Monte Ellison Seehorn

On May 16th, 2024 at the age of 91, Monte Seehorn passed onward to a heavenly mountain plush with ruffed grouse, Brittany spaniels, and lots of streams filled with trout. He was born in Lenoir, NC on February 8, 1933, to Thomas and Gladys Seehorn. He was a graduate of North Carolina State and was also a scholarship running back. Monte was one of the first two fisheries biologists employed by the Forest Service in 1958. He held certifications in both wildlife and fisheries and began his career marking timber. He worked in almost every area of natural resources while at the Forest Service. His accomplishments were legendary, receiving awards at the National level from American Motors, Goodyear, Trout Unlimited, American Fisheries Society, Ruffed Grouse Society, and more. His regional and local awards are too numerous to count. Monte patented several backpack electrofishing designs and instituted most of the procedures used in electrofishing sampling. He also wrote the Forest Service manual on stream restoration techniques and led in their implementation all over the Southeast during his 40-year Forest Service career. His pioneering work on ruffed grouse research remains one of the most comprehensive sets of fieldwork on the iconic bird in existence. Retirement never slowed him down and he spent the next 30 years consulting on stream work (including being the most tireless steel driver most Trout Unlimited chapters had ever seen). His dedication to natural resource management and recreation made sure the recipients of his email list-serve were always informed about natural resource topics and concerns. His comments on forest plans were both insightful and impactful. This avid hunter, fisherman, and natural resource management advocate will be impossible to replace. Outside his work life, Monte was a follower of Christ, taught Sunday School for many years, and attended church faithfully. He loved to square dance and line dance and was so full of life that many of the stories told by his friends seem absolutely surreal. Monte fathered three children: Terry, Tracy, and Kathy, and had many grandchildren and even more great-grandchildren at the time of his death. His beloved Brittany Vixen also survives him. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at the lake pavilion of Vogel State Park: 405 Vogel State Park Rd, Blairsville, GA 30512.  W. R. Strickland & Sons, Clermont, Ga.