Donald W. Lackey

Dr. Donald Warlick Lackey was born in Burke County on October 19, 1921 to John Eston Lackey and Fannie Warlick Lackey. In 1925, the family moved to the historic home, Holly Lodge, in the Happy Valley community of Caldwell County. He attended Happy Valley School and Lenoir High School, graduating in 1940. He graduated from North Carolina State University and the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1946 he opened his veterinary practice in Lenoir and married Dee Shelton Mitchell of New York. Dr. Lackey was Caldwell County’s first veterinarian, and for many years the only one. In addition to his very busy practice, Dr. Lackey was extremely active in his church and in all aspects of community life. In 1977, he retired from full time practice to travel worldwide with Dee and to spend time at his beloved Mulberry cabin gardening and enjoying his large extended family. In his professional life, Dr. Lackey served as president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association and was appointed by Governor Robert Scott to serve for two terms on the State Board of Health. In 1989, he received the state’s Distinguished Veterinarian Award. He was also a member of the N.C. Veterinary Medical Board and the N.C. Veterinary Medical Foundation, helping to bring about the establishment of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. He was on the original board for the forming of the Caldwell County Fair in 1949, and served as its director for many years. He donated his veterinary services to fair participants for 25 years and offered free assistance to 4H members. He received a special tribute from the Fair Association in 1980. He joined the Lenoir Rotary Club in 1952 and was an active member for over 50 years, twice serving as president and also honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. One of his proudest achievements was serving for 13 years on the Lenoir City School Board, beginning in 1955, and later serving two years as chairman, during which time he courageously led the effort to peacefully integrate the schools well before the federally mandated deadline. He also helped oversee the merging of the city and county school systems. He continued his commitment to the cause of education by serving as a member of the Caldwell Community College Board of Trustees for eight years, with four years as chairman, during which time he helped secure funds for the building of the Civic Center. He also was a member of the CCC&TI Foundation Board for eight years. In recognition of his service, the College created an award given annually in his honor, known as the Dr. Donald Lackey Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was a vital part of many other local efforts, among them the board of the Caldwell Memorial Hospital, Caldwell County Library Board, the Red Cross Board, the Caldwell Arts Council, the Heart Fund committee, the Lenoir Redevelopment Commission, and the executive board of Future Focus. He was active in the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce and was recognized for his outstanding leadership by receiving the Chamber's L. A. Dysart Award for service to the community In 2000, he was among those featured in the Lenoir News Topic as Caldwell County’s Most Influential People of the 20th Century. In 2003, he was in the first group of honorees to be inducted into the Caldwell County Schools Hall of Honor. A lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church, Dr. Lackey served at various times as deacon, elder, Clerk of Session, and Trustee. He also chaired numerous fundraising projects and pulpit search committees, as well as serving as Campaign Chairman for the building remodeling project of 1991. In 2003, he received a special resolution from the Men of the Church, honoring his lifetime of service. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dee Mitchell Lackey, brothers John Eston Lackey Jr, Pinckney Lewis Lackey, Roy Otis Lackey and sisters Sarah Katherine Lackey, Aurelia Lackey Greer and son Donald W. Lackey, Jr. Surviving are three daughters, Beth Lackey Flora of Lenoir , Sally Lackey of Mulberry Community, and Ginny Lackey McCurry of Cumming, Georgia, and one son, Alfred Mitchell Lackey of Mooresville, as well as six grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Sunday December 6, 2015 at 3:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Lenoir, followed by receiving in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, Lenoir Rotary Club, or NC State University School of Veterinary Medicine. PDF Printable Version