[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7772]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     THE RETIREMENT OF BRIAN HUNTER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2000

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the 
retirement of Mr. Brian Hunter from the California Department of Fish 
and Game. Mr. Hunter has served the state of California in the 
Department of Fish and Game for 39 years. For the past 20 years he has 
managed the Department's 15 county Central Coast Region.
  Brian Hunter was born in 1940 in Berkeley, CA. He was raised on a 
sheep and cattle ranch near Lincoln, California. During his youth, 
Brian was involved in 4H and the Future Farmers of America. He received 
his A.A. degree from Sacramento City and American River Colleges in 
1961. In 1963 Brian received a B.A. degree in Microbiology and 
Biochemistry from Sacramento State University. Three years later in 
1966, Brian received his Masters Degree from Sacramento State in 
Microbiology and in Wildlife diseases. He was later certified as a 
Wildlife Biologist and deputized peace officer by the Wildlife Society.
  In July of 1963, Brian began his career with the Department of Fish 
and Game working in the Wildlife Laboratory in Sacramento, CA. He held 
several positions including Laboratory Technician to Wildlife 
Pathologist in charge. In January 1978, Mr. Hunter became the Wildlife 
Management Supervisor and Big Game Coordinator for the Sacramento 
office, a position he held until 1980. In 1980, Brian was promoted to 
Regional manager of the Central Coast region of the California 
Department of Fish and Game.
  During his tenure with the Department of Fish and Game, Brian was 
instrumental in developing numerous policies and projects. He 
established cooperative relations with CalTrans, Pacific Gas and 
Electric and many other entities to help them accomplish their public 
works projects while maintaining and protecting natural resources. He 
also provided leadership for interagency coordination with the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land 
Management and the U.S. Army National Guard. It was Brian who made the 
initial agreement that led to the Wildlife Conservation Board's 
acquisition of property at Moss Landing and the creation of the Elkhorn 
Slough National Estuarine Research in Monterey County, CA. Brian also 
had oversight and acted as the media contact for the 1998 Shell Oil 
Spill in Carquinez Strait of Northern California which ultimately led 
to a $19 million settlement. He was instrumental in the $1 million 
settlement agreement with Browning Ferris Industries to help restore 
Pilarcitos Creek in San Mateo County, CA.
  Throughout his life, Brian Hunter has been an ardent supporter of 
recreational fishing and hunting programs throughout northern 
California. He has encouraged, supported and participated in numerous 
youth hunting and fishing programs. He developed animal capture and 
restraint protocols and wrote the handbook for animal capture as well 
as developing the training class. He has served as the associate editor 
of TRACKS and on the editorial advisory board of the Outdoor California 
magazine which is regularly published by the Department of Fish and 
Game. Perhaps Brian's greatest accomplishment has been in the hiring, 
training and mentoring of numerous successful Fish and Game Employees.
  Brian is a devoted family man as well. He is married and two 
children, ages 33 and 35. In his spare time Brian prides himself as a 
hunter, angler, observer of nature and a purveyor of common sense.
  Clearly Brian Hunter has been a valuable asset to the people and the 
wildlife of northern California. His distinguished career record speaks 
for itself. It has been my honor to represent Brian as both a State 
Senator and now as a Congressman. For these reasons I move that we 
recognize and honor Brian Hunter for his outstanding achievements and 
service to the State of California.

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