Dr. Don Clanton, emeritus professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, passed away December 8, 2025 in Castle Rock, Colo.
Donald Cather Clanton was born in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, on December 22, 1926, to Russell Cather and Wilhelmina Marie (Willo) Clanton. He was raised on his family’s sheep and cattle ranch in Harding County, southeast of Buffalo, South Dakota.
He began his education in a one-room schoolhouse, riding a horse there each day. He graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1944.
He served in World War II from April to November 1945 in the Aviation Cadet program in the Army Air Corps (which became the U.S. Air Force). Don was stationed at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, where he repaired fuselages, fuel tanks and plexiglass on aircraft.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) in 1949, his master’s degree from Montana State University in 1954 and his doctorate from Utah State University in 1957, both in animal nutrition.
Don met Gloria Jean Blue in college and they were married June 24, 1950. Although Gloria graduated from Colorado A&M with a bachelor’s of science degree, she worked many odd jobs while Don was continuing his education. She then focused her energies on being a homemaker, teaching continuing education extension classes, working at Educational Service Unit 16 and as the church treasurer. Gloria passed away in 1994.
Don joined the Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) in 1958. In 1966, he became the beef cattle research program leader at the UNL North Platte Station (now West Central Research and Extension Center). In 1981, he was named coordinator for Beef Cattle and Range Research at UNL Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL). He, along with his colleagues from various disciplines, built GSL into an internationally recognized range research facility in the Nebraska Sandhills. He retired from UNL in 1989.
Don’s career at UNL included teaching, research and extension work. Over the course of his career, he advised 14 master’s students and 14 PhD students. He considered working with graduate students his greatest accomplishment.
His contributions were recognized internationally, as well as by University of Nebraska students and faculty. In 1987, the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) presented him its Fellow Award, a distinguished honor given to only a select few lifetime members of the society to recognize their accomplishments and service in animal agriculture. Other honors have included the ASAS Animal Management Award in 1975 and the Society for Range Management’s Nebraska Section Service Award in 1985.
In 1971, Don and three other owners established Cattle Growers Inc. a feedlot operation in Stapleton, Nebraska, which continued until late 1989.
In 1973, he became involved with raising purebred Simmental cattle and was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the American Simmental Association in 1981.
In 1996, he purchased 155 acres of grazing land near Elizabeth, Colorado, moving there in 1997. He built a house, barn and corrals and backgrounded a new set of yearling steers each summer. He enjoyed sharing his four horses with his grandkids.
In 2005, Don sold his home in Elizabeth and purchased a home in Castle Rock, Colorado. That was when he really retired, as he donated his last two horses to HorsePower Therapeutic Riding Program for youth with special needs. Don volunteered at HorsePower, focusing on horse management and served on the program’s board of directors.
In 2014, he sold his home in Castle Rock and moved to a senior living community where he lived until his death on December 8, 2025, two weeks shy of turning 99.
Don was involved in Rotary International in North Platte and Castle Rock for more than 50 years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award for volunteer service. He was a member of the Elizabeth American Legion Post 82. He was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church in North Platte, Nebraska, and found new church homes in Elizabeth and Castle Rock.
Don is survived by his son Chuck, who lives in Hampton, Minnesota, and daughter Willo Auger who lives in Castle Rock. He is also survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life is planned for January 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3737 New Hope Way, Castle Rock, CO 80104 and will be live-streamed at newhopepres.org.
When Don moved to North Platte in 1966, he proposed establishing a research ranch, which was realized with the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) in 1978. To honor and continue his life’s work, the family requests donations be made to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Don and Gloria Clanton Fund for GSL Research (Fund No. 01140790).
