College meets fundraising goal to build new hospital thanks to $1 million estate gift

A $1 million installment of a multimillion-dollar estate gift from a South Florida cattle ranch owner to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine will help ensure the construction of the Veterinary Education and Clinical Research Center, which includes a new small animal hospital.

College administrators said the gift puts the UF veterinary college just over its $4 million private fundraising goal. The college’s financial commitment is expected to be matched and supplemented with additional state dollars to complete the project, which is estimated to cost approximately $50 million.

“Our hope is that groundbreaking for our new hospital will take place in 2008 and that the facility will be completed by 2010,” said Dr. Jim Thompson, associate dean for students and instruction, who was interim dean at the time the first gift installment was received.

“The college and hospital faculty, staff and students know how fortunate they are to receive these gifts and to have the opportunity to continue to expand the health care of animals,” Thompson added.

Warren Wiltshire, a UF alumnus and business partner of the personal representative of the estate of Robin Weeks, came to UF Sept. 23 to present the $1 million check to UF President Bernie Machen and college administrators.

With him was Dr. Mike McNulty, a mixed-animal practitioner and a member of the college’s class of ’83. McNulty was Weeks’ veterinarian and friend for many years. Along with another “cowboy” friend, McNulty worked with Weeks’ four herds of Brangus cattle, moving them from one pasture to another several times each year.

He also served as Weeks’ pipeline for information when she decided to put the UF College of Veterinary Medicine in her will.

“I’ll never forget, a few years before she died, I was leaving her ranch late on a Saturday afternoon and I told her, ‘I’m going to stop and get a six-pack of beer and a lottery ticket.’ She immediately replied, ‘you’ve already won the lottery.’”

McNulty added, “I looked at her quizzically and she explained, ‘with your education, you’ve already won the lottery.’ She knew education was a sure ticket, if not to wealth and riches, at least to a better life. I’ve never forgotten that afternoon and appreciate it greatly every time I think about it.”

McNulty said his parents were Irish immigrants who had no education and who stressed the importance of his education. Some time later, he shared with Weeks his plans to leave his property to the UF veterinary college upon his death.

“I think that registered in her mind,” he said, adding that a short time after Weeks became ill with throat cancer, she asked to meet with him at her home.

“I sat down with her and she said she wanted me to give her some information about how to make a gift to the veterinary college,” McNulty said.

Weeks died in September 2005.

“The majority of her estate assets consist of agricultural real estate in Glades County,” said Weeks’ longtime accountant and personal representative Bob Richardson.

“There definitely are additional funds that will be available and have been earmarked to the College of Veterinary Medicine,” Richardson said.