compiled by Edwin P. (Phil) Pister in November 1999 and subsequently maintained by the webmaster with material provided by each president.

An overall summary of early Council history is given in Chapter 4 of "Battle Against Extinction." However, little attention is paid to Chairs/Presidents themselves.

The Council, although initially convened (Symposium I) in 1969, was not formally organized until the second symposium, held in November a year later (1970). Both were at National Park Service headquarters in Death Valley, as was the 1971 symposium. Phil Pister was elected Chairman in 1969 and handled the matter of formal organization during the ensuing three years, serving until November 1972, when the position was assumed by Chairman-elect James A. St. Amant. Initial Chairman-elect during Pister's tenure began with Dale Lockard of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, who changed job assignments during this period and moved from Las Vegas to Reno. Dale passed away very tragically shortly thereafter and was succeeded as Chairman-elect by Jim St.Amant. A chronological listing and brief biographical sketch of Council leadership follows.

November 1969 to November 1972. Edwin P. (Phil) Pister.

A fishery biologist with California Department of Fish and Game, supervising research and management of waters of the eastern slope Sierra Nevada mountains through Death Valley to the Nevada border, Pister became deeply involved in desert fish conservation issues during the mid-1960's, largely motivated by near extinction of the Owens pupfish (Cyprinodon radiosus) during the latter part of the decade. His association with Carl L. Hubbs and Robert Rush Miller significantly influenced his entrance into the field of native fish management and conservation. Upon stepping down as Chairman in 1972, Pister assumed the role of Executive Secretary, handling most of the Council's administrative affairs, a position he continues in today. He was also deeply involved in events at Devils Hole leading to a court hearing that began in July 1972 and culminated in the U.S Supreme Court decision four years later. Pister completed his graduate work under A.S Leopold, P.R. Needham, and R.L. Usinger at the University of California (Berkeley). Not dead yet (as of January 15, 2004 at 75).

November 1972 to November 1974. James A. St.Amant.

Also a California Department of Fish and Game fishery biologist, Jim St.Amant bore the responsibility for southern deserts of California, including the Colorado River and Salton Sea, and extending to the Mexican border. In addition to his work with fishes, Jim was a primary founder of the Desert Tortoise Council and worked mightily to preserve tortoises and other desert life forms. He studied at Michigan State University, and is now retired in Arkansas.

November 1974 to November 1976. Robert Rush Miller.

For many years a University of Michigan professor, and a graduate student of Carl L. Hubbs at that institution, Bob Miller described many native fishes of the Death Valley hydrographic area during his dissertation research. Later he did likewise for desert fishes in other areas of the Southwest. A professor emeritus at Ann Arbor, Dr. Miller continues actively in systematics and is currently completing a book on fishes of Mexico. A legendary scientist, conservationist, and collector, Miller's research laid groundwork for much of the Council's early conservation effort. As noted by Hendrickson et al. (2003. Reviews in Fish Biol. & Fisheries), "Bob passed away on February 10th, 2003, during his sleep. In his last years he lived mostly in his own imaginary world, usually collecting fishes. We are sure that, at the time of his death, he and Fran and perhaps some students were happily virtually seining a beautiful Mexican stream and probably discovering new species."

November 1976 to November 1978. James E. Deacon.

A pioneer in desert fish research and conservation and a professor at the University of Nevada (Las Vegas), Jim Deacon has published widely and continues actively in Council affairs. In addition to many other accomplishments, in recent years he left the Department of Biology and established and served as first Chair of the Department of Environmental Studies at UNLV. His former students have expanded his work as they have entered their professional careers. He guided early research at Devils Hole and was instrumental in legal proceedings that culminated in a favorable decision of the U.S Supreme Court in 1976, providing at least temporary protection for both Devils Hole and its endemic pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis. Jim completed his doctoral work at the University of Kansas.

November 1978 to November 1980. Peter G. Sanchez.

Pete Sanchez is a geologist who came to the National Park Service from the University of Utah. During his chairmanship he directed resource management within Death Valley National Monument (now National Park). Pete made many contributions to the cause of desert fishes, both inside and outside the national park, and was father of our Constitution and Bylaws, modeled after those of the Geological Society of America. Pete's work in Death Valley was periodically interrupted by assignments in Alaska, where he contributed significantly to Park Service planning efforts. Following an assignment in Hawaii, Pete retired to Glenwood, New Mexico.

November 1980 to November 1982. James E. Johnson.

A student of W.L. Minckley, Jim Johnson directed endangered species programs from the Region 2 (Albuquerque) office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Recently retired, Jim finished his career as Fish and Wildlife Service Cooperative Research Unit leader at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he retains a faculty position and continues his research on nongame fishes.

November 1982 to November 1984. Salvador Contreras-Balderas.

Salvador Contreras-B., now an emeritus professor at the University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, has long pioneered research and management of Mexican native fishes. His former students and associates are now the backbone of Mexico's conservation efforts as they have assumed positions at universities in other areas of Mexico. Dr. Contreras completed his graduate research at Tulane University under tutelage of legendary Royal D. (Sut) Suttkus. Salvador arranged and hosted the Council's first meeting outside of the United States, held at the University of Nuevo Leon in November 1980. There were many highlights at this meeting, foremost being an outstanding series of papers presented in Spanish by his students (the first such an experience for many of us), superb banquets and barbecues, and an unforgettable field trip to Cuatrociénegas in the State of Coahuila, perhaps the most diverse ecosystem (in terms of biological endemism) in North America. In retirement, Salvador continues his work with Mexican fishes.

November 1984 to November 1986. W.L. Minckley.

