Artist: Thomas W. (“Tom”) Orlando (1931–2025)
Don L. Good
GOOD, DON LADOYT (1921–2012), inducted 1987
Don Good made a controversial but extremely influential decision in the show ring at the 1969 International Live Stock Exposition: he selected the first crossbred animal as grand champion market steer. This decision led to a shift toward larger performance-type cattle, impacting the future of the cattle industry. Dr. Good was also credited with pioneering the idea of correlating carcass characteristics to live animal evaluation in the ring. Raised on an Ohio farm, Good earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State, his master’s degree from Kansas State (where he was high individual in livestock judging in 1950), and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (1956). He joined the faculty of Kansas State University in 1947, heading the Department of Animal Science from 1966 to 1987. Following a 1966 tornado that heavily damaged the agricultural buildings, Dr. Good established the Livestock and Meat Industry Council to raise additional funds for the department’s needs. The American Society of Animal Science honored him with three major awards: Distinguished Teacher (1973), Honorary Fellow (1978), and Animal Industry Service (1982). Dr. Good received the Livestock Publications Council’s Headliner Award in 1997.
Source: Saddle & Sirloin Guidebook 2026, p. 97