The University of Missouri Board of Curators voted Thursday to name the building that houses the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at Mizzou after veterinarian and former state Sen. Dr. Dan Brown.
UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves said designating the "Dr. Dan Brown Building” would recognize the late senator’s lasting contributions to veterinary medicine and agriculture in Missouri.
“Dr. Brown served the state and the University of Missouri admirably as both a private citizen and a public servant,” Graves said. “His time in the Missouri legislature and his work as a private practice veterinarian made him a model citizen, and we are proud to commemorate his legacy of service to our state by naming the Dr. Dan Brown Building in his honor.”
Brown was a proud alumnus of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and a respected veterinarian who served the Rolla community for more than 30 years. Brown served in the Missouri General Assembly for a decade, two years as a state representative and eight years as a state senator.
Brown's leadership in the Missouri Senate and House further underscored his unwavering commitment to agriculture and veterinary medicine, but he also supported these industries beyond his official duties as well. He was an active participant in the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (VMA) and the West Central VMA, and he was a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau.
In addition, he served as Senate Appropriations chair during his final two years in the General Assembly’s upper chamber, where he advocated strong financial support for the university and its mission.
“Senator Brown was a strong and effective supporter of higher education throughout his life, and he believed in the power of the university to provide students with the tools to make their lives and communities better through education,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “We’re proud to name a building at the College of Veterinary Medicine after such a stalwart champion of our purpose.”
The newly named Dr. Dan Brown Building houses the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL), the only full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Missouri accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.
Faculty and staff work diligently at the VMDL to provide relevant, timely and cost-effective diagnostic services. In 2024 alone, veterinarians, animal owners and researchers from across Missouri and from 51 states and provinces used the services provided by the VDML. The lab managed approximately 63,500 total cases and conducted nearly 204,500 tests.
“The work done at this facility serves Missouri, the United States and the world,” said College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Srinand Sreevatsan. “We’re happy to provide diagnostic services to our clients -- like the agriculture industry, veterinary clinicians working with companion animals, researchers, wildlife conservationists and more – all while fostering a positive learning environment for our students and residents.”
Brown's legacy continues through his son, current state Sen. Justin Brown, and his grandson, Brody Brown, the latter of whom is currently a 3rd year student at Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
"My father treasured his time at Mizzou and I know he would be honored to have a facility named after him where so much important work is done in the field of veterinary medicine," Justin Brown said. "I'm thankful to the Board of Curators for this commemoration of my father's life and work."
