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Bringing John Muir to life
Doug Hulmes performs Chautauqua at Washington, D.C. celebration
Prescott College faculty
member Doug Hulmes
’73 was invited to perform
his Chautauqua of John
Muir for the 40th anniversary
of the Wilderness Act in
Washington, D.C., on Sunday,
Sept. 19, 2004.
His portrayal of John Muir as
a young environmental conservationist
was part of the Wilderness
Act 40th Anniversary
Wilderness Advocacy Week held
in celebration of 40 years of people
protecting wilderness.
“I was pleased with my performance
and received two
standing ovations,” Hulmes
said. “The first was at the completion
of my monologue and
the other at the completion of
the question period.”
Hulmes began performing
John Muir under contract with
the Arizona Humanities Council
on a scholar speaker’s bureau.
He is a professor of environmental
studies and teaches courses
in ecology, environmental education,
and environmental history
and philosophy.
His Washington, D.C., performance
was held at the
Wilderness Society headquarters
and was attended by about
100 wilderness advocates from
across the nation. The performance
was intended to give participants
an appreciation of the
historical roots of America’s
Wilderness legacy.
In the 40 years since the
Wilderness Act was signed into
law by President Lyndon
Johnson, more than 106 million
acres have been set aside leaving
future generations some of
the last remaining wild areas
unspoiled by humans.
Those who attended the
anniversary celebration in
Washington were treated to a
history of the Wilderness Act of
1964—and the bipartisan legislative
support it originally
received. Additionally, participants
were briefed on being
effective lobbyists.
A celebration dinner, which
Hulmes attended, was held at
the National Press Club following
the day’s presentations.
Special guest Robert Redford
pointed out the unique richness
of America’s wild landscapes and
the special legacy that all
Americans share because some
of those lands have been set
aside as “forever wild.”
Well-known naturalist writer
Terry Tempest Williams, who
was recently inducted into the
Rachel Carson Honor Roll
and has received the National
Wildlife Federation’s Conservation
Award for Special
Achievement, was the master
of ceremonies. The evening’s
keynote speaker was former
Secretary of Interior Stewart
Udall.
“The wilderness idea originated
here in this country; the
national park idea originated in
this country,” said Udall, who
served in the Kennedy and
Johnson administrations.
Senator Robert Byrd (D-
WV) and Congressman John
Dingell (D-MI) were among
those recognized for their role
in passing the landmark conservation
legislation, signed 40
years ago in September.
Senator Byrd was presented
with the first Hubert H.
Humphrey Wilderness
Leadership Award, which honors
a member of the U.S.
Senate “who gives exemplary
leadership for wilderness
preservation and whose commitment
to the betterment of
his or her constituency extends
to those in future generations.”
Congressman Dingell was
presented with the first John P.
Saylor Wilderness
Leadership Award,
which honors a member
of the U.S. House
of Representatives
“whose conservation
record and commitment
to public lands
protection is distinguished
by long tenure
and consistent leadership.”
Rep. Saylor, a
Republican from
Pennsylvania, was the
father of the
Wilderness Act in the
U.S. House of
Representatives — its
lead sponsor through
the eight years of
debate and a stalwart
in its implementation
until his death in 1973.
Don Hoffman,
executive director of
the Arizona
Wilderness Coalition
and an adviser for
Prescott College’s Master of
Arts Program, and his daughter
Gretchen ’04, also attended
the anniversary celebration.
Hulmes has received many
awards and honors recognizing
his skills as a teacher and performer.
In 1998 he was recognized
as outstanding presenter
at the national Wilderness
Rangers Conference in
Durango, Colo., for his performance
as John Muir. He was
guest professor at Telemark
University College in Norway
in 1997, where he taught that
country’s first interdisciplinary
Environmental Studies
Program; and in 1994, he was
named Educator of the Year
and recipient of the President’s
Appreciation Award from the
Arizona Environmental
Education Association.
Fall 2004Transitions
by Ann Haver-Allen
Photo by Travis Patterson
Prescott College faculty
member Doug Hulmes
performing his Chautauqua of
John Muir.
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