July 1957 (age 58)

This was a very difficult month for Sigurd, as news of the proposed bill to create a national wilderness preservation system reached his home town of Ely, Minn. The fact that their own senator, Hubert Humphrey, had sponsored the bill without even consulting leaders of a city that would be directly affected by it, left many fuming. Even worse, one of the city's last three mines had just closed, so people were very worried about the local economy. For much more background about the wilderness bill, Sigurd Olson, and Ely during this time period, click here.

July 1972 (age 73)

The only people in Ely, Minn., who hated Sigurd Olson because of his wilderness activism were people who did not know him personally. Ely's political leaders, who fought Sigurd many times over wilderness issues, at times even expressed warmth and admiration for him. Perhaps the best example is from this month in 1972. Mayor J. P. Grahek, who had battled Sigurd for two decades over wilderness issues, declared July 19 "Sig Olson Day," saying, "In many ways Sigurd Olson is a great man. You don't have to agree with some of the things he had advocated to recognize his quality and his worth as a writer." (The picture of Olson and Grahek at left was taken ca 1965.)