Short, 81, passed away December 19, 2004. He was a WWII veteran and graduated from Colorado A&M in 1950 with a degree in forestry.

Short made his first fire jump August 3, 1949, just missing the Mann Gulch crew by two spots on the list.

He spent most of his 30-year career with the US Forest Service on the Cibola N.F. in Region 3 specializing in timber management.

Short retired and moved to Dallas, Oregon, where he bought five acres and built a A-frame and lived there until his passing.