1917-1993
Hubert Heitman, Jr., born in Berkeley, earned his BS in Animal Husbandry at UC Davis in 1939 and his MS and PhD degrees in Animal Nutrition from the University of Missouri in 1943. He was married in 1941.
After serving in the Army, he returned to Davis to join the faculty of the Animal Husbandry Department. Through his research in the areas of swine nutrition and environmental physiology, he worked to improve methods for commercial pig production. During much of his career he delved into nutritional research on a variety of feeds ranging from traditional grains and alfalfa to algae grown on sewage. Perhaps the most publicized research he initiated was a study examining the effect of increased use of the hind legs on size of ham. The pigs were fed from elevated feeders that required that they stand on their hind legs. As a result of the publicity surrounding this project, Hubert was a guest on the "What's my line?" TV show. In 1962 Hubert was named "Man of the Year" by the California Pork Producers for his contibutions to the industry.
In addition to his research efforts, Hubert taught a wide variety of graduate and undergraduate courses and coached award-winning student livestock judging teams. He was selected as "Honored Guest" for one of the Little International Livestock Showmanship Contests held on campus.
Hubert was actively involved in a range of UC programs. He served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, was a member of the Chancellor's Academic Council, and the agricultural planning and coordinating committee of the UC-University of Chile Program. He twice served as Chairman of the Department of Animal Science.
Professor Heitman devoted considerable time and energy to intercollegiate athletics at UC Davis. He served as member and chair of the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee, and as faculty representative to the Far Western Conference from 1969 to 1983. Hubert was instrumental in maintaining the amateur status of athletics at Davis.. He was active in promoting women's athletic programs. The Heitman Award, funded by Hubert and his wife, Helen, is presented yearly to the outstanding female athlete at UCD. In 1990 Hubert was inducted into the Cal Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame.