by Jerry Connors, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Port Royal, PA — David E. Forry, 53, the racing secretary at the Juniata County Fair in Port Royal, Pa., died Oct. 23, 2010, in Lewiston Pa.

A worker for Protection Services Inc. out of Harrisburg for 34 years, Mr. Forry was very active on the Juniata County Agricultural Association Board and president of the Juniata County Sportsmen’s Association. He was the longtime secretary of the harness meet at Port Royal, which was usually held on the Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon after Labor Day.

The track over which Mr. Forry presided was a very unusual setup for harness racing in that it was basically an auto-racing track for 363 days of the year. The track crew would put the track surface for harness racing onto the slightly-less than half-mile oval frequently the morning of the first card, and by sunset of the second, the harness surface was removed and the track was again set up for car racing.

Born March 13, 1957 in nearby Lewistown, Pa., Mr. Forry is survived by his wife of 32 years, Donna; two daughters; three brothers and a sister; and two grandchildren.

There will be a viewing at Guss Funeral Home in Mifflintown on Monday, Oct. 25, from 4:30 to 9 p.m., with the family present from 7-9 p.m. The funeral will also be held at Guss Funeral Home on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m.; interment will be at Bethlehem Cemetery, Millerstown.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Guss Funeral Home, 20 S. Third St., Mifflintown, PA 17059 to help with the funeral expenses.