Tony M. Forshey, Dvm

Dr. Tony M. Forshey (DVM), age 69, of Hebron, passed away on Friday, November 26, 2021 at The Ohio State University Hospital East. Tony was born August 31, 1952 in Caldwell, Ohio to the late Brady Dean and Faye Eileen (Schafer) Forshey.

The family will receive friends from 1-7 p.m. on Friday, December 3, at the Johnstown Baptist Church, 450 South Main Street in Johnstown, Ohio. A private celebration of a life well lived will be broadcast via Facebook Live at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 4, on the Johnstown Baptist Church’s Facebook page. LINK: Johnstown Baptist Church | Facebook Please go to the church’s Facebook page’s video section to view the Live Stream. Pastor Larry Griffin will officiate.

Per Tony’s wishes, his ashes will be scattered at a later date.

Tony graduated from Shenandoah High School in Sarahsville, Ohio, where he later received the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1996. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences from The Ohio State University and went on to receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Ohio State.

Dr. Forshey was a leader in animal health--both well known, and well respected. He had a passion and commitment to agriculture and animal health. Dr. Forshey practiced veterinary medicine for 27 years, with a major interest in swine production involving much of the Midwest. From 1985-2005, he was an Adjunct Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, mentoring Ohio State Vet Med students while maintaining his private practice. From 2006 to the present, he was a State Veterinarian and Chief of Animal Health with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. He held numerous leadership roles at the national level, serving on the Board of Directors for the United States Animal Health Association and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture. His professional memberships and affiliations, as well as his honors and awards, are numerous. Dr. Forshey left a lasting mark on the Ohio Department of Agriculture, our state, and our nation.

Tony had a great passion for serving others. He was a member of the Johnstown Baptist Church and served as a Diaconate Board Member and Property Trustee. While residing in Northwest Ohio he was a member of Wauseon Lodge #349 Free and Accepted Mason and was also a member of the Wauseon Rotary Club and served as President before stepping down from the Club when he took a new position in Columbus as State Veterinarian. He served as inventory data processor and coordinator of Cinderella's Closet of Northern Kentucky, a non-organization which helps style young women for their high school proms. Tony was appointed as a founding member of the Refugee-Canyon Joint Fire District in November 2019, by elected and appointed representatives of the Village of Hebron and Union Township. His leadership, commitment, passion, and vision for quality service to the community contributed to the success of the fire district.

Tony’s professional memberships and affiliations include the following: member of the National Swine Influenza Working Group, Vice Chair of the Ohio Dangerous Wild Animal Advisory Board, member of The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB), Vice Chair of OLCSB, Chairman of OLCSB Technical Advisory Committee,  member of the OSU Extension 4-H Animal Sciences Strategic Advisory Committee, member of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine Agricultural Advancement Board member of the Ohio Livestock Export Council, member of the National Animal Health Information Technology Board (NAHITB), Chairman of The Aquaculture Task Force for The Ohio Department of Agriculture (2009), Chairman of The Equine Task Force for The Ohio Department of Agriculture (2009), member of The Ohio Pork Producer Council (OPPC) Producer Education Committee, member of OPPC Swine Health and Research Committee, Member of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and past President of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA).  He was active on the planning committee for the first annual NIAA Antibiotics Symposium in 2011, which brought together the animal health and public health communities to discuss antibiotic use and resistance, member of The Board of Directors of The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA), President of The North Central USAHA 2009, Treasurer of the North Central USAHA 2010-present, Chairman of The USAHA Animal Livestock Identification Committee 2009-2014, Ex-Officio Member of The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors, Ex-Officio Member of The Ohio Livestock Coalition Board of Directors, member of The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, former member of the Board of Directors for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, representing District 1 for 2 terms, member of The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), member of the Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee of AVMA, member of the AVMA House of Delegates Advisory Committee (2012), former Chairman of The Columbus Serum Company Customers Council Advisory, former member of Newport Veterinary Laboratories Pig Pro Advisory Board, Worthington, Minnesota, , former board member and officer of Professional Veterinary Products, Ltd., former Advisory Board member to The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute at Wooster, Ohio Department of Agriculture, contributing author for National Hog Farmer Magazine – “Veterinarians on Call” articles, member of the Steering Committee of The Ohio Pork Industry Center, member of the Ohio Swine Health Advisory Board, former Chairman of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association Swine Sub-Committee to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Co-Chairman of the Swine Update Program, Department of Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Foreign Animal Disease Practitioner training, 2006. Member of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials. On behalf of the Ohio Department of Agriculture and in the role of State Veterinarian, Tony worked side by side with Ohio commodity groups: Beef and Dairy Cattle, Cervid, Poultry, Swine, Small Ruminat, Equine Industry, Dog Breeders, Aquaculture, Future Farmers of America, 4-H and Ohio Fair Boards & Managers, and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

