Fish and Game Veteran Jerry Mallet Retires

Assistant director Jerry Mallet, the longest-tenured Idaho Fish and Game employee, has retired after 44 years on the job. Mallet's employment spanned the terms of five directors, and he was assistant director during three of them. He was named acting director by the Fish and Game Commission three times in recent years. Mallet started with the Department in 1956 as a fisheries aide. His first permanent position was as a fisheries research biologist studying westslope cutthroat trout on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. His research still stands as the definitive life history and ecology study on the species. Mallet has also served as a regional fisheries manager, anadromous fisheries manager, fisheries research manager, and regional supervisor in the Southeast Region in Pocatello before taking on the job of assistant director in 1984. He supervised research which has resulted in some of the most progressive wild trout management and regulations in the nation. Fish and Game director Rod Sando, on board since April, said he feels "fortunate to have had this much time with Jerry. His experience and knowledge of the agency have been a great help to me. He will be missed." Wildlife bureau chief Steve Huffaker has been appointed acting assistant director.