Terry Grosz

Terry Grosz (June 22, 1941 – February 5, 2019) was an American game warden. He rose in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to oversee a district in the Mountain West and Midwestern United States before retiring in 1998. After his retirement he published several books that included stories from his career.

Early life Grosz was born on June 22, 1941, to Ernie Grosz and Alberta (Dresden) Barnes in Toppenish, Washington. His family soon moved to Quincy, California, where he played several sports in high school and was president of the student body from 1958 to 1959 as a senior. He graduated from high school in 1959 and entered Humboldt State University. On February 3, 1963, he married Donna Larson, whom he had met in eighth grade. The following year, Grosz graduated from Humboldt, with a Bachelor of Science in wildlife science. He received a Master of Science two years later, in 1966.

Career The regions of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Region 6 is highlighted. From 1966 to 1970 Grosz worked as the fish and game warden of California before he was hired by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife. Grosz entered the Fish and Wildlife Service as a game management agent, soon becoming Special Agent. He worked first in the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to Colusa County, California, later. In California he was once fired upon while tracking poachers. He later claimed to have had "198 No. 4 lead shotgun pellets" in his body. During a stakeout in California, he busted an illegal snagging boat after being reeled in from the Eel River, where he had been waiting in a wetsuit.

In 1974 he received a promotion to senior resident agent in North and South Dakota, supervising agents and laws of the service. In 1988 Grosz visited Alberta as part of an effort to emphasize the need for preservation efforts in the region. In 1989 he organized anti-poaching raids in Colorado's San Luis Valley where 275 officials arrested numerous locals. The raids were accused of using excessive force and entrapment, which the officers denied. Grosz retired from the role in 1998. The first was Wildlife Wars, published in 1999. It received the National Outdoor Book Award. He donated profits from books and television to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Recognition included a recipient of the Guy Bradley Award in 1989, an honorary degree in Environmental stewardship from Unity College in 2002, and several other achievement awards.