Gordon A. Doak
Gordon Doak was born Feb. 20, 1947 and grew up on a diversified dairy farm 30 miles east of St. Joseph in Clinton County near Osborn.
He graduated from Cameron High School in 1965 and enrolled in the University of Missouri. While in college Gordon took part in a variety of activities. He was a three-year letterman in both football and basketball; two-year letterman in track; was captain of the rugby team; member of Phi Gamma Sigma fraternity; president of the National Honor Society; member of the Willing Workers 4-H Club; member of the Cameron Symphonic Band; and semi-finalist in Ted Mack’s Original Hour-Trumpet Trio.
Gordon graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture from MU in 1969 and received an M.S. in dairy science in 1970. He continued his activities as a graduate student and was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities and won the 1973 Award for Excellence in graduate student teaching.
Another major event in his life occurred August 5, 1973 when he married Rebecca Doak. Fifteen years later Taylor Jennings Doak was born on Nov. 20, 1985.
His list of professional activities has 18 entries most of them related to dairy science. Included are the American Dairy Science Association; American Society of Animal Science; Dairy Shrine Club; International Embryo Transfer Society; National DHIA Quality Certification Program; National DHIA Labor Efficient Records Monitoring Program; National Cooperative Dairy Herd Improvement Policy Board; Council of Dairy Cattle Breeding; plus others related to the dairy industry.
From 1976 to 1988 Gordon was service director of Certified Semen Services, Inc., and technical director of the National Association of Animal Breeders from 1976 to 1988. In 1988 he came president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Animal Breeders and Certified Semen Services, Inc.
He continues to hold these positions and his office is located in Columbia.
Doak has spent more than 30 years working to improve the genetics of farm animals through artificial insemination (AI). As service director of CSS he has the responsibility for the self-regulating body of the industry that assures proper identification and health practices by the AI industry.
The standards promulgated by CSS helped the industry establish credibility and confidence in the semen sold by firms serving the AI industry. Gordon also served as technical director of NAAB in its technical and research activities.
As president of NAAB/CSS Gordon provides liaison between the boards of directors; association committees; the membership; and allied groups of industry. He has built the international trade of cattle genetics, and this trade has become a vital part of the AI business by providing added resources for building the domestic industry.
Dairy and beef producers globally have access to better and more affordable genetics because of the export opportunities the AI firms have. Discussions among governmental agencies that regulate international trade in animal genetics are facilitated by NAAB and are highly dependent upon Doak’s expertise.
Doak has served on many committees related to the dairy industry including the National Cooperative Dairy Herd Improvement Program; the national DHIA quality certification committee; the US Dairy Genetics Council; the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Livestock Products; the Joint Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding; US Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.; and the Agricultural Research Service selection committee for the Science Hall of Fame.
Doak was nominated for the award by Harlan Borman, Missouri dairyman; Charles Sattler of Select Sires; and John Meyer, chief executive officer of Holstein Association USA, Inc.
His current interests for relaxation include racquet ball and golf.