Dr. Tom Echols looks forward to ranching and golfing as he retires from vet practice this month
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
As Dr. Tom Echols prepares to retire from over 40 years of practicing veterinary medicine in Stephens County, there are a few things that are on his mind. He’s looking forward to spending more time with his grandkids and more time on the golf course; he’s going to miss visiting with his customers, many who have become friends over the years; and, he’s trying to figure out what to do with Mikey, the three-legged cat who greets visitors at the vet clinic on U.S. Highway 180, east of Breckenridge.
The Mikey dilemma concerns whether he moves to the home of Tom and his wife, Lisa Echols, or stays at the clinic with the new vets who are coming in. Last week, Echols was still considering the post-retirement living options for the fluffy orange cat who sometimes likes to give visitors a little nip if they aren’t paying enough attention to him.
Dr. Tom Echols is trying to decide if Mikey, the three-legged cat, will stay with the vet clinic or go home to live with Echols and his wife, Lisa, after the veterinarian retires later this month. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Becoming a vet was something Echols wanted to do since he was in the seventh grade, he said. Although he lived in Stephens County when he was very young, Echols’ family moved to West Texas when he was about 2 or 3 years old. After graduating from Odessa Permian High School, Echols attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1978, and then joined the U.S. Army. He worked as a veterinarian in the Army, serving for two and a half years in active duty at Fort Sam Houston and Fort Knox. After he got out of the Army, he served for 18 years in the Army Reserves.
In 1981, he and Lisa moved to Breckenridge, where both of their families had lived for more than 100 years (now almost 150 years) — her family since 1878, his since 1879.
He started out working with Dr. Don Pitts until 1990, when Echols opened his own clinic, taking care of both pets and farm/ranch animals, big and small, in Stephens County.
Last Thursday afternoon, he came in and washed up after tending to a customer’s cattle. Then, he turned his attention to the four dogs brought in by Bobby and Kitty Lankford. They’ve been bringing their pets to Echols for more than 10 years, Kitty said. “He’s always been our vet,” she said. “He’s wonderful.”
As Echols prepares to retire, he said visiting with people like the Lankfords will be something he’ll miss. He enjoys treating their dogs and talking to them about their worldwide travels.
He’s also enjoyed the opportunity to get out and treat animals on the ranches in the area. “I’ve got to meet some sure-enough cowboys, good ranchers, good stewards of the land,” he said. “And, I’ve learned a lot from them, how to handle cattle…”
In retirement, Echols plans to tend to the cattle on his ranch, take the grandchildren fishing and hunting and teach them to golf. “Golf is kind of my passion, but I just get to play two or three times a year,” he said.
Since he went to veterinarian school in the 1970s, a lot has changed in the profession, but one change will be evident in the new vets who will be taking over Echols’ practice. When he was in school, Echols said, only about 20 percent of his fellow students were women, and his class was one of the first with a large number of female students. Today, he said, the numbers have flipped and about 80 percent of the veterinarian students are women.
After Echols retires, his practice will be taken over by Salt Creek Veterinary Hospital, which is owned and operated by a group of female veterinarians. They own clinics in Albany, Graham, Anson, Olney and Seymour and will take over his office when he wraps up later this month.
With just a few more days as a practicing veterinarian in Stephens County, Dr. Tom Echols says he has just two words for the community: Thank you.
Dr. Tom Echols, left, visits with friends and customers at a fish fry he held earlier this month to thank his long-time customers before he retires. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Dr. Tom Echols, center, chats with Bobby Lankford, left, as he treats Lankford’s dogs, including Nix, being held by Chloe Peacock, office assistant. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
