J.L. "Jay" Lancaster

Dr. J.L. "Jay" Lancaster was born January 26, 1923 in Horatio, Arkansas. He graduated from Horatio High School where he was an Honor Student. He valued education and appreciated his excellent teachers in the study of Biology, Chemistry, English and Latin. After graduation he worked his way through college and lived in the Boys 4-H House at the University of Arkansas. Following his junior year in college, he was called into service in the U.S. Army. After basic training, he attended officer's training school and served as a Second Lieutenant in the 75th Infantry Division as a platoon leader in a cavalry reconnaissance platoon. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Following the war, he returned to the U. of A. where he graduated, married and left immediately for Cornell University where he earned a PhD. in Entomology. After four years of graduate study, he returned to the U. of A. as an Assistant Professor of Medical and Veterinary Entomology. He researched new methods and insecticides for control of mosquitos, lice, ticks, and livestock flies. He became a familiar figure to livestock producers and experiment stations throughout the state. His work on the Lone Star tick and rising human fatalities from tick fever led to a year of sabbatical leave in 1963. The sabbatical year was spent in research at the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana. There, under Dr. Willy Burgdorffer, he observed the methods for detecting fever caused by tick bites. He was also known for his research of the brown recluse spider. He returned to his duties at the U. of A. where he became a Professor in Medical and Veterinary Entomology. He served until his retirement in 1993. He enjoyed his work and retired from the U. of A. after 43 years and six months. He often said, "I stayed as long as they would let me!" He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Virginia Pauline Lancaster of Fayetteville; three children, Donn Lancaster (Carol) of Richmond Virginia; Richard Lancaster (Becky) of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Susan Lawrence (Ben) of Montrose, Arkansas; and, two sisters and a brother in Texas. He was preceded in death by one son, Eric Lancaster (Peggy), his parents and one brother. He had six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Dr. Lancaster's ashes will be interred at a family reunion this summer. Memorials may be made to: J.L. and Virginia P. Lancaster Endowed Scholarship, c/o the University of Arkansas Foundation (535 Research Center Blvd., Suite 120, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701) or, Butterfield Trail Village Foundation Scholarship Fund, (1923 E. Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville, Ark. 72703). The family thanks everyone for their kind expressions of support and sympathy. To sign the online guest book visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.