| "Mr. Environment" was how many referred to Minnesota state legislator Willard Munger.(K1) As a youth Munger’s grandfather, a logger and naturalist, encouraged him to protect the environment by getting into the Legislature. He took his grandfather’s advice, and in 1954 he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Willard Munger was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party in Duluth. Throughout his time as a legislator, he stayed continually focused on environmental issues. His determination allowed him to leave a distinctive mark on the state’s conservation policies and natural resources. In fact, he chaired the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee for twenty years, starting in 1973. (M2) |  |
Munger was born in 1911, and was raised on a farm in Fergus Falls. He became involved in politics in high school, but it would be many years before he would actually pursue it as a career.(J3) He moved to Duluth in 1930 when he was appointed as a state produce inspector. During World War II Munger worked as a foreman in the Duluth shipyards. He later owned a grocery store, a gas station, and a motel.(M2)Then, when he was 43 years old, after a difficult political race, he was elected to the House.(J3) In his many years as a legislator, Willard Munger’s greatest achievements were in the environmental arena. He either originated or assisted with many key environmental bills. These bills included putting an end to the use of the pesticide DDT in Minnesota long before it was banned by the federal government, and bills to protect wetlands, lakefronts and groundwater. In all of his efforts he had strong opponents in the paper, forestry, and mining industries.(K1) Within the past five years Munger sponsored legislation to request an amendment to give a portion of state lottery revenue to environmental trust funds. In 1998 Minnesota voters overwhelmingly approved the amendment. This money is now used to protect and conserve the beauty that is Minnesota.(M2) In 1999 Willard Munger was given the National Wetlands Award for Outstanding Program Development. He deserved this award for leading the effort to increase wetland protection beyond what the federal law provided. The result was the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act which is now a statewide law.(N4)
| Other accomplishment by Munger include passage of (J3): · the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund · the solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Act of 1989 · the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program · the Groundwater Protection Act of 1989 · the Toxic Pollution Prevention Act · the Energy Task Force to Develop Alternative Energy Resource · He also secured millions of state and federal dollars to clean up the St. Louis River.(M2) |  |
To his credit, in 1997, the Minnesota Natural Resources Foundation awarded the first Willard Munger Environmentalist of the Year Award at the state capital. The Foundation awards individuals who, like Willard Munger, are dedicated to finding creative solutions for preserving Minnesota’s ecosystems and natural resources.(W5) Additionally to his credit, Willard Munger’s name appears in many places. Most notably, the longest paved trail in Minnesota bear his name. The sixty nine mile Willard Munger Trail is a result of the legislators early support of converting abandoned railroads into state trails.(M2)
Willard Munger was loyal and determined in his efforts to protect the natural areas of Minnesota. He died July 11,1999, at 88 years old. He was the oldest lawmaker in state history, and remained a legislator to his death. He served Minnesota for 43 years, holding the record for the longest time of service in the House.(M2) A man known to many as the father of Minnesota environmentalism(K1), Willard Munger has definitely earned the title of Minnesota Hero.
Copyright 2000, Linda Bren