Nevada Department of Ag director dies

Paul Iverson, director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, died at Washoe Medical Center early Thursday after a 10-month battle with leukemia. He was 55.

Friend and coworker Don Henderson called him a giant among men, not only in terms of physical stature but also in ideas and energy.

"Paul Iverson took a small, struggling state agency and focused the department to the extent that we greatly improved the credibility and relationships between our department and the Governor's Office," Henderson said. "Under Iverson, we developed so much credibility that it's easy to work with the Legislature. We now have their trust.

"He was a man of action and his presence and foresight will be missed by everyone in the department," said Henderson, assistant director of the Agriculture Department.

In October 2000, Iverson started the Wild Horse Gentling Program, which trained estrays from the nearby Virginia Range in preparation for adoptive homes. The program expanded during the 2001 Legislative Session to include a cooperative effort with the Warm Springs Prison.

"It was a difficult situation and Paul had the courage to take the risk," Henderson said. "He got involved to determine if something could be done to help those estray horses."

Recognizing the severity of weed issues facing Nevada, Iverson started the Interagency Noxious Weed Action Committee and developed an enforcement program to protect Nevada from invasive species.

During his tenure, he also instituted the Teacher Workshop Program, providing agriculture education to more than 300 teachers in Las Vegas and established a contractual position of agriculture promotion and marketing with the Nevada Association of Counties.

Gov. Kenny Guinn ordered the flags lowered to half staff at the capitol complex Thursday, in Iverson's honor.

"On behalf of the State of Nevada and our state's agriculture industry that Paul worked so hard to promote, I want to offer my deepest condolences to Paul's parents Rudy and Lois, his wife, Ginger and their children, Christian, Michael, Holly, Kari, Meghan and Patrick, his sister Susie and seven grandchildren," Guinn said.

Originally from Southern Utah, Iverson received a bachelor's of science in education degree from Southern Utah State College and a masters' degree in education administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

He taught fifth grade in the Clark County School District from 1970 to 1975 and served as the district's science curriculum coordinator from 1975 to 1980.

He was a member of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and represented Nevada on the Animal and Plant Industries Committee and the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

He was vice president of the National Association's regional group, the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Services are pending.