Glenn Thomas, DVM

Practice Owner

Dr. Glenn Thomas is a native of Tupelo, MS. Born and raised there, he grew up with horses, cattle and other small animals he could raise. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Millsaps College. He then earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University. He built Tupelo Small Animal Hospital in the summer and fall of 1993 and with his partner Stephen King, they opened in January of 1994. His veterinary areas of interest are Pediatrics, Behavior, General Surgery and Oncology. He also enjoys overseeing the day to day operations of the practice.

He presently has four dogs and three cats. Besides practicing small animal medicine, Dr. Thomas enjoys training retrievers, traveling - be it to concerts or across the country, doing yard work and things with his hands. Spending time with his wife, Mary, and three children when possible is his favorite past time, especially at Pickwick Lake. He is an active church member at First Presbyterian in Tupelo, singing in the choir, serving on the session and participating in the Clean Water/medical mission to Guatemala for the last ten years. He is also involved in supporting many different nonprofit philanthropies in Tupelo.

Stephen King, DVM

Practice Owner

Dr. Stephen King grew up in Memphis and attended Memphis University School.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1981 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988.  He practiced in Boone and Reidsville, North Carolina and Memphis, Tennessee before moving to Tupelo in 1993 where he and Glenn Thomas opened Tupelo Small Animal Hospital in January 1994.  Dentistry, Internal Medicine and Practice Management are his areas of interest. 

He is an avid cyclist and he continues to enjoy outdoor activities to include camping and day hikes with his dogs.  His community involvement has included the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, Boy Scouts, and numerous Church Committees and Church Leadership.  He is an active member of the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association having served as a Representative and the Speaker Selection Task Force.  He has also served on the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine Shelter Medicine Advisory Board and the Veterinary Medical Technology Program Advisory Board.  At present, he is a Board Member of the Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine.  He and his wife, Mary Howard, have three adult children, two dogs, and numerous cats.

James Yates, DVM

Associate

Dr. James Yates is originally from Olive Branch, Mississippi. He attended Mississippi State University for his undergraduate education and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. His areas of veterinary interest include radiology specifically ultrasonography, owner education, and veterinary mentorship. 

Dr. Yates and his wife Sarah moved to Tupelo in April of 2020. They have two daughters and a son (Oliva, Hannah, and James "Luke" V) and share their home with a yellow Labrador. At MSU CVM, Dr. Yates serves as adjunct faculty for the Clinical Science Department and is an active member of the ECP program dedicating to teaching current veterinary students in their clinical years. Dr. Yates volunteers his time as a mentor for both undergraduate and veterinary students at MSU where he serves as a founding board member of the CVM Alumni Council. As a die-hard Mississippi State fan, he enjoys all aspects of MSU athletics, especially football at Davis Wade. He is an avid player and past judge of competitive card games such as Magic: the Gathering and the Pokémon trading card game.  He also enjoys performing in musical and live theater, most recently seen as Jud Fry in Mississippi State University’s production of “Oklahoma!” in 2016 and as Karl the Giant in "Big Fish" at Tupelo Community Theater in 2023. Dr. Yates and his family look to continue to be patrons of TCT in the future and participate in other local theater events to come. Hail State!

Krystle Clayton, DVM

Associate

Dr. Krystle Clayton grew up in Falkner, Mississippi. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology in 2012. Following graduation, she taught high school science for three years before deciding to become a veterinarian. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. Her areas of interest include emergency medicine and wound management. She is a member of both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association.

She spends her free time with her husband of twelve years as well as their shady cat, Binx, and two very needy but sweet dogs, Oliver and Rudy. She attends New Albany First Baptist Church and enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors any chance she has.