Insight/Report on Private Giving

Spring 2005

Adams-Atkinson Arena, MRI Center Vibrant Tribute to “Western Gentleman”

Kenneth E. Atkinson often was described as a true western gentleman who did business with a handshake. And, as a true Westerner, one of Atkinson’s passions was horses which he treated with care and kindness, often telling those around him “Remember boys, our horses got us where we are, let’s treat them kindly.”

It was Atkinson’s love of horses – he was elected Horseman of the Year by the Colorado Horse Council – that brought him to Colorado State University where he sought veterinary medical treatment over the years for his companions. Though he died last year, Atkinson’s spirit still lives on at CSU through his generous donations and fundraising activities that gave the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences the Adams-Atkinson Arena and the MRI Center at the Gail Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center. He was a driving force behind fundraising efforts to build the B.W. Pickett Equine Center and also funded improvements at the center.

The Adams-Atkinson Arena, located at the Foothills Research Campus, houses an indoor arena, tack rooms, wash rack, treatment rooms, box stalls, office and a classroom. The arena is a teaching facility and provides horse-related clubs on campus with more arena time. The arena also is optimal for clinics, small shows, summer camp classes and demonstrations. As Atkinson would appreciate, there is almost always something going on with horses at the arena. The arena itself was donated by the late Bud Adams and his wife Louise Adams, of Scottsdale, Arizona, while the Atkinson family funded the move and reconstruction of the building.

Atkinson’s and his wife, Virginia’s, most recent gift was funding for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment that is now in place at the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center. MRI is the gold standard for identifying joint disease in humans and is the best technique for non-invasive joint evaluation. Because of equipment limitations, MRI has had limited use in equine medicine. With the Atkinson gift, clinicians and researchers now have in their hands a tool that is opening up a whole new field of study in equine medicine, and could be the greatest advance in equine orthopaedics in recent years.

The Atkinson legacy, with gifts totaling more than $2.5 million, is helping to shape the future of equine medicine and enabling cutting-edge diagnostic procedures that will ensure horses today and tomorrow get the finest orthopaedic care possible. After all, as Atkinson would say, let’s take good care of these horses, they got us here.