NAF News

STATE AG. AND NAF FOUNDER

It was December of 1945 and Harry Gallaway, wife Helen and two sons were headed back to Reno. He had just been discharged from the U.S. Army as a Lt. Colonel. Harry had been a decorated commanding officer of a Signal Corps detachment, 92nd Infantry Division 340th Regiment serving in the Arno River area of Italy. Now he needed a job and hoped he might find one in Reno. He did and it led him to becoming an integral part of Nevada agricultural administration for many years and one of the founding members of the Nevada Agricultural Foundation (NAF).

His first move upon returning to his home country was to check into the Nevada State Department of Agriculture. Maybe, he thought, they might have an opening The Department hired him to work out of the main office in Reno on entomology problems throughout the State. It was the start of a career that was to last until 1978 when he retired as head of the Department's Division of Plant Industry. Most of his responsibility over the years involved agricultural regulatory activity, State and Federal (where coordination was needed) including pest control. Mormon crickets periodically proved a major problem along with some other species. Harry also administered application and enforcement of Nevada's agricultural laws and directed agricultural services the agency provided to Nevada farmers and ranchers. A key aspect of his later year's was to initiate and counsel in the drafting of needed agency legislation or laws including proposal development, and designing of appropriate wording as well as participate in the required lobbying at the State Legislature. When he retired, he was in charge of a number of programs and personnel. Through these activities, he became well known among the State's agriculturists.

Harry shares a special place in the history of NAF. He along with a number of other graduates of the University of Nevada's College of Agriculture founded the benevolent organization in 1976. Like others who helped start NAF, Harry committed time and money in getting it started. The idea was to build a fund through donations and then use the interest and dividends to provide scholarships and other support to agricultural youth programs and research. Initially, most of the money or property acquired came from memorial contributions to honor some one who had passed on. Among contributions were a number of mining claims. Harry early on served on NAF's Board of Directors and in 1990 was named as Executive Manager/Secretary, a position he held until 1992. During this time he was directed to control and manage all aspects of NAF's mining properties and is still so doing, although by this time he has successfully converted most of the claims to cash contributions through sales and or leasing. While serving as manager Harry designed and assembled NAF displays used at various agricultural events such as the annual meeting of the Nevada Cattlemen's Association and the Nevada Farm Bureau. His wood working skills resulted in the building of durable wooden cases in which to carry the displays. They are still in use. He also was the hands on business and activities coordinator for NAF. He served at a particular important time of NAF growth

Gallaway has roots that go deep in Nevada. His grandfather on his mother's side arrived in the Truckee Meadows in 1875 and went to work logging on Mt. Rose for mines in Virginia City. His mother was born in Reno in 1889. His father's side of the family were in Reno by 1900. Harry was born, May 1916, in Lamoille Canyon, Elko County. His father was an electrician working at a power station there. He had a brother two years older, a sister a year younger and a brother who came along later. A year after his birth the family moved to Wabuska north of Yerington where his father was similarly employed. In 1921. the family again moved this time to Susanville, California. Harry grew up there attending local schools including Lassen County High School where he participated in athletics lettering in football, basketball and track. In so doing he followed in the footsteps of his older brother who was also an outstanding athlete. Harry graduated from high school in 1934. During those years he held a number of jobs including ones in agriculture. Among his first jobs as a 12 year old was working on a haying crew for a local rancher. He mostly drove a team of horses pulling an old sickle bar hay mower. While going to school he stayed on a dairy farm helping milk, along with two others, 78 dairy cows by hand morning and evening. He also worked in a box factory for the Fruit Growers Supply Company which also operated the saw mill.

Following high school, Harry enrolled in the College of Agriculture, University of Nevada in Reno. He graduated in 1939 with a BS degree in Agriculture. Two weeks before he was due to graduate (he came back a short time later and got his degree) the Ag. college Dean told him the Nevada Department of Agriculture was looking for someone to work on mormon cricket control. He was sent to Elko to work that region. In the process he coordinated efforts with federal United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pest control officers. His job was made permanent after he graduated. He transferred to Salt Lake City in the fall of 1939, joining the USDA's Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine working out of the area's main office for moron cricket control. After he worked there for a few months he was transferred to Billings, Montana but in the summer of 1940, returned to Elko. He remained there until December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

During the summer of 1939, he married Helen Spencer. The couple had been engaged for three years. Harry had been a part of the ROTC Corps at the University of Nevada and as a result had been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He was therefore quickly called up and by February of '42 found himself at Camp Roberts, California. After a stint at training recruits he was assigned to a Communications School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Following his training in September of 1942 he was assigned to the 92nd Infantry Division at Fort McClellan, Alabama. On his way to his new post, he went by California and picked up his family. He wound up as a communications officer and eventually in Italy on the Arno River where he commanded a communications company. His unit was involved in fighting that took place in that area against Nazi and Italian troops.

Harry has now been retired for a number of years and lives in Reno. His first wife Helen died in 1991. His next door neighbors were close friends. The wife, Mildred, lost her husband near the time that Helen had passed on. The two consoled each other which eventually led to marriage and a rewarding companionship for both as they grow older. Harry's two sons and Mildred's son and daughter provide family joy and support. The couple now enjoy grand and great grand children. Harry says he putters around with his wood working and oversees what mining property NAF still owns. His has been a long life of achievement and service beneficial to many.

FOOTNOTE: Harry Gallaway died March 19, 2007. He was 90 years old. - 30 -

Harry Gallaway, retired head of the Nevada State Department of Agriculture's Division of Plant Industry. He is also a founding member of NAF and served as Executive Manager/Secretary 1990-'92 and currently as manager of NAF's mining properties.

Gallaway and wife Mildred enjoy retirement, their children and grandchildren.