"Sam Hamilton, the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, died Saturday after suffering chest pains at a ski resort in Colorado, officials announced.

Hamilton, 54, had served the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more than 30 years. Hamilton was nominated as director by President Barack Obama and sworn in September 1, 2009.

He died Saturday afternoon after being transported off the Keystone Ski Area to Keystone Medical Center, said Summit County coroner Joanne Richardson. She said the manner of his death indicated an underlying heart condition. "

Environment News Service had the story February 21, 2010. [2]