Thomas Sullivan

Thomas Sullivan, 85, of Russellville, died Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock. He was born September 30, 1930 in Rover to Tom H. and Anna A. Castleberry Sullivan. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, on the board of the Wesley Foundation and the Mount Eagle Retreat Center. Mr. Sullivan graduated from Tech in 1949 and then went on to complete his bachelor's degree at Oklahoma A & M College (now OSU) in 1951. He then went on to receive a master's of science degree in animal nutrition at UA. He earned his Ph. D. in Nutrition and Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin in 1958. Dr. Sullivan served as professor of poultry science at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) in 1958 to 1993. He served as poultry section leader in the Animal Science Department from 1984-1993. He helped found the Nutrition Interdepartmental Graduate Program at UNL in 1963 and served as chairman of the Graduate Committee for eight years. He supervised 20 Ph. D. candidates and served on numerous graduate advisory committees. He was named an Honorary Fellow by the Poultry Science Association in 1994. He earned the America Feed Industry Nutrition Award in 1995 for feed phosphate and mineral nutrition research with turkeys. After retirement he taught poultry science courses at Tech as an adjutant professor. In 1997 he was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Arkansas Tech. In 2002, Sullivan was recognized as a member of the Heritage Society of the Kiwanis International Foundation. He was a Kiwanis (past) Governor MO/Arkansas district from 2004-2005. He was also the past secretary of the Democratic Party and Briggsville Fire Department Board. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Anna J. Sullivan Fryar; and a grandson, Nickalus Cathey. Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Maggie Cathey Sullivan; two step-sons and daughters-in-law, Nickey and Pat Cathey of Dardanelle and David Alan and Angie Cathey of Lincoln, Nebraska; a step-daughter, Johnnie Cathey of Little Rock; a foster son and his wife, Ron and Barb Born; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Charles and Nina Sullivan of Van Buren and Paul Sullivan of Briggsville; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Fred Ward of Modesto, California and Mary Jean and Harvey Sharp of Kansas City, Kansas; eight step-grandchildren, Josh and Noah Cathey, Cassie Born, Ashley Hobby, Chris Fauber, Hunter, Colton and Colby Elliott; three step-great-grandchildren, Summer, Cody and Landon Cathey; and a host of nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 9, 2016, at Wesley United Methodist Church, officiated by the Rev. David Ruehr and the Rev. John Palmer. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Briggsville and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m., until service time at the church. Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 300 N. Cumberland Ave., Russellville, Arkansas 72801 or the Wesley Foundation, 1111 N El Paso Ave, Russellville, Arkansas 72801. Pallbearers will be Mark, Ron, Brad, Wesley, Jordan and Rhett Sullivan. Honorary pallbearers will be the past and present Kiwanis members. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.