DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

SECRETARY


[photo, Lewis R. Riley, Secretary of Agriculture] LEWIS R. RILEY, Secretary of Agriculture

Lewis R. Riley, Secretary of Agriculture, February 2003. Photo by Richard Lippenholz.


Secretary of Agriculture, May 17, 1994 to December 31, 1997, and since March 10, 2003. Acting Secretary of Agriculture, January 22 to March 10, 2003.

Member, Board of Regents, University System of Maryland, 2003-; Governor's Executive Council, 2003-; Cabinet Council on Business, Economic Development, and Transportation, 2003-; Governor's Council on the Chesapeake Bay (Governor's Chesapeake Bay Cabinet), 2003-; Governor's Subcabinet for International Affairs, 2003-; Smart Growth Subcabinet, 2003-; Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, 2003-; Task Force to Study the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, 2003-; State Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council, 2003-; Maryland Food Center Authority, 2003-; Maryland Horse Industry Board, 2003-; Mid-Atlantic Poultry Health Council, 2003-; Governor's Pesticide Council, 2003-; Rural Legacy Board, 2003-; Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board, 2003-; State Soil Conservation Committee, 2003-; Advisory Committee on the Management and Protection of the State's Water Resources, 2003-; Maryland Winery and Grape Growers' Advisory Board, 2003-. Co-Chair, Interagency Nutrient Reduction Oversight Committee, 2003-. Chair, Task Force on the Marketing of Grain and Other Agricultural Products, 2003.

Member, County Council, Wicomico County, 1966-78 (president, four years; vice-president, four years).

Member, House of Delegates, 1979-87. Minority Whip, 1982-87. Member, Environmental Matters Committee; Ways and Means Committee.

Member, State Senate, 1987-92. Member, Finance Committee, 1987-89; Budget and Taxation Committee, 1990-92; Joint Committee on Investigation.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, 1992-94. Secretary of Agriculture, 1994-97. Member, Board of Regents, University of Maryland System, 1994-97; Governor's Executive Council, 1994-97; Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, 1994-97; Governor's Council on the Chesapeake Bay, 1994-97; Maryland Food Center Authority, 1994-97; Governor's Pesticide Council, 1994-97; Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board, 1994-97; State Soil Conservation Committee, 1994-97. Former member, Citizens Advisory Board for Holly Center; Delmarva Advisory Council.

Born in Parsonsburg, Maryland, February 19, 1935. Graduate of Wicomico Senior High School. Farmer; poultryman; businessman. President, Maryland Association of Counties, 1973. Member and past president, Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Department. Member, Wicomico Farm Bureau. Advisory Board, First National Bank. President, Beaver Run Farms, Inc., a family farm corporation operated with his son, producing grain, swine, and poultry. Board of Directors, Delmarva Poultry Industry. Director, Farmers and Planters Company. Man of the Year, Maryland Grain Producers, 1996. Distinguished Citizen Award, Delmarva Poultry Industry, 1997.

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