By Joe Gaydos
Science Director
Joe Gaydos, Bill Ruckelshaus, Markus Naugle.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Ruckelshaus, first and fifth head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Deputy Attorney General of the U.S., acting Director of the FBI, a Member of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, founding Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership and the recipient of the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He served four Presidents and three Governors and was mentor and friend to both me and the SeaDoc Society.
I first met Bill when he played an instrumental role in setting up Washington’s Puget Sound Partnership under Governor Gregoire. Over the years, I was so impressed that a person of his stature and intellect always graciously took time to answer my questions and guide me on policy and process needed to improve the health of the Salish Sea for the benefit of people, wildlife and our economy.
Bill was a man who put the welfare of all above party and personal gain. I remember one day not long after President Trump took office, going to meet with Bill at his Seattle office. He kept Markus Naugle and I waiting, which was very unlike him. When he finally came in, Bill, a lifelong Republican, was visibly flustered and told us he was flabbergasted that the president wouldn’t even take his calls. It gave him a good laugh and calmed him a bit when I replied that I knew how he felt as Trump was not taking my calls either.
But he was still mad, insisting that the EPA was created to protect the well-being of all Americans, and Trump’s dismantling it for partisan purposes was not what America was about. It made me sad for our country, but proud that people like Bill existed and further inspired me to do my best to walk in the footsteps of such giants.
A decade ago, I asked Bill if he thought we should try and push for a list of the Pinto Abalone, citing concerns about process and cost. He said that if he were disappearing from the face of the earth, he hoped that he’d at least be listed. Just last year Washington State listed the pinto abalone as endangered and is actively expanding recovery efforts.
With Bill’s passing, I’m reminded that the Salish Sea, along with all of the oceans and all of us, would be better off to remember to put the greater good of all above party and personal gain, just like Bill did.