We will elect Officers and Directors for 2025 – 2027 at our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 1st.

This year, the offices of President and Vice President are open along with two Director positions.

What follows are short biographies of the candidates.

Nominee for President – Richard Yacksic

Rick has been married for 24 years and is a proud father of two children, two stepchildren, and grandfather to six grandchildren. He is retired from Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports, where he led an Adult Behavioral Health Program. Rick continues to serve as a board member at Westmoreland Casemanagement and has been a dedicated member of The Ray of Hope Suicide Task Force for the past 18 years.

An active member of Harrold Zion Church, Rick’s faith and service to others are central to his life. A lifelong fisherman, he joined Forbes Trail in 2000, which also marked the beginning of his fly-fishing journey. Since then, he has enjoyed tying flies, traveling, and sharing his love of conservation and fly fishing with others. He has attended the Kettle Creek fishing outing for the past two years and continues to mentor others in both the art of fly fishing and the importance of protecting natural resources.

In addition to his passion for the outdoors, Rick is an avid reader who values lifelong learning. Whether through his professional work, volunteer service, or love of fishing, Rick has devoted his life to supporting others, building community, and stewarding the environment for future generations.  Rick has served as the chapter VP since 2023 and is one of the writers for our monthly “About Trout” articles for local newspapers. 

Nominee for Vice President – Lee Demosky

Lee is 55 years old, was born and raised in Latrobe and has resided in Greensburg for 25 years.  He is a graduate of Latrobe High School, St. Vincent College and Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg. 

Lee has been employed as an Attorney at Law for 32 years.  He is currently an owner and managing partner at Meyer Darragh Bucker Bebenek & Eck, PLLC and his office is located in the Westmoreland County Courthouse complex in Greensburg.  Lee has previous experience as a District Attorney and Public Defender.

He has been a member of Trout Unlimited since 1985 and was introduced to fly fishing by Russ Mowry who used to take him to Slate Run.  Lee’s son L. William Demosky is also a member of this Chapter.  Lee went on the Kettle Creek trip this past year with the Chapter, attends the monthly meetings and assists the Chapter by providing legal advice.

Lee is a member of the Yellow Creek Trout Club and fly fishes year round.  He routinely travels to Erie for Steelhead.  And he takes an annual trip in October to the Salmon River in New York for the King Salmon Run.  He also does an annual trip in December to the Lake Ontario tributaries for the Big Brown Trout Run.  

Lee has been married to his wife, Lou Anne for 23 years and has 4 children.

Nominee for Director – Rick Lynch

In his own words, Rick is just a retired guy from the gas company.  He had almost 45 years of service starting in an entry level position and working his way up.

Rick is Lifetime Member of TU, and has been very active with Forbes Trail for many years.  He has been fishing a long time, but like many of us, more recently started fly fishing.  

Rick has fished Alaska, Canada, Erie/Conneaut, Venice LA, and all over Central PA.  He notes that he carried fishing poles instead of golf clubs in his company car while “working” across the Commonwealth.  

Rick has been a mainstay at the Kettle Creek annual outing providing local lure and geography lessons to fellow campers.  He also ties with the Gray Hackle Gang during the winter.

Rick has been married to his wife Denise for almost 20 years and they live in Jeannette.  Best part…she lets him go fishing!  

Rick enjoys the camaraderie of this chapter and hopes he can add to it.

Nominee for Director – Brian Zimmerman

Brian Zimmerman has served as Director this past year filling a vacancy for a one-year seat and is interested in being nominated again, this time for a three-year seat.  Brian has been a TU member since 2016 and after retiring 11 years ago, became very active in our chapter.     

Brian takes his fly fishing and fly tying very seriously!  Brian assumed the organizational roll of our Gray Hackle Gang in 2021 and is one of the primary organizers for our annual Kettle Creek Trout Camp trip.  Brian also is serving on our Education Task Force to develop a new policy, guidelines and training.

He and Jen live in Derry Township and have three grown children and four grandchildren.  In addition to fly fishing, Brian enjoys hunting, gardening, beekeeping and training his 3 bird dogs.