Gus Douglass
Encyclopedia
Gus R. Douglass is an American
politician who currently serves as Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia, having first been elected to that post in 1964. He is a member of the Democratic Party
, and the longest-serving Agriculture Commissioner in the history of the United States
.
. He served as state and national president of the Future Farmers of America
(FFA) as the first president of the FFA to hail from West Virginia, and later was the inaugural president of the National FFA Alumni Association. He is also a 4-H
All-Star. Douglas holds a bachelor's degree
and an honorary
Doctor of Sciences from West Virginia University
and an honorary Doctor of Law
s from West Virginia State University
. Prior to beginning work for the Department of Agriculture, Douglass operated a farm equipment and motor truck dealership.
, was recruited to the position of Assistant Commissioner in the West Virginia Department of Agriculture by then-Commissioner John T. Johnson in 1957. He was elected Commissioner in his own right in 1964, serving six terms between 1964 and 1988, when he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of West Virginia (losing the Democratic primary to Gaston Caperton
), and five more since 1992. Douglass was re-elected in 2008 over Republican
nominee J. Michael Teets, having campaigned on his record of having established programs for meat inspection, food safety and animal health, and calling for technology and security measures including a mobile laboratory
able to identify virus
es more quickly. In his last term, he successfully acquired funding from the West Virginia Legislature
for a cold storage
facility near Ripley
which is used to store food for the state's schools and its donated foods program, and could also be used for disaster preparation.
During his tenure as Agriculture Commissioner, Douglass has served as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the Southern United States Trade Association; and chair of the Southern Regional Committee for Food and Agriculture and the United States Secretary of Agriculture
's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases.
Douglass has worked at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture for half its 100-year history.
and grain
production with his son, Tom. He and his wife, Anna Lee, have four children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who currently serves as Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia, having first been elected to that post in 1964. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and the longest-serving Agriculture Commissioner in the history of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
Douglass was raised in Grimms Landing, West VirginiaGrimms Landing, West Virginia
Grimms Landing is an unincorporated community in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. Grimms Landing is located on the east bank of the Kanawha River along West Virginia Route 62, north-northeast of Buffalo. Grimms Landing had a post office, which opened on September 9, 1878, and closed on...
. He served as state and national president of the Future Farmers of America
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
(FFA) as the first president of the FFA to hail from West Virginia, and later was the inaugural president of the National FFA Alumni Association. He is also a 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
All-Star. Douglas holds a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctor of Sciences from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and an honorary Doctor of Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
s from West Virginia State University
West Virginia State University
West Virginia State University is a historically black public college in Institute, West Virginia, United States. In the Charleston-metro area, the school is usually referred to simply as "State" or "West Virginia State"...
. Prior to beginning work for the Department of Agriculture, Douglass operated a farm equipment and motor truck dealership.
Career
Douglass, then a farmer in Mason CountyMason County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, was recruited to the position of Assistant Commissioner in the West Virginia Department of Agriculture by then-Commissioner John T. Johnson in 1957. He was elected Commissioner in his own right in 1964, serving six terms between 1964 and 1988, when he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of West Virginia (losing the Democratic primary to Gaston Caperton
Gaston Caperton
William Gaston Caperton III was the 31st Governor of the U.S. state of West Virginia from 1989 until 1997. He is currently the president of the College Board, which administers the nationally recognized SAT and AP tests. Caperton announced his intention to step down as president of the College...
), and five more since 1992. Douglass was re-elected in 2008 over Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee J. Michael Teets, having campaigned on his record of having established programs for meat inspection, food safety and animal health, and calling for technology and security measures including a mobile laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
able to identify virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
es more quickly. In his last term, he successfully acquired funding from the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
for a cold storage
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means...
facility near Ripley
Ripley, West Virginia
Ripley is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, West Virginia, United States.-Geography:Ripley is located at , along Mill Creek....
which is used to store food for the state's schools and its donated foods program, and could also be used for disaster preparation.
During his tenure as Agriculture Commissioner, Douglass has served as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the Southern United States Trade Association; and chair of the Southern Regional Committee for Food and Agriculture and the United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases.
Douglass has worked at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture for half its 100-year history.
Retirement
Douglass announced on May 17, 2011 that he would not seek re-election in 2012, after colleagues in the Department of Agriculture expressed an interest in the position of Commissioner. At the press conference at which he announced his retirement, he described his electoral history as "truly humbling." In his retirement, he is considering writing a book about his experiences with the Governors of West Virginia under whom he has served.Personal life
Douglass runs a 540-acre farm which specialises in beef cattleBeef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
and grain
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
production with his son, Tom. He and his wife, Anna Lee, have four children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.