News Release

COLUMBUS -- Governor Bob Taft today named Samuel W. Speck as director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Dr. Speck has been president of Muskingum College since 1988. He served as associate director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Reagan, reducing the time it takes to get federal disaster assistance to individual victims of natural disasters by 50%, while cutting administrative costs.

He represented the 20th District in the Ohio Senate from 1977 to 1983, and the 95th District in the Ohio House from 1971 to 1976. As a State Representative, he was the primary author of Ohio's Strip Mine Reclamation Act, enacted by the 109th General Assembly. He also sponsored legislation to create separate divisions of Forestry and Natural Areas & Preserves at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and to permit reciprocity with other states for hunting and trapping licenses. He currently serves on the Board of the International Center for the Preservation of Wildlife ("The Wilds"), a wildlife conservation, research and education center in Muskingum County.

Sam Speck, 61, received his Ph.D. in government from Harvard University, and is a graduate of Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. He is originally from Canton.

Governor Taft said, "When I served in the legislature with Sam Speck, I was impressed by his commitment to restore strip mined land, and to protect Ohio's natural areas. He is an able administrator, and I am very pleased that he will be leading the Department of Natural Resources in our Administration."

For information, contact Patricia Madigan, interim press secretary -- Office of the Governor -- (614) 644-0957.