Dr. Paul L. Spencer and his wife, Dalena, are residents of Jefferson City.  They are the parents of three children, Paula Kay, Carol Jean and Sondra.  They own a 320-acre family farm in Barton County.

Dr. Spencer received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1951 from Kansas State University.  He served as Assistant State Veterinarian for the Missouri Department of Agriculture from 1951 to 1968.  Dr. Spencer was the Assistant State Veterinarian and State Veterinarian in charge of large animal disease eradication for the State of Illinois from 1968 to 1986.  He then returned to Missouri, serving as Executive Director of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board until his retirement in November of 1991. 

Dr. Spencer was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, United States Animal Health Association, East Central Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Retired Veterinarians.  He received the MVMA’s honor as the Veterinarian of the Year for 1992.  He served as co-chairman of the MVMA’s Special Events Committee, which was instrumental in organizing and implementing the special activities during the convention.  He also served as a member of the MVMA Public Health and Environmental Protection Committee, and was a member of the united Stated Animal Health Association’s Pseudo Rabies Committee. He also wrote monthly articles for the MVMA newsletter on the history of the association as well as on the history of veterinary medicine in Missouri.  Over the years, Dr. Spencer served as an officer of many veterinary organizations and committees.