma.
At the Noble Foundation he did basic research, eventually discovering the body protein, known as Interleukin 1.
Among his accomplishments was his election as “Oklahoma Scientist of the Year” in 1985, as well as an award from the Oklahoma Academy of Science for “Meritorious Service to Science in Oklahoma”. He was most proud of his lifetime honorary membership to the Reticuloendothelial Society, presented to him in Ithaca, N.Y., in 1985. He had published 89 articles and reports in scientific journals and 12 chapters in books.
In 1992 Dr. “Kamp” was chosen “Alumni of the Year” by the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, as well as the preceding year’s Citation of Merit from the University of Missouri Alumni Society.
In 2007 Ralph was chosen to be honored by the Ardmore Military Museum. A commemorative plaque hangs in the Hall of Honor at the Southwest Historical Museum.
A member of the First United Methodist Church, Ralph had been former Chairman of the Board of the First United Methodist Church of Ardmore, and served in other board positions. He had also served as Chairman of the Board at the Ardmore YMCA. A longtime member of the Ardmore Kiwanis Club, Ralph has served as President and held numerous other offices within the club. He is especially remembered by Kiwanians for his talk to them (with songs); on the subject of “I’ll take Liver”. He gave of his time generously to many other civic organizations and activities.
Survivors include his wife, Frances; children, Kimberly Weber and her husband, Robert of Sugarland, Texas, Dr. Kit Kampschmidt and his wife, Ann of Houston, Texas, Coby Lee Fore and her significant other, Brett Neher of Ardmore, and Kerry Kampschmidt and his wife, Camille of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandchildren, Allison, Sara and Jake Weber, Dr. Chris Williams and his wife, Jennifer, Bryce Fore, Erin and Jordan Kampschmidt, and Kaeli and Kira Kampschmidt; a sister-in-law, Jo Kampschmidt of Shelbina, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation or a charity of your choice.
Memorial condolences may be made online at www.hdouglasfuneralhome.com.
Services will be directed by Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home and Crematory.
