Celebrating the Life of Dr. John Mabry

John William Mabry, age 74, passed away on May 29, 2025, surrounded by his family after an impactful and rewarding life. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 1-3:00 p.m. at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincolnway, Ames, Iowa.

John was born in Batesville, Arkansas on October 17, 1950, son of the late Charles E. and Doris Meggs Mabry. With his family, he was a member of the First Methodist Church of Batesville and its UMYF youth activities. He was also very active in 4H and FFA, winning the Arkansas State 4H Swine Project Award and multiple livestock and meats judging championships. He graduated from Batesville High School in 1968 and went on to Oklahoma State University, the alma mater of both his parents.

At OSU, he majored in Animal Science and was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity. John was very active in the judging team programs at OSU, focusing on the Meats Judging and Meat Animal Evaluation teams under the guidance of Dr. Tom Carr. He was high individual in the 1971 International Meats Judging Contest with recognition in every contest he competed in. He was an active member of Block and Bridle, Alpha Zeta, as well as multiple honorary societies. His advisor and mentor at OSU was Dr. Irv Omtvedt, under whom he decided on a career in teaching swine genetics at the University level.

In 1972 John graduated from OSU, and that fall started graduate training at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Here he majored in Animal Breeding and Genetics, working with Dr. Lauren Christian. Dr. Christian reinforced the importance of teaching, applied research, and working with the industry for success at the university level. While at ISU, John coached the Meats Judging Team and assisted with several Animal Science courses and the Block and Bridle Club. He completed his Master of Science degree in 1972 and his Doctorate degree in 1976 in Animal Breeding and Genetics with a minor in Statistics.

John started his university career in 1976 as Assistant Professor in a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin River Falls in the Animal and Dairy Science Department. Here he taught courses in Introductory Animal Science, Swine Production, Genetic Improvement in Livestock, Livestock Evaluation, Meats Judging, and Applied Statistics. In addition, he advised Animal Science students, coached the Meats Judging Team and the Meat Animal Evaluation Team, and advised the Block and Bridle Club and Alpha Zeta. He also conducted several applied research projects focusing on swine production. At UWRF he was recognized as the Outstanding Teacher in Animal Science and the College of Agriculture.

In 1979 he was contacted by Dr. Louis Boyd and offered a job in Animal and Dairy Science at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA with both teaching and applied research responsibilities. He moved to UGA in July of 1979. Most importantly it was there that he met Brooks (Bebe) Henderson, marrying her in 1987. Their daughter, Carey Brooks (Mabry) Segebart was born in 1988.

John started his UGA career as Assistant Professor of Animal and Dairy Science with teaching and applied research responsibilities. He taught undergraduate courses in Introductory Animal and Dairy Science, Swine Production, Genetic Improvement in Livestock, Meats Judging, Livestock Evaluation, and Graduate courses in Advanced Animal Breeding and Genetics. He also advised both undergraduate and graduate students at UGA as well as serving as advisor to the Block and Bridle and PreVet Clubs, and Alpha Zeta. His excellence in teaching was recognized at the Departmental, College, and University levels with awards from the Block and Bridle, Alpha Zeta, D.W. Brooks Award, AGHON, NACTA, UGA Ag Alumi Association, and the Golden Key Awards. In 1990 he was recognized with the ASAS Young Educator Award for the Southern Section. His research program was both broad and impactful, initially focusing on application to swine production, then focusing on the development and implementation of across herd genetic evaluation programs and their use in efficient genetic systems for commercial swine producers and genetic improvement programs in swine. He was fortunate to work with the faculty team developed by Dr. Larry Benyshek while at UGA.

John particularly enjoyed his family life while at UGA. Bebe and Carey were very active in the US Pony Club and the many equestrian activities available in the Athens area. His role was in capital access and logistical coordination, and he took great pleasure and pride in the family successes.

During his time at UGA, John was promoted to Associate Professor, then to Professor of Animal and Dairy Science. His responsibilities also grew to include a formal role in Extension Education focusing on swine genetic improvement programs. He had a major role in the development and implementation of BLUP technology for genetic improvement in swine at the farm, national, and international levels. John worked with swine producers across the country and in 30+ foreign countries in the area of computerized swine records and data-based decision making.

In 2000 John was contacted by Dean David Topel from Iowa State University and was hired as Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center with appointment to the faculty in Animal Science. The mission of the Iowa Pork Industry Center is to be a leader in applied research and technology transfer to the pork industries of Iowa, the USA, and internationally. His major research emphasis was in the development and implementation of across-herd and within-herd genetic evaluation programs, along with development of cost-effective genetic systems for the swine industry. His work with the Iowa Pork Producers Association and its members was most enjoyable and rewarding. John worked at ISU until his retirement in 2015.

For all his contributions, John received more than 30 awards at the departmental, college, university, regional, and national levels. He was particularly proud of the numerous teaching awards, the three national ASAS awards, the Graduate of Distinction Award from Oklahoma State University, the Honorary Master Pork Producer Award from IPPA, and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Pork Board.

After retirement, John engaged in two of his favorite activities: travel and golf. Having been fortunate to have lived and made friends at the different locations in his life, he loved to drive to these places and meet with lifelong friends, whether over a meal or on the golf course.

John was preceded in death by his parents, and survived by his wife Bebe, daughter Carey Segebart, son-in-law Alex Segebart, beloved granddaughter Hannah Brooks Segebart, sister Charlene (Gordon) Creeger and brother Ed (Venus) Mabry.