Roll Call Tribute

Frederick Allen "Fred" Palmer 

May 31, 1937 - October 11, 2024 

Frederick Allen Palmer, 87, was called home on October 11, 2024. He was a Christian, a Texan, a Texas Aggie, a veteran, a veterinarian, an outdoorsman, a fisherman, a jokester, a loving son, a brother, a husband, Dad, and Grandaddy. He was a wealth of seemingly endless knowledge about wildlife and the rest of the great outdoors. He was a history buff, a student of the English language with a penchant for obscure words, and a source of never-ending homespun colloquialisms. He was a night owl and often the last to leave a social event. He had the gift of gab and could talk with anyone.

Fred was born on May 31, 1937, in Tyler, Texas. During his formative years, his father was superintendent of Tyler State Park, where Fred and his brothers experienced what he described as a Tom Sawyer childhood roaming the Piney Woods of East Texas and swimming and lifeguarding at the park lake. He graduated from Tyler High School in 1955 and from the A&M College of Texas in 1959 with a degree in wildlife biology. He began his career as a wildlife biologist and assistant project leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department handling wildlife research in central and southeast Texas. He also served on active duty in the U.S. Army.

Fred married the love of his life, Vola Nell Hicklen, on June 25, 1965. He returned to veterinary school at Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary science and ultimately a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1969. Vola and he welcomed their son, David, into the world only a few months afterwards. After working in clinics in Richardson and Arlington, Texas, he opened Brown Trail Animal Clinic in Bedford, Texas, where he practiced small animal medicine from 1973 until he sold the practice in 1994. The clinic stands to this day. Though semi-retired, he appraised veterinary practices for Simmons & Associates and was instrumental in founding its South Central office that continues to operate today. He ultimately founded Northgate Whitetails, a deer operation, on his ranch outside Godley, Texas, where he lived to the end. He was a member of Acton Baptist Church in Granbury, Texas.

He was a Distinguished Alumnus of A&M, an Outstanding Alumnus of the A&M vet school, and a season ticket holder to seemingly everything Aggie. He was a leader of nearly every organization he ever joined, serving as president of A&M’s Association of Former Students, the Fort Worth A&M Club, and the Tarrant County and Texas Veterinary Medical Associations; serving on the Executive Committee of A&M’s 12th Man Foundation; and, together with Vola, chairing the A&M President’s Advisory Council and the Development Council for the vet school. His legacy lives on partly in the form of various scholarships to A&M’s 12th Man Foundation, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, vet school, law school, and the Fort Worth A&M Club. Although Parkinson’s Disease robbed us of his best several years ago, we will deeply miss his presence until we join the reunion he is already having.

Fred is preceded in death by his parents, Willis Allen “Pete” Palmer, Jr. and Selma Sue Palmer, and younger brother, Bob. He is survived by his youngest brother, John, of Red Springs, Texas; wife of 59 years, Vola, of Godley, Texas; son, David, David’s wife, Karen, and grandchildren, Ellie and Graham Palmer, all of Fort Worth, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Acton Baptist Church (online at https://www.actonbaptist.com/give or by check mailed to 3500 Fall Creek Highway, Granbury, Texas 76049), the Texas A&M Foundation in support of the Dr. Fred A. and Vola N. Palmer Chair in Comparative Oncology (online at http://give.am/PalmerChairComparativeOncology or by check referencing “Dr. Fred Palmer ‘59 – #32263” and mailed to 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840), or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Wiley Funeral Home, 400 East U.S. Highway 377, Granbury, Texas. A celebration of a life well lived will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Acton Baptist Church, 3500 Fall Creek Highway, Granbury, Texas. Fred will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at the Aggie Field of Honor & Memorial Cemetery in College Station, Texas.

Services under the care of Wiley Funeral Home in Granbury, Texas.