Dr. Raymond D. Ediger, a longtime resident of Frederick County, particularly the Thurmont and Utica communities, has recently received a Distinguished Alumni Award for “Excellence In Practice” from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

According to a statement from the University: “Dr. Ediger’s 62-year career has encompassed numerous accomplishments and awards. While serving in the Veterinary Corps as director of the Fort Detrick Biological Laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland, he was credited for making it one of the leading laboratory animal facilities in the U.S. He is also credited for developing procedures for the caesarean-derivation of germ-free colonies of laboratory animals. Many of his innovations are now accepted as the gold standard in the care and use of laboratory animals. Dr. Ediger is a Diplomate of the College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and created the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Animal Facilities Diagnostic Laboratory, which served the NIH laboratory animal colonies on the Bethesda, Maryland, campus. As the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture (MDA) state veterinary epidemiologist, he initiated the Maryland Scrapie Eradication Program and was honored as MDA’s Most Outstanding Employee of the Year.”