Roll Call Tribute

Roger Bruce Harvey 

July 9, 1946 - June 23, 2024 

Dr. Roger Bruce Harvey, 77, of College Station, Texas, left us on June 23, 2024. He was a studious, yet fun loving, joyful, generous, joke-telling person who will be missed.

Born in Orange, Texas on July 9, 1946 to the late Mason G. and Hazel L. Harvey, Roger is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anna Bell Young Harvey, daughter, Leanne Harvey Haverkost and husband, Todd of Fulshear, Texas and son, Rick Harvey and wife Joy of New Braunfels, Texas; five grandchildren, Zachary Haverkost, Chloe Haverkost, Jensen Harvey, Jamesen Harvey and Ryan Harvey. Additionally, he is survived by his sister, Sherry Harvey Vinson and husband Jim of New Boston, Texas, their sons Rich and JP Vinson and their families.

Roger graduated from Bridge City High School in 1964, entered Texas A&M University that same year (Class of '68) and graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1969. The year 1969 was very important to Roger; not only did he graduate from vet school, and enter active Army duty, he met the love of his life, Anna Bell Young ('70). The two were married the following year and spent the first three years of marriage in Fairbanks, AK, where Roger was stationed. Leanne was born there in 1971 and in 1974 Rick was born in San Marcos, Texas.

Following military service, Roger was engaged in private veterinary practice in San Antonio and San Marcos, served as Texas Extension Poultry Veterinarian in College Station, and was the Director of Technical Services for Agri-Bio Corporation in Gainesville, GA. In 1983 he completed the degree for Master of Veterinary Toxicology at Texas A&M University and began working as a Research Veterinarian for the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, College Station, Texas until retirement in 2024. During his research career, Roger published over 250 articles about foodborne pathogens and food safety and was a recipient of numerous research awards. He was internationally recognized as an expert on the effects of mycotoxins in poultry and mammals and in 1991 received the Daniel E. Salmon Award as Federal Veterinarian of the year. He was proud to have lived and worked in College Station and served in various capacities in numerous community civic organizations for over 25 years. He continued his military career in the Army Reserves for a total of 32 years and retired as Colonel in 1998.

Roger loved his family, enjoyed cooking, travel, hunting, and fishing. His grandchildren were his little loves and he and Anna Bell frequently took them to the beach, the deer lease and the mountains. The grandchildren adored "Abi" and "Papa." He and Anna Bell traveled to most of the provinces of Canada, virtually all the U.S. States, Italy, Germany, Scotland, New Zealand, Mexico, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Brazil, Britain, and Costa Rica. Roger and Anna Bell were Aggie football ticket holders for over 30 years and partnered with Paul ('68) and Ginny Johnson to celebrate tailgates at Kyle Field.

In lieu of a formal service, there will be a casual service of happy remembrances at the Stella Hotel in Bryan, Texas on July 20, 2024 from 2-5 p.m. This will be a time of joy, a celebration of life, a time of jokes and stories, and an overall good day. It could be likened to an old fashioned Irish Wake. Bring your stories and your thirst.