South
Florida
Beef -
Forage
Program
"Article of the Month"
March 2002
Dr. William "Bill" E. Kunkle
Pat Miller, Okeechobee County Extension
"Dr. William "Bill" E. Kunkle, 54, died unexpectedly Thursday, February 21, after playing racquetball.
Born in Hudson, Ohio, Dr. Kunkle received his college degrees from The Ohio State University, finishing
his Ph.D. in 1974. He was on the faculty in the Animal Science Department, University of Maryland,
until he moved to Williston, Florida from Columbia, Md., in 1980, after accepting a position as Beef Cattle Extension
Specialist at the University of Florida.
Dr. Kunkle served as the state Beef Extension Specialist and conducted research in beef cattle nutrition.
He also guest lectured in beef-stocker and feedyard management. His graduate teaching included serving
as an adviser and committee member for students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees. He was well
known throughout the beef cattle industry in Florida and the nation. He participated on numerous
national committees and task forces. Dr. Kunkle was a highly respected member of the Florida Cooperative
Extension Service who worked closely with Extension Agents, allied industry representatives and
cattlemen throughout the state. Bill maintained a small beef herd at his farm near Williston. He was
an active member of the Florida Cattlemen's Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and also served in the National Guard.
Survivors include his wife, Dr. Gail Kunkle of Williston; sons Matt and Ben Kunkle, both of Williston;
brothers Donald Kunkle of Ofalvordton, Ohio, Richard Kunkle of Pioneer, Ohio, and Curtis Kunkle of Bryan,
Ohio; and sisters Mary Stahl of Fort Lupton, Colo. and Susan Swab of Hudson, Ohio."
The above is the "official' announcement of the tragic loss of one of our friends and colleagues's.
We attended Bill's memorial service outside Gainesville on Friday, March 1. It was an all together
fitting tribute to Bill, conducted by the Animal Science Department of which he was so much a part, with
eulogies offered by many of his friends, colleagues, clients and co-workers. The service was held outdoors
in a beautiful setting among ancient oaks laden with moss adjacent to a pasture with cattle grazing off in
the distance. Surely a fitting setting for Bill, his kind of place.
The speeches were eloquent and heart felt. Bill has indeed touched many of us in a variety of lasting
ways. Many spoke of his humor, his athleticism, his frugalness, his ability to work with and be a part
of any group in which he found himself. And it was obvious that Bill was a genuine individual who played
the game straight, told you what he thought, was totally unassuming and always gracious. We all knew
the same Bill. Nearly all sighted his uncanny ability to take a complex situation, sort it into manageable
pieces and find workable solutions.
This was perhaps Bill's biggest strength. In his 22 years with the University of Florida, Bill addressed
complex and difficult problems within the Florida cattle industry, designing and carrying out research to
address the problem, then finding practical and economically sound ways to implement solutions on the ranch.
Bill has been a big part of the South Florida Beef/Forage Program since its inception. He has aided the
effort through his research, presentations, insight and wisdom. His professionalism and friendship will
be forever missed.
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