G. Leslie Grimes, huntsman for the Green Spring Valley Hounds, died on April 7 at his home in Butler, Md., following an extended illness. He was 89.

Mr. Grimes was born in Virginia on December 9, 1919, and served in World War II for several years. His career with hounds began as a whipper-in at the Fairfield County Hounds in Connecticut, and after the war he was selected by Green Spring Masters John K. Shaw, Jr. and Daniel B. Brewster, Jr. to replace retiring huntsman Otis Hays. Mr. Grimes became one of the youngest professionals ever hired to hunt a recognized pack.

He hunted the Green Spring Valley hounds for 35 seasons until his retirement in 1981 and hunted under the leadership of 10 different Masters. Mr. Grimes was renowned as a complete horseman, hound man, and brilliant huntsman. His horn and voice cheering on the hounds was nothing less than extraordinary.

In 2001, Mr. Grimes was inducted into the Masters of Foxhounds Huntsmen Hall of Fame, the only living huntsman to have been so honored in the history of the organization.

“To observe this man hunting a pack of hounds was to watch a craftsman,” said Mr. Grimes’ successor, Andrew Barclay.

“An elegant horseman, his link with his hounds was magic, and his casting at a loss was effortless and almost always successful. He was a perfectionist in the hunting field. His 35 years of consistently breeding some of the best hounds in North America left a legacy that any huntsman would covet.”

Mr. Grimes is survived by his daughter, Sara “Missy” Johnston, six grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the Hunt Staff Benefit Foundation, c/o MFHA, P.O. Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646.