Korean Dignitaries Attend Dedication at OVC
February 01, 2011 - Campus Bulletin
The University of Guelph and members of the Korean Canadian community celebrated today the life of an extraordinary Canadian and a national hero in Korea by dedicating the Dr. Frank Schofield Memorial Seminar Room.
U of G president Alastair Summerlee and OVC dean Elizabeth Stone welcomed guests, including South Korea’s former prime minister Un-Chan Chung and Ji-In Hong, consul general to Toronto.
“For his contributions to the Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Schofield is remembered as a distinguished scientist and dedicated teacher,” said Stone. “For his contributions to Korea, he is remembered as the ‘tiger grandfather’ who supported Korean students and spoke out for Korean independence while a medical missionary from 1916 to 1920.”
“On behalf of the college, I extend sincere thanks to the Korean Canadian community, OVC faculty members and friends whose generosity and passion created this enduring tribute to Dr. Schofield’s legacy.”
The seminar room is located on the main level of the new Pathobiology/Animal Health Laboratory building. It is supported by donations from alumni of Seoul National University's College of Veterinary Medicine, the Dr. Schofield Memorial Association of Korean Canadians, and friends and colleagues.
Schofield’s career is showcased in a display in the seminar room developed by Vilnis Cultural Design Works of Eden Mills, Ont.
Schofield graduated from OVC in 1910 when it was still located in Toronto. He became a veterinary pathologist and taught at OVC from 1921 to 1955. His most famous scientific discovery was tracing a bleeding disease in sheep and cattle to mouldy sweet clover. That work led to development of vitamin K inhibitors now used worldwide to control blood-clotting.
But he is most revered in Korea, where he died in 1970, and is the only foreigner buried in the patriots' section of the National Cemetery. The epitaph on his tomb reads: “When I die, please bury me in Korean soil. Please take care of the boys and girls and the poor that I once cared for.”
In 2009, Schofield was named a person of national historical significance by the Canadian government.
