Photo from the 1990-91 Gopher Peavey
Gordon Gullion - Who He Was
Gordon Gullion devoted the majority of his professional life to the study of ruffed grouse and became affectionately known as "Mr. Ruffed Grouse". He received his B.S. degree from Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon and his M.S. degree in Vertebrate Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley. Following his formal education he worked on sage grouse and Gambel's quail for the Nevada Fish and Game Department for seven years. He then assumed leadership of the forest wildlife project at the University of Minnesota's Cloquet Forestry Center in 1958. There began his love and devotion to ruffed grouse. His research on ruffed grouse lasted over 30 years and received national and international acclaim. His commitment to applied ecology led him to disseminate his research findings to a wide audience. In fact, one could say he inextricably linked aspen management with ruffed grouse. His research provided a scientific basis for managing aspen in ways that enhanced ruffed grouse populations. His willingness to share his grouse knowledge with agencies and citizens endeared him to grouse aficionados everywhere. However, Gordy Gullion was interested in many other species of forest wildlife. He was interested in woodcock, goshawks, and song birds. These interests were often related to forest management, but some simply reflected his broad interest in natural history. Following his passing in 1991, there was great interest in establishing an Endowment Chair in his name at the University of Minnesota to honor his memory and his wonderful legacy of grouse research. Despite the great honor that this Endowed Chair bestows to its holder, there will only be one Gordy Gullion. Top of page
Ruffed grouse hen nesting - Photo courtesy of Cloquet Forestry Center
The Gordon Gullion Endowed Chair in Forest Wildlife Research and Education was established to provide a lasting tribute to Gordon W. Gullion. There is an expectation that the holder of this Endowed Chair should have a strong interest in Forest Wildlife Research and Education. Because Gordy Gullion was interested in so many species and forest management issues, the Gullion Chair has some latitude to express their interests. Of particular interest is the applied nature of the Chair. The forest wildlife research in the context of the Chair is intended to be an applied science program, but does not preclude basic research. Within this broad arena a primary interest of the Chair would be the study of ruffed grouse either directly or through the Chair's students. Ultimately, this grouse research would be applied to the management of grouse. While both basic and applied research are essential components to problem solving, this Endowed Chair is clearly a position to be held by a person committed to applied ecology, specifically to wildlife management. Attributes of importance for the research conducted under the auspices of the Chair would be that they would provide the scientific basis for understanding and resolving forestry/wildlife issues, hunting, and sustainable use of wildlife resources. Top of page
The Leigh Perkins Fellowships Program has been established through initial contributions from the Orvis/Perkins Foundation, Leigh Perkins Charitable Trust, and other private donations. These fellowships honor Leigh Perkins, Honorary Doctor of Laws recipient of the University of Minnesota and former CEO of the Orvis Foundation. The purpose of this program is to provide graduate fellowship support to outstanding students studying wildlife management under the Gullion Chair.