Capping a distinguished career in veterinary medicine, Hans Riemann added a new title this week to his long list of honors and achievements-Danish knight. The professor emeritus of epidemiology and preventive veterinary medicine received the cross of the Order of the Knight of Dannebrog in a ceremony Monday at the University Club. "It's such a great honor," Riemann said. "It makes me grateful." Riemann joins at least one other knight on campus. Music professor Kern Holoman-a chevalier of France's Order of Arts and Letters since 1990-learned over the summer that the French Ministry of Culture was elevating him a rank to officier. Holomon is one of the world's authorities on the 19th century French composer Hector Berlioz. "This award honors you as a distinguished friend of French culture, and is an official recognition of your contribution to the expansion of French culture throughout the artistic and cultural community in your country and throughout the world," San Francisco-based cultural attaché Emmanuel Delloye wrote in a July 19 letter. The Danish-born Riemann was chosen by Denmark's Queen Margrethe II for knighthood for his contributions to veterinary medicine, particularly livestock health and food-safety research, according to a news release issued by the Danish government. An expert on food-borne infections and poisonings, particularly those caused by contaminated meat, Riemann served last year on a scientific advisory committee to the European Commission that evaluated new U.S. regulations on meat inspections and hygiene. "Professor Riemann has had a great influence within the field of preventive veterinary medicine," the news release said. In Monday's ceremony, Danish Consul General Martin Kofod presented Riemann with an enameled emblem bearing the white-and-red Dannebrog cross. About 50 friends and colleagues watched. Associates won't need to call him Sir Hans. Riemann said he believed the honorific is used only in formal correspondence in Denmark. "Colleagues can call me whatever they want to call me," he said. Riemann became a U.S. citizen after joining the UC Davis veterinary school faculty in 1964, but has maintained close ties to the Danish scientific community. He served a number of times as a guest lecturer at the Agricultural and Veterinary University in Copenhagen, where he received his veterinary degree in 1943 and Denmark's highest honorary degree in 1990. Riemann has advised a number of foreign governments on food safety and animal disease control. He was elected to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 1991, which then had 24 members. He was the founding editor-in-chief of the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine and is a charter member of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. He co-authored the first textbook on veterinary epidemiology. Rieman retired in 1990 after 26 years on the UC Davis veterinary school faculty but continues to conduct research on such topics as preventing salmonella contamination in eggs. Besides a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine, he holds Ph.D. in microbial biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen.