Former Council Members

Wallace Stegner

Former governing council member Wallace Stegner was best known as a western literary giant, but he was also a committed conservationist.

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Ted Swem

Ted Swem, a lifelong conservationist, served as member and president of the governing council at The Wilderness Society for over two decades.
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Sigurd Olson

Sigurd Olson, former president and governing council member of The Wilderness Society, was an American author, environmentalist and lifelong advocate for wilderness.

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Olaus Murie

Olaus Murie was a renowned biologist and one of the country’s great champions of wildlife and wilderness.
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Mardy Murie

Mardy Murie, “Grandmother of the Conservation Movement,” was a committed lifelong conservationist and protector of wildlife and wild lands.
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Howard Zahniser

Howard Zahniser was the legendary leader of The Wilderness Society who authored the original Wilderness Act.
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Gaylord Nelson

The father of Earth Day, Gaylord Nelson is a former Wilderness Society board member. After he served as governor of Wisconsin, he was a U.S. senator for 18 years.

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Celia Hunter

Celia Hunter, former president of The Wilderness Society, was a leader in the wilderness movement, working to save over 100 million acres of Alaskan wilderness.

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Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams, former council member of The Wilderness Society, was a visionary nature photographer and conservationist.

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