Gus Douglass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gus R. Douglass
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Douglass in September 2008
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| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture | |
| In office 1993–2013 |
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| Governor | Gaston Caperton, Cecil H. Underwood, Bob Wise, Joe Manchin, Earl Ray Tomblin |
| Preceded by | Cleve Benedict |
| Succeeded by | Walt Helmick |
| In office 1965–1989 |
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| Governor | Hulett C. Smith, Arch A. Moore, Jr., Jay Rockefeller |
| Preceded by | John T. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Cleve Benedict |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 22, 1927 Mason County, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 19, 2015 (aged 88) Mason County, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Anna Lee Douglass |
| Alma mater | West Virginia University |
Gus R. Douglass (February 22, 1927 – March 19, 2015) was an important American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. For a very long time, he served as the Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia. In fact, he held this job for 44 years! He was the longest-serving Agriculture Commissioner in the history of the United States.
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Gus Douglass's Early Life
Gus Douglass was born in Mason County, West Virginia, in 1927. He grew up in a place called Grimms Landing, West Virginia. When he was younger, Gus was very active in farming groups. He was the first person from West Virginia to be the national president of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Later, he also became the first president of the National FFA Alumni Association. He was also a 4-H All-Star. Gus studied at West Virginia University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He also received honorary degrees from West Virginia University and West Virginia State University. Before working for the government, Gus ran a business that sold farm equipment and trucks.
His Career as Agriculture Commissioner
Starting in Government
In 1957, Gus Douglass was a farmer in Mason County. The Commissioner of Agriculture at the time, John T. Johnson, asked him to become the Assistant Commissioner. Gus then became the Commissioner himself. He served for six terms from 1965 to 1989. After that, he ran for Governor of West Virginia in 1988, but he did not win. He returned to the Commissioner role for five more terms, from 1993 to 2013.
Key Achievements and Programs
Gus Douglass was re-elected in 2008. He had many important programs during his time as Commissioner. These included making sure meat was safe to eat, checking food safety, and keeping animals healthy. He also worked to bring new technology to the department. This included a special mobile laboratory. This lab could quickly find viruses to help prevent diseases. In his last term, he helped get money from the West Virginia Legislature for a cold storage building near Ripley. This building stores food for schools and for programs that give food to people in need. It can also be used to store supplies for emergencies.
National Roles and Impact
While serving as Agriculture Commissioner, Gus Douglass also held important national positions. He was the president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He also led the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He often spoke to the United States Congress about farming issues. When he retired, Gus had worked for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture for more than half of its 101-year history. During his time, the department's budget grew a lot, from less than $1 million to over $55 million.
Retirement and Later Life
Announcing Retirement
On May 17, 2011, Gus Douglass announced he would not run for re-election in 2012. He said it was "truly humbling" to have been elected so many times. Walt Helmick took over as Commissioner in 2013.
Audit Findings
In 2014, an audit by the West Virginia Legislature looked into a loan program run by the Department of Agriculture during Gus Douglass's time. The audit found some issues with how the program was managed. It also found some problems with expense claims. For example, it noted that Gus had claimed money for a campsite at the State Fair of West Virginia that was actually free. The loan program was later changed under the new Commissioner.
Personal and Family Life
Gus Douglass owned a large 540-acre farm. He worked on the farm with his son, Tom. They raised beef cattle and grew grains. Gus and his wife, Anna Lee, had four children. They also had six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Anna Lee passed away in October 2014.
His Passing
Gus Douglass died on March 19, 2015, at the age of 88. He passed away after a fall at his home in Mason County. His funeral was held a few days later. He is remembered by his four children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
