Stewart L. Udall dies at 90; Interior secretary championed national parks
Udall promoted the idea that government should preserve vast areas of wilderness. He also served in Congress and later led a crusade on behalf of victims of radiation exposure.Stewart L. Udall, who as Interior secretary in the 1960s vastly expanded the country's system of national parks and monuments and developed far-reaching legislation to protect public lands, has died. He was 90.
Udall died Saturday morning at his home in Santa Fe, N.M., surrounded by his children, according to a statement from his son, Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico. He died of natural causes after a fall last week that had kept him confined to bed.
Udall, who served in Congress and later led a crusade on behalf of victims of radiation exposure, had many accomplishments during his decades of public service. But his most important legacy came from championing the idea that government should preserve vast areas of land.
"Any wilderness area, any national park and national monument -- wherever you live in the United States now, there is one relatively close to you. He created the spirit that made all those things possible," said Carl Pope, chairman of the Sierra Club
"In 1960, most Americans lived thousands of miles from any national park," he said. "They don't anymore."
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http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/21/local/la-me-stewart-udall21-2010mar21Here is a bit more on Udall:
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/21/local/la-me-stewart-udall21-2010mar21http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/sludall/index.htmlThis is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2 to follow soon...