H. Reed Sanderson's Obituary
Reed was born at home near Huston, Idaho on July 8, 1932 and died on October 8, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Rowland Frost and Leanore Sanderson. His father died in 1934 and after his mother married Burton Sanderson, he was adopted by his step-father. Reed was married to his wife Georgiana (Georgie) for 58 years. She preceded him in death in May 2019.
He grew up in California spending the school years in Likely and Williams where his mother taught school on the Indian Reservations and his summers in the San Francisco Bay area with Grandparents and Uncles. When WWII started they moved to Tiburon as his step-father was stationed there as part of the Navy’s defense forces manning the antisubmarine nets across the San Francisco Bay. He and his younger brother Rod spent many hours hiking the foothills of Mt. Tamalpais, climbing Redwood trees and swinging in the Bay trees. To earn money they delivered newspapers, which allowed them to have bicycles during the war.
After WWII his family moved to Pleasant Hill where in 1950 he graduated from Mt. Diablo High School while working for Laila’s Florist shop. Some 40 years later his niece Lynn also worked there. Because of the long family connection the owner personally made deliveries of flowers to his mother. While in High School he was part of the Naval Air Reserves at the Oakland Naval Air Station. As an Airman Apprentice he reported to an F-6 fighter squadron where his job was to warm and check out the engines and unfold and fold the aircraft wings as they left and returned to the parking area.
After High School he attended Eastern Contra Costa Junior College in Martinez (now Diablo Valley College) for two years where he discovered a real interest in biological science and decided to become a wildlife biologist. His plans to attend Humboldt State University with his life long friend Russ got put on hold because of the outbreak of the Korean War.
Though part of the Naval Air Reserves, he was draft exempt but could be called to active duty sooner than those being called for the draft. His step-father who was career Navy suggested he request active duty with the fleet so to earn credits for the GI Bill and funds for college. So he did and was stationed on the USS Rendova an escort carrier out of San Diego, California. During one of the training exercises his step-father’s destroyer was assigned as their escort. While at sea, his step-father’s destroyer came alongside to be refueled, so he went to the signal bridge and through hand wave communication the Chief on the destroyer located his step-father and arrangements were made to meet in Long Beach after the exercise concluded. That was the highlight of his Navy career as otherwise he made a lousy sailor as every time the seas got rough he got sick!.
With the war ending in 1954 he was released from active duty and finally headed to Humboldt State University. In the summer of 1956, he worked for the National Park Service at Dinosaur National Monument as a Ranger Naturalist. During that summer he floated part of the Green River and nearly 50 years later floated the same section of river with his son, Allen. After graduating in 1957 with his Bachelor’s of Science in Wildlife he worked at Muir Woods National Monument as a Ranger.
In 1959 he graduated from Colorado State University with his Master’s of Science in Range Management with a thesis on jackrabbit forage on short-grass range. He and his pet skunk moved back to California and soon afterwards he started working for the US Forest Service as a Research Range Conservationist in Susanville, California. While there a young lady was interviewed for an office position. Afterwards the Administrative Assistant, who did the interview, enthusiastically asked him what he thought of her. He replied, “You are hiring our Clerk Typist; not my wife.” Words that he would later eat! She was hired and Reed and Georgie were married February 11, 1961 in Reno, NV. They had two children, Christine Butson and Allen R. Sanderson; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In the spring of 1963 they moved to the US Forest Service San Joaquin Experimental Range outside of Oakhurst California working there until 1966 when he moved his family to Morgantown, WV and continued working for the US Forest Service as Wildlife Biologist studying the habitat of the Eastern Gray Squirrel. To understand their denning and breeding behavior, Reed built the world’s first and only squirrel pen; an acre of hardwood forest surrounded by 8 foot high fence topped with a 3 foot of sheet metal top. Reed spent many hours there in a tree-top bind observing squirrel behavior. Much to Georgie’s displeasure more than once after a day in the field checking squirrel nests he would come home with fleas. During their time in West Virginia Reed and Georgie’s love of birding came about as they along with friends founded the Mountaineer Chapter of the Audubon Society, which just celebrated their 50th year as an organization. During the 70s Reed played a jug in the Appalachian folk band known as the Wild Turkey String Band.
In 1976 he and his family moved west once again settling in La Grande, Oregon working as a Range Scientist at the US Forest Service’s Range and Wildlife Laboratory where he lead the Oregon Range Evaluation Project. In 1989 he retired from the US Forest Service and he and Georgie migrated south to Arizona to continue their birding adventures while volunteering as caretakers at the US Forest Service Santa Rita Experimental Range. In 1996 they settled permanently in Green Valley, Arizona and built a home that was an oasis for birds while he and Georgie became interested in genealogy. They joined the Green Valley Genealogy Society where Reed was the President for several years.
Reed retired again in 2007 after working part time for the University of Arizona for 15 years monitoring the Mt. Graham Red Squirrel as a liaison with federal and state agencies. Reed was committed to making a difference and bringing people together to take on the most difficult challenges. He authored or co-authored more than 30 scientific papers and hundreds of technical reports on wildlife and range management to provide applied approaches to increasing the quality and sustainability of landscapes. His final publication was the 2009 book for which he served as primary editor, The Last Refuge of the Mt. Graham Red Squirrel: Ecology of Endangerment
Reed was an active member of his profession and especially enjoyed meeting and encouraging student and junior professionals. Whether it was the Society for Range Management or The Wildlife Society (TWS), Reed was always viewed as an engaged mentor, chatting with students about a wonderful life in the profession as he proudly wore his Past President’s pin next to his supporter of Women of Wildlife pin. He served in many roles for these professional societies but his favorite role was as a tireless proponent of TWS Retired Wildlife Professionals Committee to capitalize on the energy and life experience of this group. This quote from Reed remains on the Committee’s web page: “I attended The Wildlife Society’s 20th Annual Conference in Milwaukee. I’ve been to many others, and I am always amazed at the changes I see. The most encouraging is the increasing number of students and women. But one thing remains unchanged: There are always dedicated retirees remembering the past, discussing the present, and looking to the future of TWS. I’m one of those who can take the long view. I joined TWS in 1955 when I was a wildlife student at Humboldt State University. One of my professors, Ray Dasmann, said: “If you are going to be a wildlife biologist, you need to join The Wildlife Society.” I’m glad I did”.
In honor of a lifetime of service to the wildlife management profession, Reed was elected by his peers as a Fellow of The Wildlife Society in 2013. He considered this his ultimate professional honor and the professionals that elected him were honored to have known Reed.
Reed’s ashes will be mingled with Georgie’s and will be placed to rest in the Trinity Center Cemetery, Trinity County, California. Reed and Georgie will be remembered by family and friends at a gathering in the Redwoods at a later time. Reed may be remembered by sending a donation to Save the Redwood League, 111 Sutter Street, 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 or to the Reed and Georgia Sanderson Student Travel Award Fund, Arizona
Chapter of The Wildlife Society, PO Box 41337, Phoenix, AZ 85080.
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