Hugh Lantz was born in San Diego, CA.  His family migrated to the US and settled here, from Canada.  He and his bride of 50 plus years, Pat, were married in San Diego. They have 2 children, an adopted son and 3 foster daughters, 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

After 12 ½ years with the San Diego Fire Department, Hugh with his fire experience and love of flying went to work for the U.S. Forest Service as a heli-tack foreman, doing firefighting, mountain rescue and training crews for forest fires.  An airliner disappeared in the Sierra that year.   After a helicopter crashed on the first day Hugh was put in charge of all air operations at the crash site. The recovery operation took 10 days and had to be done by helicopters and a sky-crane. He received a National Transportation Safety Board Commendation for his work at the crash site at 12,000 ft. altitude. 

Next Hugh became a Policeman for the City of Bishop, later transferring to the Mono County Sheriff's Dept. as a Deputy Sheriff-Deputy Coroner where he served as President of the Sheriff's Officers Assoc. for 2 years.  After 23 ½ years of sirens and guns, of being burned, shot, and stabbed, Hugh had a heart attack and retired to Nevada where he received training to be a polygraph examiner.  In 1992 he was elected a Life Member by the American Polygraph Association. He is one of only 26 people to be so honored in over 60 years.

Hugh is an active member of the northern Nevada community and has been particularly active in areas that demonstrate his love of his Celtic heritage – both Scottish and Irish - having served in the past as Chief of Nevada Society of Scottish Clans and as President of Sons and Daughters of Erin.  He has developed a sense of pride in heritage in his family.  Hugh has also been highly involved in community activities through his church and through the Lions Club.

Through the Lions Club he has made numerous trips to Mexico where he, along with his beloved Pat, distributes eye glasses to people in impoverished areas.  They also volunteer at a camp near the Ruby Mountains for needy children.  Throughout the years he has opened his home to foreign students and has sponsored foster children.  With a twinkle in his eye, he has been ever present at Celtic events making one and all feel welcome and leaving them with the feeling that each one of them is the most important person in the world to him.