Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Wilhelm Brass graduated from the Tieraerztliche Hochschule Hannover, where he received his Dr. med. vet. in 1951 and worked as a clinical instructor at the Clinic for Small Companian Animals from 1952 -1958, interrupted in 1954 by a fellowship at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Madrid Consejo Superior de Investigaciones. In 1958 he qualified as a professor at his Alma Mater with a habilitation thesis on "Experimental Studies on the Control of Shock" , whereupon he was appointed Assistant Professor at the Small Animal Clinic in Hannover.
From 1959 -1964 Wilhelm Brass held the chair at the Escola de Agronomia e Veterinária de Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil. There he also found his 2nd home. In 1965 he became full professor and director of the Clinic for Small Companion Animals in Hannover as successor of Professor Dr. Richard Völker. He led this clinic until his retirement in 1988 and can look back on a successful career as an internationally recognized scientist and university teacher with more than 100 scientific publications in recognized journals and co-authorship of several important textbooks.
In addition to his duties as clinic director, Wilhelm Brass devoted many years of voluntary work to the Institute for Wildlife Research at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. His achievements there include the resettlement of the black grouse.
Professor Brass has also earned a high reputation through his involvement with cynological organizations. He has been involved in HD diagnostics from the very beginning and has been an honorary member of the German Kennel Club (VDH) for many years. For this, he was awarded the golden pin of honor with wreath and diamond as the highest award. As a member and president of the scientific commission of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) he enjoyed worldwide recognition.
Until an advanced age, Professor Brass was able to lead a dedicated professional life both in Germany and in Brazil with a lot of strength, personal charm and joie de vivre. Due to his close connection to several Brazilian universities, he was appointed professor honoris causa by the University of Porto Alegre as the highest honor. He also found his final resting place in Brazil.
