John Arthur, DVM
Professional Pet Center
14010 Manchester Road
Ballwin, MO 63011
Office: 636-391-2299
Office Fax: 636-391-1599
Cell: 314-303-2622
Rotary has been a part of John Arthur’s life ever since he was a child. His father was a long-time Rotarian and was president of the Winchester, VA, club in 1936-37. John’s been a member of Rotary for 40 years and has possibly belonged to more Rotary clubs than anyone else in the Des Peres club. 
 
After graduating from the University of Georgia veterinary school in 1965, John served two years as an Army officer at the small animal clinic at Ft. Campbell, KY. With military duty behind him, John was establishing his veterinary practice when he was proposed for Rotary membership in 1967. His sponsor had been proposed for Rotary membership years earlier by John’s father. John served as president of the Winchester club in 1971-72 and led a GSE team to Sweden in 1978. 
 
After selling his Winchester, VA, veterinary practice to two partners in 1986, John located to Hilton Head Island, SC, where he began a veterinary consulting firm and substituted at various practices. And he immediately joined the Hilton Head Island Rotary club. 
 
Hilton Head Island was a great place to live, although John noticed that he was at least 20 years younger than any of his neighbors. And sometimes life brings about unexpected changes. In 1988, John’s wife, Martha, was killed in an automobile accident.  John married Tandy Thompson, a St. Louis native, in 1989. Tandy was ready to return to St. Louis, and John was willing to try a new city. Together they established Professional Pet Center in Ballwin in 1989. Soon John joined another Rotary club, the Ballwin club, now the Metro West club. 
 
In 1994, John joined the Des Peres club and served as an Assistant Governor during Miles Schwartz’s tenure as District Governor in 1996-97. In 1998, John and Tandy finally found a farm, a long time dream. Planning to sell his practice, John joined the Bowling Green, Missouri, Rotary club in 2000. Plans changed, and he found himself spending more time in St. Louis, so he rejoined the Des Peres club in 2003. Through life’s many transitions, Rotary has been a constant for John. 
 
Recently John was recognized for his professional veterinary practice by the Consumers’ Research Council of America in the Guide to America’s Top Veterinarians (first edition, 2006).  The council is an independent research company based in Washington, DC, that evaluates professional services throughout the U.S. According to the council, top veterinary care professionals were chosen based on education, experience, and professional affiliations. 
 
John has many veterinary jokes and anecdotes. Be sure to ask him about his favorite story. He’ll know which one you mean.
 
John has two adult children, Mike and Karen, a granddaughter, Carolyn, and a great granddaughter, Trista.
 
Hobbies include motorcycling, tennis, and farming. Travels this year included a cruise along the inside passage of Alaska. Foreign travels have included boating on the Canal du Midi in southern France, as well as touring southern Spain visiting Tandy’s childhood haunts.

Last updated Sept. 2007