Leroy Nichols Atkinson was born on May 12, 1916, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the older of two boys.   Both later became veterinarians.  Leroy received his veterinary degree, graduating with honors, from Kansas State University in May of 1941, and married Elizabeth Steele in July of 1941.

He spent the World War II years working for Mark Morris in Stelton NJ where he assisted in the development of Prescription Diet for animals.  Simultaneously, he served as a consultant to Merck Institute and Bureau of Biological Research, Rutgers University, in Laboratory Animal Medicine as well as Squibb, and Johnson and Johnson, all in the same capacity.

In 1948, the family, 5 members by then, moved to Des Peres, Missouri, and established a home in a small house, and converted a detached two-car garage into County Animal Hospital.  Over the years, everything expanded; family, house, hospital buildings and personnel, including veterinary assistants. 

Dr. Atkinson spoke for Schering Laboratories in New York in 1956 at the Symposium on Meticorten, and again in 1957, in Los Angeles, California, at the Pacific Coast Veterinary Symposium.  He was a guest speaker at state veterinary conventions in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Missouri University Short Course, and University of Illinois Short Course.  He was also a guest speaker at local associations in Kansas City, Iowa Small Animal, Greater St. Louis, Dallas-Fort Worth, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Central Illinois, Western Kansas, Southwest Missouri District, Southeast Missouri District, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Mississippi Valley, Midwest Small Animal-Burlington Iowa, and West Central Iowa-Cedar Rapids.

While running a growing practice and frequently speaking at various veterinary conventions throughout the United States, he was an active member in several professional associations.  These include the American Veterinary Medical Association for whom he was Co-Chairman of the Small Animal Section in 1965-66, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association for which he was Vice President in 1968 and President in 1970, a member of the Radiology Committee and the Co-Chairman of the Distemper Immunization Committee of the American Animal Hospital Association, and Chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Committee to the Missouri University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1960.  He was President of the Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association and served on the Board of Directors for the same association, and was the Chairman of the Program Committee for the Midwest Small Animal Association and American Animal Hospital Association Regional Conference.  He was on the Advisory Board of the Veterinary Museum, and the veterinarian at the National Retriever Field Trials Club for four years.  In 1968, he received the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association “Veterinarian of the Year” Award.

Dr. Atkinson passed away on October 31, 1990.  He left in his wake a family of six children, their spouses and many grandchildren.  County Animal Hospital remains a productive and respected animal health facility, now being operated by his oldest son, Gary Atkinson, D.V.M.