Donald Lee Wakeman has been a lasting influence in the livestock industries of Florida and the nation. In 1953, he became beef manager at the University of Florida while he pursued his master’s degree in beef cattle nutrition. He rose through the ranks as an instructor in 1954 to full professor in 1978. He has provided leadership in numerous extracurricular activities furthering the training of young people. He coached the intercollegiate livestock team at UF for 25 years and advised the Block & Bridal Club.Wakeman has written extensively for both scientific and popular journals and collaborated on numerous articles on livestock. He has been instrumental in funding student scholarships, including one in his name awarded for the first time in 1988. He has judged almost 400 local, national and international livestock shows, has served as delegate-at-large to the Florida Horse Council and advisor to the livestock committee at the Florida State Fair.