Stewart Udall, former Interior secretary, environmental leader and political patriarch, dies at 90
Former U.S. Interior Secretary Stewart Udall — uncle of U.S. Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado, father of another senator and patriarch of one of the West's leading political families — died Saturday at his Santa Fe home. He was 90.
Stewart Udall was Interior secretary from 1961 to 1968 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Previously, he was a congressman from Arizona.
Udall helped shape federal policies that have steered development of the West for half a century.
He was involved in crafting the Wilderness Act, under which millions of acres of the West are preserved in their natural state, and an early version of the Endangered Species Act. He also presided over a major expansion of the national park system, including sprawling Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.
But he also presided over an unprecedented period of development of the West's water resources, including completion of Glen Canyon Dam, which created Lake Powell on the Colorado River.
After leaving office, he led legal battles on behalf of American Indian miners and others sickened by uranium mining and above-ground nuclear tests.
He was the brother of Mark Udall's father, the late Morris "Mo" Udall, who served 15 terms in Congress and ran for president; and was the father of U payday loan no faxing.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.
In a statement, Mark Udall called his uncle "a great public servant, and a wonderful writer and storyteller. He was passionate about conservation, and he was a champion of Native peoples. All those who care about our national parks and the environment will miss his voice.
"Beyond his life in public service, he was the patriarch of our family, a great mentor and role model," the senator added. "The Udall family will not be the same without him."
Current Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, a former Colorado senator, called Udall "one of the greatest secretaries of the Interior in my lifetime … a pioneer and a visionary in protecting America's natural resources and cultural heritage."
"Stewart Udall left an indelible mark on this nation and inspired countless Americans who will continue his fight for clean air, clean water and to maintain our many natural treasures," President Barack Obama said in a statement.