NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/846037
arold Andersen put his time, pen and voice behind many causes during and after his 23 years as publisher of the Omaha World-Herald. Nebraskans who appreciate the state's broad array of historical and natural resources should be thankful those resources were among "Andy's" passions and causes he supported. Andersen was as honored for his work in his civic and philanthropic endeavors as he was for his work in the news industry. His philanthropic work included serving as the chairman of the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation from its founding in 1983 until 2005, and as a member of the board until his death on December 15, 2015. Under his leadership, the Foundation raised tens of millions of dollars to support many Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries, wildlife, parks and education projects and programs, including: • Purchase of land for and/or funded major construction projects at Rock Creek, Fort Atkinson and Ashfall state historical parks (SHP), and Platte River, Eugene T. Mahoney and Ponca state parks (SP). • The donation of land for Arthur Bowring Ranch SHP and Keller Park State Recreation Area, and negotiating the lease for Smith Falls SP. • Half-price youth lifetime hunting and fishing permits offered in drawings at special events. • Fish and wildlife projects including funding an in-stream flow study on the Platte River, construction of goose pens for a reintroduction project, and wetland construction at Kiowa Wildlife Management Area (WMA). At least some of Andersen's interest in Nebraska's outdoor resources was sparked by Gene Mahoney, for whom Mahoney SP was named. When Mahoney became director of the Commission in 1976, he convinced Andersen, a world traveler, to discover Nebraska's natural resources with him. Those trips led to a lasting friendship, opened Andersen's eyes to what Nebraska had to offer, and led to his first hunting trip, as well as many fishing and canoe trips with family, friends and business associates. Andersen encouraged people to appreciate, protect and explore the outdoors through his own writing, through the outdoor writers he employed, and through the "Know Nebraska" tours the World-Herald and the Commission sponsored. Through his connections, he brought others, and their donations, to the cause. "He had a genuine interest and passion in our mission and what we were trying to accomplish: to get people outdoors in Nebraska, and educate young people, the next generation if you will, about opportunities in the outdoors. And he put his own time, effort, sweat and money into it," said Roger Kuhn, the Commission's assistant director in charge of program development, who worked with Andersen often during his tenure with the agency. Andersen's efforts were significant enough that the visitor center at Fort Atkinson SHP, a WMA near Dannebrog and a cabin at Mahoney SP bear his name. Jim Douglas, director of the Commission, said Andersen, through his work as a journalist and the Foundation, helped foster a greater appreciation of the state's historical sites, helped grow partnerships between the public and private sector that elevated conservation efforts, and "brought tremendous resources to bear in the development and maintenance of our premier park system as well as conservation of our treasured wildlife resources," Douglas said. "His legacy will be everlasting." ■ By Eric Fowler d Th h hi ti h b ht H COURTESY OF THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD JULY 2017 • NEBRASKAland 51