Senter, Dr. Howard Gray – Age 84 of Knoxville, TN, passed away on February 5, 2010 at UT Medical Center. He is preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Senter; daughters, Gwendolyn Senter and Patricia A. McCray; parents, Gilbert W. and Camma Senter of Nashville, TN; brothers, Nelson, Harold, Gilbert, Thomas; sisters, Yvonne, Marian and Milbra. He is survived by siblings, Ronald Senter and Wilma Jackson; grandchildren, Douglas (Missy) McCray II, Micheal (Chandra) McCray, Brian McCray, Tiffany (Clifton) Hancock; great-grandchildren, Maia McCray, Chyna McCray and Vontez McCray; son-in-law, Douglas McCray, Sr.; special friends of the family, The Fulkerson’s of Lenoir City, Patricia McDaniel, Paulette Frazier, Janice Glasgow; McDonald Drive Church of Christ family and many nieces and nephews. Dr. Howard Senter grew up in Nashville, TN. He was number 5 of 10 children, with a twin brother Harold. His father, Gilbert, was an agricultural agent for Davidson County. He enrolled at Tennessee State University Agricultural School with the intention of studying agriculture. His education was interrupted by a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy. After the military, he went back to the School of Agriculture. At some point, he read a textbook describing various cattle diseases. From then on, he knew he wanted to be a veterinarian. He approached the Dean at TSU and asked him to develop a curriculum of pre-med for him to study. Sometime later, Tuskegee College announced it was opening a School of Veterinarian Medicine. Dr. Senter transferred there and in 1950, graduated with several others, with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, Dr. Senter seized the opportunity to move to Knoxville, TN, where he has lived ever since. He has practiced in East Tennessee with an enormous passion for the people and the animals that he cared. Dr. Senter was a trailblazer, being the first licensed African-American Veterinarian in the state of Tennessee. His involvement with his clients, community and church is extensive. Dr. Senter was the first African-American to serve on the Tennessee Board of Veterinarian Medical Examiners beginning in 1976. Other involvements: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Tuskegee Institute Alumni, National Housing Foundations, Chairman of the Board for Magnolia Federal Savings and Loan Association, President of East Knoxville Optimist Club, and the Board of Directors of Knox Zoological Parks, Inc. In 2007, Dr. Senter was presented with a proclamation from the City of Knoxville and the County of Knoxville, declaring December 8 as Dr. Howard G. Senter Day. Last, but not least, Dr. Senter served on the Board of Directors of the Knoxville Christian School and was honored in 2008 with an Appreciation Dinner. Forty-two years of service to the people and their animals at Broadway Veterinarian Clinic, 50 years of faithful membership to McDonald Drive Church of Christ, and a lifelong service to God, he was adored by many and will be missed by all. Pearlie Strong – “If we all patterned ourselves after him, I think we’d all be all right.” Services will be at McDonald Drive Church of Christ on February 13, 2010 located at 3800 McDonald Dr., Knoxville, TN 37914. Brother Van Hardin officiating. The family will be receiving friends from 4-6 p.m., with funeral services to follow at 6 p.m.

Published in The Tennessean from February 10 to February 11, 2010

This obituary was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 11:33 am.
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