Dr. Maurice Weldy Scholarship

The late Dr. Maurice L. Weldy practiced veterinary medicine for 40 years in the Wakarusa, Indiana, area and established himself as a large-animal surgeon, bovine sterility expert, speaker and seminar leader. As an alumnus and longtime supporter of Goshen College, M. L. Weldy wanted to help students interested in science attend Goshen College. Through a bequest from his estate, the Dr. Maurice L. Weldy Scholarship has been established for science students demonstrating financial need.

M. L. enrolled at GC at the age of 21. He found the work difficult at first, having enrolled in several advanced science courses at once. However, extra help from professors helped him over those first hurdles and from that time on, M. L. excelled.

After a year at CC, Maurice transferred to Michigan State University at Lansing and graduated in 1941. Diploma in hand,

M. L. and his wife, Irene, decided to settle in Elkhart County.

The Weldys had family ties that made Wakarusa an attractive place to live. Another reason was the need for veterinarians in an area with a high concentration of dairy cattle —— M. L.’s first animal love.

For many years, the veterinary practice was truly a family affair. Irene kept the books and she and their two daughters, Alice and Charlotte, often accompanied M. L. on calls. In fact, Irene helped deliver numerous calves.

In time, M. L.’s practice grew so that he established a veterinary clinic and hired several other doctors to work with him.

M. L. became a leader in the field of large animal veterinary medicine. He served as president of the American Bovine Practioners Association, wrote the monthly Herd Health column for Dairy Herd Management and delivered numerous papers and lectures at local, state, and national and international meetings on various aspects of bovine practice.

Dr. Weldy died May 10, 1979, after a brief illness.

M. L. led an extraordinary, intense life. He showed his sense of responsibility to God and humans through the way he knew best–through caring for cows, horses and other animals.