"I stand with the Keep Big Bend Wild coalition"
I stand with the Keep Big Bend Wild coalition in their mission to secure official Wilderness designation for Big Bend National Park's untouched backcountry. This fight isn't new—the National Park Service first championed it in 1974, during my tenure as Director, and reaffirmed the call in 1978. Now, it's time for Congress to act. By enshrining permanent, statutory protection, we can ensure Big Bend’s breathtaking landscapes remain shielded from policy shifts or development threats. It's heartening to see the backing of former NPS Directors, united in our commitment to safeguarding America's wilderness legacy so future generations can continue to embrace its solitude, beauty, and ecological richness."
~ Ronald H. Walker, NPS Director 1973-1975
Chron | Former Big Bend leaders warn border plans could forever alter national park
Originally posted May 22, 2026 Former leaders of Big Bend National Park are urging the Trump administration to abandon border infrastructure projects they warn could permanently damage one of Texas’ most iconic landscapes. In a[…]
Our Public Lands and Waters | Big Bend National Park Border Infrastructure Would Be “The Most Egregious Assault” on Our National Park System, Seven Former Superintendents Say
Last Saturday, May 16, I reported that Homeland Security had awarded the largest border wall construction contract in U.S. history for a wall in Big Bend National Park. The $1.7[…]
Judges’ letter urging transparency and local partnership
A collection of Texas judges have penned a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin urging transparency and local partnership. We, the undersigned County Judges, representing 100% of[…]
National Parks Traveler | Texas Border County Judges Urge Transparency In Plans For Big Bend Border Wall
Elected county judges from every county along the Texas-Mexico border are calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to coordinate more closely with local officials as confusion continues[…]
Op-Ed: Don’t desecrate Big Bend National Park with a border wall we don’t need
Originally published in the Houston Chronicle and posted by ProtectNPS.org As the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, I spent the capstone years of my career working to[…]
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Contributions supporting Keep Big Bend Wild are managed by the El Paso Community Foundation and are tax deductible as allowed by law.
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Keep Big Bend Wild
P.O. Box 66
Big Bend National Park, TX, 79834