Thomas M. Ammons, III (Col ’66, Law ’69 L/M) has been recognized for his contribution to animal welfare as a volunteer and as a district court judge by the Norfolk, Virginia, SPCA, who has named an award for him. The Thomas M. Ammons III Award for Animal Welfare will be given annually in the fall and will alternate each year between regional/state and state/national recipients to recognize individuals who made a difference in animal protection and welfare.

As a judge, Mr. Ammons made national headlines when he sentenced a man to jail for killing a kitten in 1989. At that time, it was unheard of and considered extremely harsh for the cruelty of killing an animal. Judge Ammons is a former board member of the Virginia Beach SPCA, regularly volunteered to help at the shelter, traveled out of state to rescue animals following Hurricane Katrina and became government certified in large animal rescue.