Saturday Marks 100th Anniversary Of Gaylord Nelson’s Birth

Saturday is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gaylord Nelson, former Wisconsin senator, governor and pioneering environmentalist. Nelson’s daughter, Tia Nelson, says the Earth Day founder and prominent Democrat would be troubled by some developments since he passed away in 2005.

Nelson said her family and friends will gather Saturday at a Nelson home in Washington D.C. One thing likely to be discussed, she said, is what she called the diminished role of science in the making of public policy. Nelson said that as a politician, her father often relied on Harold

“Bud” Jordahl and other University of Wisconsin scientists.

“His ideas on regional planning … to help develop the legislation for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the protection of the Saint Croix River,” she said.

Nelson also said her father would be proud that Earth Day, which then- U.S. Sen. Nelson created in 1970, is still going strong.

“Forty-six years later, it’s celebrated in 200 countries, and that so many people care about the environment and understand the public health risk of not protecting our environment,” she said.

Nelson said her father would also be happy that his name, along with that of former Republican Gov. Warren Knowles remains on the state’s chief land preservation effort, called the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.