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Gus R. Douglass
Gus Douglass.jpg
Douglass in September 2008
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture
In office
1993–2013
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
Governor Hulett C. Smith, Arch A. Moore, Jr., Jay Rockefeller
Preceded by John T. Johnson
Succeeded by Cleve Benedict
Personal details
Born (1927-02-22)February 22, 1927
Mason County, West Virginia, U.S.
Died March 19, 2015(2015-03-19) (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.

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.

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