His honors and awards include the following: Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award 2021, NIAA Meritorious Service Award 2021, Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductee 2020, Ohio Fair Managers Dedication and Service Award to  Ohio Fair Managers and 95 Fairs 2020, NIAA Chairman’s Award 2019, Ohio Pork Producers Council Friends of the Ohio Pork Industry Award 2018, IAA Advocate for Animal Agriculture Award 2015, Fulton County, Ohio Agriculture Hall of Fame 2015, Recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine 2013, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Beef Industry Service Award 2013, Joint Council of Extension Professionals Friend of Extension Award 2013, Recipient of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture Chairman’s Award 2012, Recipient of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinarian of the Year Award 2010, Ohio Pork Producers Council Service Award for Outstanding Service, The Ohio Swine Industry 1998, Recipient of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association’s Meritorious Award for service to The Ohio Swine Industry 1997, Who’s Who in American Society and Business Award 1992 and Recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine 1987.

Tony is survived by his loving wife, Jill E. (Davis) Forshey, and together they have a blended family including sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Brandon and Dr. Melissa Forshey of Morral, OH and Brady and Dr. Ashlea Forshey of Pittsburgh, PA; daughters and son-in-law, Janelle Snyder of Omaha, NE and Jessica (Jeff Mankel) Meehan of Birmingham, AL; and grandchildren, Isabella Snyder, Connor Snyder, Lily Mankel, Harper, Laney and Quinn Forshey. Tony is also survived by 12 siblings, Ed (Chris) Forshey of Caldwell, OH, Linda (Dale) Archer of Fort Myers, FL, Robert (Debbie) Forshey of Caldwell, OH, Randy (Melanie) Forshey of Sarahsville, OH, Susie (Gary) Dimmerling of Cincinnati, OH, Penny (Paul) Gamrat of Concord, OH, Carolyn (Terry) Martin of Summerfield, FL, Jackie (Jack) Treadway of Guysville, OH, Jay (Cheryl) Forshey of Barnesville, OH, Punky (Don) Rose of Racine, OH, Pat (Peggy) Forshey of Howard, OH and Greg (Kim) Forshey of Sarahsville, OH; aunts, Blanche Pryor Schafer of Memphis, TN, Hazel Schafer Smithberger of Harrietsville, OH and Darlene (Thurman) Forshey Kelly of Grove City, OH; uncle, Carl (Sue) Forshey of Green Cove Springs, FL; father-in-law and mother-in-law, David and LaDonna Davis of Lincoln, NE; sister-in-law, Abby Davis of Kearney, NE; step-brothers-in-law, Steve (Ann) Schrader and David (Jody) Schrader, all of Omaha, NE; step-sister-in-law, Brenda Woodworth of Loveland, CO; many nieces and nephews, several cousins, and many dear friends and colleagues.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by dear family, friends, and colleagues.

Special thanks to Dr. Alan Forshey, Tony’s cousin, for his hands-on caregiving during Tony’s illness.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.

Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Dr. Forshey and his family.