C. D. “Buzz” Besadny | Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame

Died in 1999
Inducted 2008

“Wisconsin personified, a solid citizen who tells homey stories about himself, thinks before he talks, takes his time to consider all sides, then makes up his mind, digs in and holds his ground.” — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Besadny

Kewaunee native Carroll D. “Buzz” Besadny led the Department of Natural Resources into the modern-day environmental era, from 1980-92. Known as a consummate professional who made science-based decisions and stuck to his guns, his down-to-earth style was appreciated by friends and foes alike.

Besadny devoted his entire career to conservation in Wisconsin. He attended Wisconsin schools, including the UW-Madison, where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. His 42-year tenure at the DNR, culminating with his years as secretary, was filled with accomplishments of lasting value.

Besadny’s tenure also mark an interesting time in the evolution of conservation management in the state, with the state still adjusting from basic changes brought on by the merging of game management, conservation and environmental protection into the work of one agency.

Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to achieve federal Clean Water Act “fishable and swimmable” standards during Besadny’s tenure. The DNR was charged with leading this monumental effort against sometimes stiff resistance and outright opposition. Today, communities across the state benefit economically and environmentally from clean rivers and lakes, and water is considered one of the state’s major assets. Groundwater protection, soil erosion control, toxic substance regulation and recycling were other environmental initiatives at the time.

Besadny worked his way up the ladder at the DNR, holding positions that included director of the Bureau of Environmental Impact and administrator of the Division of Resource Management. Appointed secretary by a citizen board, Besadny earned the respect of the three governors he served – Lee Sherman Dreyfus, Anthony S. Earl and Tommy G. Thompson.

A biologist, Besadny constantly emphasized using science as a key component in natural resources policies and decisions. While environmental matters came to the forefront in his years of leadership, there was action on the wildlife front, too. The DNR made major progress in deer and pheasant management. The reintroduction of wild turkeys begun with Besadny at the helm and has blossomed into a wildlife management success story, opening the door to new hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for thousands of state residents.

Land acquisition activities also marked his tenure. The state made important land purchases, totaling 127,300 acres, including the Chippewa Flowage, under Wisconsin’s Outdoor Recreational Act Program (ORAP.) The state also created the Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program in 1989, a successor to ORAP with similar goals. Administered by the DNR, the Stewardship Fund remains the state’s major land-acquisition program. It expands outdoor recreation opportunities, using both private resources and public funds to acquire land and easements, develop and improve recreational facilities, and restore wildlife habitat.

Besadny earned the nickname “Father Nature” for his work on behalf of Wisconsin’s natural resources. The Wisconsin Conservation Congress, a group with which Besadny sometimes quarreled, called Besadny “the ultimate professional.”