Dale Burk 1936–

2018 INDUCTEE

Dale Burk 1936–

hose closest to him say Dale Burk, who lished a Burk photograph of Brandborg and a Tgrew up in a logging family, “had his boots Wyoming senator viewing a clearcut that resembled in Montana mud and his hands on Tobacco a carpet-bombed landscape. It enraged the nation. Valley lumber.” Few environmental reporters existed then, When family sawyers instinctively know how much less investigative reporting by Montana to use a two-person saw to fell a tree in thick media. Burk broke new ground to inform Monta- stands of dark timber, you learn to pay attention. nans about forest management—catalyzing cru- You take mental notes. You remember things. cial national support for reforms. All these mental traits paid off for Burk, Mon- Harvard took notice and awarded Burk with tana, and the nation. its 1975-76 Nieman Fellowship for journalism. For 10 years, Burk worked at the Missoulian, Burk’s work was indeed controversial but Missoula’s daily newspaper. His dogged pursuit stood the test of time. His work helped spark of a story saw him progress from reporter to passage of the National Forest Management Act columnist, to editor, to editorial-page writer. while he displayed professional courage, and In 1968, his first year at the paper, Burk weathered aggressive criticism, to ensure Monta- drifted toward familiar stories and soon nans, Americans, and the Congress learned the contacted Guy Brandborg, a forester on the truth to provide a better future for our forests. Bitterroot National Forest. His newspaper work also launched a long Both once lived in small communities where career as a conservation advocate via his publish- logging was a primary economic force. Together ing house, Stoneydale Press. For example, his they compared mental notes and remembered book, Great Bear, Wild River, was instrumental in things, especially the families still working in the the 1978 designation of the Great Bear Wilderness woods and timber mills. along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Their talks set Burk on a reportorial course in Numerous accolades came Burk’s way, but 1969 that resulted in a series of articles about it’s perhaps most fitting that his local club, the Forest Service clearcutting. His reporting brought Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association, national attention to misguided, unsustainable, awarded him with its Lifetime Achievement and economically irrational activities. Burk Award, and that the Missoula Conservation uncovered massive clearcutting, aggressive Community names its annual award for most road-building, terracing, and logging-centric outstanding citizen advocate after Burk. management that gave short shrift to the concept Dale Burk’s lifelong contribution as a conser- of multiple-use. vation leader shaped our outdoor heritage. Burk His groundbreaking reporting continued for and his work serve as reminders that journalists several years. In 1971, The New York Times pub- and a free press are vital to a civil society. #

Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame 2018 Inductees | 7