Bill Clymer, originally from Okemah, Oklahoma, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from OSU in 1965. He went on to become an agricultural instructor at Plainview High School in Texas before returning to OSU to pursue his Ph.D. in entomology with a focus on tick control in eastern Oklahoma.

 

Upon completing his Ph.D. in 1969, Clymer joined the Texas AgriLife Extension Service as a regional entomologist in Lubbock, Texas, and later moved to Amarillo due to the rapid expansion of the cattle feeding industry. He immersed himself in large animal systems, particularly beef feedlots, and began building his own cattle operation on a ranch near Amarillo, which now is home to a thriving cow-calf operation and an elite breeding program for bucking bulls.

 

After leaving Texas AgriLife Extension Service, he started a consulting and research company, primarily helping develop new and improved products for the livestock industry. He founded Clymer Research and Consulting, a pioneering veterinary parasitology firm that conducted contract research for pharmaceutical companies worldwide. The name was later changed to Agricultural Training and Technology Inc. Under his leadership, the company became a vital partner in developing groundbreaking livestock health products worldwide, including ivermectin, which revolutionized parasite control in the cattle industry.

 

His expertise and influence continued to grow when he joined Fort Dodge Animal Health as their international parasitologist, where he led technical efforts to advance products such as Cydectin, improving parasite control and minimizing environmental impacts. His work extended internationally, supporting projects in South America, Australia, Kenya and Europe, and establishing him as one of the leading parasitologists in the global cattle sector. He was also retained by the United States Government to assist in solving a fly problem with one of the top facilities in Saudi Arabia.

 

A voice well known in rodeo arenas across the country as a rodeo announcer, Clymer has never forgotten his roots at OSU. He established a scholarship for students on the rodeo team who are pursuing agricultural degrees, directly supporting the next generation of Cowboy leaders. He also remains actively involved with the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, engaging with faculty to explore new opportunities in veterinary entomology education. Clymer also served as an adjunct professor at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.