Joe Janosec, said to be a dedicated leader who worked tirelessly to improve Craig and Moffat County, died Monday night.

Janosec, 70, who died of a brain tumor, moved to Craig with his wife, Kathy, in the fall of 1962.

“We moved here thinking we would just stay a year or two,” said Kathy Janosec. “But we stayed 42 years.”

Janosec started his career at Moffat County High School as a math and science teacher. He soon added to that the role of athletic director and, in 1976, became the principal of the high school.

Janosec served the high school until 1990. From 1993 to 2000, Janosec was a Moffat County commissioner. He was influential and served on several boards including:

• Moffat County Citizens
• Mine Land Reclamation
• Colorado Northwest Community College
• Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado
• Yampa Valley Airport Authority
• Colorado State University Cooperative Extension State Advisory Board

Janosec also was influential in the county fair, which he helped out by donating trophies, leading clubs, judging and buying animals at the Junior Livestock Sales. This year the fair was dedicated to Janosec in honor of his “passion and willingness to give,” according to the Moffat County Fair brochure.

“He was very instrumental in the sheep breeding award and in donating money for the sheep lead and producers choice awards,” said Colorado State Extension Office Assistant Carol Whitehead. “He worked with the fair right up until he died.

Janosec always remained firm in his commitment to the children of Moffat County, his wife said.

“I think what made Joe most happy was when he had former students tell them how he helped them in school, how things he did for them turned their lives around,” Janosec said.

The retired rancher was born in Haxtun, Colo., on March 13, 1933, and is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren.

“He liked Craig and Moffat County period,” Janosec said. “He loved the kids that was his big thing.”

Not the least of Janosec’s contributions to Moffat County, said T. Wright Dickinson, a former Moffat County commissioner who served with Janosec, was that he educated half of the county.

“Most people my age and younger were educated by Joe,” Dickinson said.

Also, Janosec was influential in transportation issue for the

county.

“The resealing of Highway 40,” said Dickinson. “That was part of the things that are going on now that Joe had a hand in making happen.

The county is still feeling the benefits of (those projects).”

Janosec was appointed by Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of Interior, to serve on a committee that published a report that looked at the effects of developing natural gas in the Green River area.

The area has the world’s largest known on-shore natural gas reserves.

Janosec lobbied to allow gas companies to receive recognition for their environmental work, Dickinson said.

“I think that the lasting impression I got from Joe was that I was always learning from him when I was on the commission and in high schasool,” Dickenson said.

“I am very appreciative of the time I spent with him.”

Liz King can be reached at

824-7031 or by email at eking@craigdailpress.coms.