Member

Harry was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on September 4, 1946. He grew up in the rural village of Putney, Vermont, where his parents instilled in him at an early age a great appreciation of and fascination with the outdoors through family camping, fishing, and hunting trips, as well as endless hours of hard work on the farm. Harry attended the Putney School, a private high school where his parents worked, and refined his outdoor interests by conducting several natural resource inventories and projects in the school’s large nature reserve. After graduation, he entered the pre‑forestry and wildlife program at the University of Vermont for two years and automatically transferred to the University of Maine for two years to complete his BS degree in wildlife biology. From Maine, Harry ventured south to the University of Massachusetts for a master’s program studying the behavior of a colony of beavers. Upon completion of his MS degree, he expanded this research and examined the dynamics and behavior of an unexploited population of beavers for his doctorate. In the spring of 1975, Harry continued his southward migration to Washington, D.C., to become the manager of conservation activities for the National Rifle Association of America, where his primary duties were developing conservation and outdoor education programs, directing governmental affairs for natural resources, and overseeing a grant program for wildlife research. In short order he was promoted to assistant director and then director of the National Rifle Association’s Hunting and Conservation Division. In the fall of 1977, Harry left the National Rifle Association for The Wildlife Society, the scientific and educational association of wildlife biologists. He served as field director under Washington Biologists’ Field Club member Fred G. Evenden and was responsible for wildlife conservation issues, operation of the Society’s 125 sections, chapters, and student chapters, membership activities, and college and university relations. In the spring of 1982, he was appointed the Society’s third executive director, where he was employed until 2004. He served as the chief executive officer responsible for executing the objectives, policies, and programs developed by the Council and for the administrative and managerial affairs of The Wildlife Society. In recognition of his dedication and achievements, The Wildlife Society Council presented Harry with an Outstanding Service Award in 1991. The Department of Forestry and Wildlife at the University of Massachusetts recognized him as Distinguished Alumnus in 1989. He serves on numerous national and international committees and advisory boards and works closely with state, provincial, and federal agencies, natural resource organizations, and universities concerned with planning, research, and management of renewable natural resources and wildlife education. He is a member of the executive committee of the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation and has served as editor of The Wildlife Society’s bimonthly newsletter, The Wildlifer, since 1982. Harry is a certified wildlife biologist with professional interests in enhancing the status of wildlife professionals; wildlife education and professional development; renewable natural resource policy; furbearer management; and behavior, ecology, and population dynamics of beaver. He has authored more than 80 technical and popular articles and reports, lectured at numerous colleges and universities, and been an invited speaker at many national and international conferences. Harry was elected to the Washington Biologists’ Field Club in 1980, and served on the board of managers from 1981 to 1983.