About Dr. George Brant
I was born and raised in Stroud, Oklahoma. This is a small town about halfway between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. I lived on a small acreage outside of town most of my life until I graduated from High School and went to college. I lived about a mile from my grandfather who owned 3/4 of a section. I spent a lot of time helping him. The animal side of his operation consisted of perhaps 50 beef cows, a half dozen milk cows, 3 horses (including a Shetland pony), 3 or 4 sows and a few dozen chickens. On the crop side he occasionally raised field corn and potatoes. On a regular basis we put up milo, wheat, oats, alfalfa hay and grass hay. He did custom bailing and custom threshing for farmers in the area. Several times a year he would slaughter a beef steer and a market hog. I got to be involved in all of these activities.
During high school I was involved in FFA. I held four offices ending with president. Upon graduation from Stroud in 1959 I entered Oklahoma State University, enrolling in Poultry Science and Biochemistry. I completed all degree requirements for both majors and completed 150
semester credits in four years while working to earn all money for my education. At that time 30 extra credits (158 semester credits total) were required for two degrees so I elected to graduate in Poultry Science.
During high school I had decided I wanted to become a college professor. I was interested in transferring genes from one species into another. Unfortunately, molecular genetics hadn't been invented yet. Since it was clear I wouldn't be able to do that any time soon, I looked for other options. During my junior year I became fascinated with nutrition and decided to get a PhD in nutrition. It seemed to me that a background in physiology might be useful so I decided to obtain an M.S. in physiology. I completed my M.S. in physiology at Oklahoma State in 1965. I went to U.C. Davis, graduating with a Ph.D. degree in Nutrition in 1971.
I arrived on the ISU campus in April of 1971. On my first day I was immediately put into the classroom to teach AnS 365. The course was about half way through and was handed off to me by another professor. Over the years I have taught a number of courses including AnS 114, 214, 214L, 224, 301, 318, 319, 365, 400A, 400B, 400C, 401B, 401C, 420, 423, 424, 495, 495B, 496, 496A, 496B, 518.
I first started working with computers when I was an undergraduate at Oklahoma State University. My interest continued over the years. I've learned so many computer
languages I'm not sure I remember them all now. However, within a year or so after arriving at ISU I became involved with Plato, an early educational computer system. I have written many computer programs that I used in my classes, primarily in AnS 114, 214 and 423. My most successful program (computer lesson) was an interactive pig breeding program called FARMER. It was used for a number of years at universities around the U.S. and in Australia. I am still interested in developing computer lessons for teaching, but have had little time in recent years.
Recently my primary interest in teaching has been developing a "tissue library" for use in the anatomy lab, AnS 214L, and mentoring students that help in that lab. This semester that is 24 students.
My wife and I have been married since 1965. Our oldest daughter graduated from U of I in psychology. Our middle daughter received two degrees from ISU, a BA in Russian and a BS in math along with a minor in German. Our youngest son graduated from U of I with a BA in business.
Over the years I have been advisor to several undergraduate clubs including the ISU chess club, Block and Bridle Club, Ag Council, WAAC (World Association of Ag Councils) and the KumDo club.
I am a member of several professional organizations and numerous honorary organizations. I serve as chair of the Initiation and Awards Ceremony Committee of Gamma Sigma Delta.
In the fall of 1989 I decided to start martial arts. I was almost 48. I have lower belts in JuDo and TaeKwonDo. My real love, however, is HapKiDo (pronounced Hop Key Doe). This is a self-defense martial arts. I would have loved to have started this one in my teens! I am a second degree black belt in HapKiDo and served 6 years as Secretary of the SIBBA (State of Iowa Black Belt Association).AnS Research | AnS Extension | Affiliated Centers | AnS Faculty | AnS History
April 2002