Along with Carl Hubbs and Bob Miller, Minckley has contributed perhaps more than anyone else to the cause of native fish conservation in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Much of this work is reflected in his book (co-edited with Jim Deacon): Battle Against Extinction: Native Fish Management in the American West. Minckley, a professor of zoology at Arizona State University, has produced a remarkable series of graduate students, philosophically and academically conditioned to carry on his legendary and highly productive traditions. Three of his doctoral students (Jim Johnson, John Rinne, and Dean Hendrickson) have served as Council chairmen. Minck retained a strong interest in Cuatrociénegas and worked actively with the local community leaders to conserve its biological integrity. He was a primary contributor and motivator in production of Robert Rush Miller's book on Mexican fishes, working on that project until his untimely death in 2001.

November, 1986 to November 1988. Gail C.Kobetich.

Gail Kobetich spent most of his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working to preserve endangered species and ecosystems, while headquartered in Parker, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Sacramento and Carlsbad, California. Although semi-retired in Sacramento, he is again working on endangered species problems (in Arizona) in close contact with Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt. Motivated by a strong environmental ethic, Gail has been a pillar of strength within the Council throughout its existence. Gail obtained his graduate degree at the University of New Mexico.

November 1988 to November 1990. Paul B. Holden.

Paul Holden was the Council's first "private sector" chairman, representing Bio/West, an environmental consulting firm in Logan, Utah. Paul and his staff have conducted extensive research on endangered fishes of the Colorado River, and laid groundwork for much of the current recovery effort. He also made resources of Bio/West available to the Council and prepared for publication a compendium of Proceedings Volume 3-9, which covers most of the Council's first decade of existence. Paul completed his doctoral studies at Utah State University.

November 1990 to November 1992. Jack Williams.

Jack was a doctoral student of Carl Bond at Oregon State University, following work with W.L. Minckley at Arizona State University and Jim Deacon at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jack offers an unusual ability to communicate effectively within a variety of agencies and viewpoints. He worked for several years in the Sacramento Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specializing in endangered fishes, then moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as Fisheries Program Manager for the Bureau of Land Management, then later as science adviser to BLM's Director. After a stint in Boise, Idaho as a senior ecologist with BLM, Jack is currently working as assistant supervisor of Boise National Forest.

November 1992 to November 1994. John N. Rinne.

Following his graduate studies with W.L. Minckley at Arizona State University, John began his work in desert fish research and conservation with the U.S. Forest Service, for many years with Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station in Tempe, Arizona, and more recently in Flagstaff. His research programs have been as varied as species studied, ranging from cyprinodonts and cyprinids to Gila and Apache trouts. John's research lends badly needed input into fishery-related decisions of the Forest Service, a multiple use agency. His research interests extend well into Mexico.

November 1994 to November 1996. Dean A. Hendrickson.

Another of W.L. Minckley's students, Dean has been a DFC member since the late 1970's. While finishing his doctorate at Arizona State University, he directed nongame fish programs for Arizona Game and Fish Department for several years before assuming a curator/faculty position in 1990 at University of Texas (Austin). At UT he oversees Texas Natural History Collections and teaches ichthyology and Natural History Museum Studies. He has a deep interest in all Southwestern fishes, and has focused research on Mexican blindcats, genus Prietella, Cuatro Ciénegas fishes, and more recently the family Ictaluridae. Fluent in Spanish, Dean serves as a liaison with Mexico and Mexican scientists. A long time researcher in Cuatrociénegas and other areas of Mexico, Dean works actively with citizens of the town of Cuatrociénegas on conservation issues. He was responsible for incorporating computer technology into publication of Council proceedings, and currently serves as proceedings editor. He and Mike Baltzly created the DFC web pages in 1994 and Dean has served as webmaster ever since.

November 1996 to November 1998. Michael E. Douglas.

A product of the University of Georgia's Institute of Ecology and for many years a professor at Arizona State University before taking a position as Senior Research Scientist at Colorado State University, Mike has conducted extensive research on Colorado River fishes. He also served as program coordinator for Council symposia and initiated a badly-needed updating and revision of the Constitution and Bylaws, including a change in terminology from Chairman (or Chair) to President, a less ambiguous term. In addition to many other duties, and ably assisted by his wife (Marlis), he is currently editor of Copeia, quarterly journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

November 1998 to November 2000. Gary Garrett.

A former student of Clark Hubbs at the University of Texas (Austin), Gary is employed as a research scientist at Heart of Hills station of the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. He has served as proceedings editor for the Council, an assignment returned to former editor Dean Hendrickson when Gary assumed leadership of the Council in November 1998.

November 2000 to November 2002. David Propst.

After completing his Ph.D. at Colorado State University, David began his professional career with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, where he remains. In this position he conducts research on NM native fishes and is involved with recovery and management efforts for state- and federally-listed fishes. A member of DFC for more than 20 years, he served as Area Coordinator for New Mexico (Upper/Middle Rio Grande) and Student Awards chair before becoming DFC president.

November 2002 to November 2004. Paul Marsh.

Paul came to Arizona State University in 1980 from St. Paul, where he was graduated with a Doctorate in Fisheries from the University of Minnesota.  Since then he has been conducting research and management in behalf of native fish conservation throughout the arid southwest.  He has published extensively in the professional literature, authored three U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery plans, and written numerous reports.  Paul served the Council for many years as Membership Secretary until relinquishing that post to take over as President.  He was elected leader of the USFWS (Region 2) Desert Fishes Recovery Team (now disbanded) and is active on native fish committees of the American Fisheries Society.  Among many other roles he serves as Technical Advisor to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and USFWS, and is Associate Editor (Fishes) for the Western North American Naturalist (formerly Great Basin Naturalist). 

This page last modified:  9 January 2008