Benson News Sun – Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Gabrielle Giffords/U.S. Rep. Congressional District 8

They are a political dynasty with roots stretching back to Arizona’s rough-and-tumble territorial days. Some have referred to them as the Kennedys of the West.

Whatever you call the Udalls, there’s no denying the pivotal role this storied family has played in shaping our state and nation. They have been a fixture of the political landscape for more than a century.

This is why I was honored recently to vote with a majority of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to change the name of Tucson’s Morris K. Udall Foundation to the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation.

A simple name change might seem insignificant. It isn’t. This is a fitting tribute to the lasting legacy of a pair of true environmental pioneers – brothers who worked together over decades to raise awareness of our fragile surroundings and expand our national parks system.

Their contributions were featured prominently in Ken Burns’ recent PBS television series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” It is at the Udall Foundation, though, where the ideals of the Udalls are passed on to the next generation of environmental champions.

The Udall Foundation has many valuable programs that – like the Udall brothers – have a direct and positive impact on our lives. It annually awards about 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 each to college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American health care.

It also funds 12 Native Americans or Alaska Natives each summer for a 10-week internship in Washington, D.C. and, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, takes 12 middle school students every summer to explore Arizona’s natural wonders. The foundation includes the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution that provides mediation and other services and training to help parties resolve environmental conflicts.

The foundation, which is headquartered in downtown Tucson, was established in 1992 to honor Morris Udall’s 30 years of service representing Southern Arizona in the House. Known affectionately as “Mo,” his love of the environment resulted in numerous pieces of sweeping legislation, including the Alaska Lands Act of 1980, which doubled the size of the national park system and tripled the size of the national wilderness system.

Morris Udall was appointed to the House in 1961 when his older brother, Stewart, was named secretary of the interior by President John F. Kennedy. Stewart Udall’s environmental sum is no less impressive than his brother’s.

In 1963, Stewart Udall authored the landmark environmental book, “The Quiet Crisis,” in which he told of those who fought tirelessly against the industrial fouling of air, water and land, the widespread destruction of beauty and the encroachment on open space.

During his eight years as head of the Department of Interior, Stewart Udall oversaw the creation of four national parks, six national monuments, eight national seashores and lakeshores, nine recreation areas, 20 historic sites and 56 wildlife refuges.

The contributions of the Udall brothers stretch across our nation – literally. The easternmost and westernmost points in the United States are named in their honor. Point Udall at the east end of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands honors Stewart, while Udall Point at the west end of Guam honors Morris.

Morris Udall died in 1998. Stewart Udall is 89 and lives in New Mexico. Their sons Mark and Tom continue the Udall legacy today. Each served in the House for a decade – Mark from Colorado and Tom from New Mexico – before they were elected to the Senate last November.

Legislation to change the name of the foundation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva and I am an original co-sponsor. Together, our districts encompass much of the same region that Mo and Stewart represented in the House.

Terry Bracy, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, has said the Udall legacy is really a shared legacy and that renaming the foundation to also honor Stewart is an appropriate way to honor his vision and leadership. I agree.

The combined contributions of Morris and Stewart Udall are like the rugged and wild lands they dedicated their lives to preserving: They will endure through the ages.