Ross J. Huhn

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission this week announced the passing of Commissioner Ross J. Huhn of Saltsburg, Westmoreland County. He was 79.

Commissioner Huhn was the Commissioner for the Second District of Pennsylvania, comprised of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland counties. He was first appointed a member of the Commission by Governor Dick Thornburgh in 1980. Huhn was reappointed in 1986, and Governor Tom Ridge reappointed him in 1995. Re-nominated by Governor Edward G. Rendell, Huhn was confirmed to a new term on July 28, 2003. He served as President of the Commission from July 1984 to July 1985.

“The agency has benefited from the experience and sense of continuity Commissioner Huhn brought to the board of Commissioners. He has the distinction of serving more years on the Commission than any other individual in the history of the agency,” noted Dr. Douglas Austen, PFBC Executive Director. “His dedication in serving as an unpaid Commissioner for more than a quarter century exemplifies the type of commitment that Ross brought to bear on the many management issues before the Commission during his tenure.”

As a Commissioner, Huhn was instrumental in developing a special account to accept contributions from the public and corporate sectors to be used in fishing access by purchasing land or easements. This fund later became known as the Commission’s Conservation Acquisition Program. He was active on the Operation Future Task Force, which developed the classification of Pennsylvania trout streams and established the management policies for these streams.

Huhn was active in many sportsmen’s groups and has devoted many years to the conservation of Pennsylvania’s natural resources. He was active in the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and served on the state board of directors for four years. Other organizations of which he was a member include: Trout Unlimited, Izaak Walton League of America and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. He helped organize the Pennsylvania Environmental Council in 1969.

He was a graduate of Bethany College where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry. He served in the United States Navy as a seaman for two years. He retired in 1984, following thirty-two years of service, from Westinghouse Electric Corporation.

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8/19/2005