Dr. Royal W. Ranney, a native of Shelby County MO, served in the U. S. Navy Air Force following high school graduation in 1945.  He attended college at Cornell and Bucknell Universities while in the Navy and completed his B.S. in Agriculture at the University of Missouri in 1950.  He farmed with his father in Monroe County and taught in the veterans’ on-farm training program.  He returned to UMC and received his M.S. in Animal Physiology in 1960 and D.V.M. in 1964.  He established a mixed animal practice in Grinnell IA following graduation and moved to Rolla MO in 1966.

Dr. Ranney is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, East Central Veterinary Medical Association and Western Veterinary Conference.  He is a charter member of MVMA Academy and MVMA Foundation and served on various committees in the MVMA.  He was President of ECVMA and Delegate to MVMA.  He served as President of MVMA in 1987, Chairman of the Board in 1988 and received the Veterinarian of the Year award in 1989.

Dr. Ranney is a member of First United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine.  He has served on the Advisory Council of Boy Scouts and Order of DeMolay.  He was active as a Shrine clown and in Motor Corp.  He assisted in developing a rural fire and water district in Phelps County and served on the Phelps County Fair Board.

Dr. Ranney’s interest is advancing the profession of veterinary medicine and in continuing education.  He has spoken to many farm and urban groups, 4-H clubs, students in K-12 grades, and took high school students to visit UMC College of Veterinary Medicine.  He has worked with students on projects, held tours during National Pet Week, and provided “Petpourri” videos, posters, books and educational materials to area schools. 

Dr. Ranney has served on the Board of Directors of Western Veterinary Conference for several years and was installed as President on February 22, 2000, in Las Vegas. 

He lives in Rolla with his wife, Merle, and they have two sons, Stevan of Oak Park IL, and Mark of Rolla.