Former ag chief Jack Simmen dies

Former Santa Cruz County Ag Commissioner John Jack Simmen, who died Thursday, is shown in March. (Contributed photo).

CHICO — Jack Simmen, the former Santa Cruz County agricultural commissioner who led efforts in the 1980s to battle an infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies in Santa Cruz County and who was a founding member of the Agricultural History Project, died April 12 at Enloe Medical Center in Chico. He was 87.

Simmen graduated from UC Davis in the 1950s with a degree in agronomy. He began working for the State of California as a seasonal agricultural inspector, and three years later he went to work for Contra Costa County where he eventually became deputy agricultural commissioner. He held that position for 20 years.

For the complete article see the 04-17-2012 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 04-17-2012 paper.

Share on Facebook