In 1947, Dr. Albert Nagle built a new veterinary hospital, Nagle Veterinary Clinic, in OlmosPark, a suburb of San Antonio. Prior to this, he had served in the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis in San Antonio during World War II. He was a 1938 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, but he chose the warmer climate of southwestern Texas for his family and practice. In the beginning years, Dr. Nagle served both large and small animal clients. As the growing city of San Antonio encroached upon him, he limited his practice to companion animals only. His wife, son and daughter worked with him at the hospital for many years; however, during the last 20 years of his practice time, he had a single employee, Jacque Anderson, who served as his receptionist, technician and practice manager. Dr. Nagle remained a sole practitioner throughout his lengthy 48-year career. He died in 1995 still doing the work for which he held a great passion. The family kept the practice going with relief veterinarians during the next several months. One of those relief doctors, Dr.Kenneth Kirlin, a 1983 graduate of Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, assumed leadership of the practice in January 1996. During the first year, he leased the hospital to make certain that he could make a success of it. After thatyear, he purchased the practice and renamed it Eagle Veterinary Hospital in hopes of literally making it soar. Dr. Kirlin had initially arrived in San Antonio in 1983 and worked for Dodd Animal Hospital for 13 years before starting his new practice. In addition, hehad already served in a preceptorship at the San Antonio Zoo during his senior year at OSU and wanted to continue his relationship with the zoo. Over the years, he did relief work at the zoo when their regular veterinarian was away. Today, he continues his exotic animal medicine passion within his small animal practice.
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