FLOYD D. CARROLL (1914-1998)

Floyd Dale Carroll, Animal Science Professor Emeritus, died December 7, 1998, in Davis. Dr. Carroll was born in Mount Clare, Nebraska, the ninth of 12 children. He grew up on the home farm where he was known as Sam (after his father) and graduated from high school in 1932. The following year he entered the University of Nebraska and majored in animal husbandry and meat science, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1937. His undergraduate activities included membership in the Livestock Judging Team, Farm House Fraternity, Reserve Officers Training Corps, Pershing Rifles Honorary Military Organization as well as the honorary agricultural fraternity of Alpha Zeta and the Block and Bridle Club. He then enrolled in a master's degree program at the University of Maryland to receive training in the fields of meats and meat processing under the direction of the USDA. After finishing that degree in 1939, he came to UC Davis as a teaching assistant where he taught laboratory sections of biochemistry, livestock judging courses and supervised special research problems for advanced students. In 1942 he was called to active duty in World War II and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force until 1945. While in the service, Floyd met Frances Whitman, a native Sacramentan whom he married in 1944.

In 1946, Carroll returned to Davis and continued graduate studies and research toward a Ph.D. in Nutrition which he received in 1948. He was advanced to the faculty rank of Instructor in 1949 and subsequently proceeded through the academic ranks to Professor in 1964. He retired in 1981. Floyd taught courses at all levels including biochemistry, physiology, meat science, nutrition and livestock production. He earned the respect of students and had the reputation of being well-prepared, accurate and thorough in presentation and concerned for the well-being of his students.

Dr. Carroll's research included muscle biology factors influencing meat quality. His meat research in the 1970s contributed significantly to improved USDA beef grading standards. In 1976 Floyd established a sensory panel to evaluate differences in the eating characteristics of meat from double-muscled and normal-muscled cattle.

Floyd spent many months abroad assisting foreign investigators with their research programs. In 1955 he received a Fulbright grant to work at the University of Ceylon. In 1963 he worked at the University of Hawaii on the Western Regional Beef Cattle Improvement project of the USDA, contributing to research on nutrition and carcass evaluation. In addition, Floyd and Fran spent the 1967-68 academic year at the University of Chile as representatives of the University of California in the California-Chile cooperative program. A sabbatical leave in 1973 took Floyd to the CSIRO Meat Research Laboratory in Brisbane, Australia. Through these experiences, Floyd and Fran were ambassadors of international good will. Floyd will be remembered for his outreach programs and his service to foreign students, visiting scientists and livestock producers.

Gifts in memory of Dr. Carroll may be made to the Animal Husbandry Memorial Fund in support of department programs and student activities (checks payable to U.C. Regents - Animal Science). Send to the Department of Animal Science, c/o Gary Anderson, Chair, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8521.