A Voice in Our Wilderness

John Husar worked for the Chicago Tribune's sports department and in 1985 was named the newspaper's outdoors columnist, a role he enthusiastically served until he died of liver failure in 2000. His insatiable appetite for a good story led him to every corner of the Midwest to uncover more about camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, and simply enjoying the outdoors. His columns and actions directly contributed to the opening of thousands of acres of park land across the midwest; thanks to his work as a respected writer, he was able to save the bike and hiking trails along the Illinois & Michigan Canal. His columns were also central to conversion of 32,000 acres of Army land into open spaces for the public. He was so respected by the outdoors community that in 2001 the Illinois Conservation Foundation announced the creation of the John Husar Under Illinois Skies Endowment, a program in which urban children are provided with camping experiences and outdoor learning opportunities at an Illinois state park. Bob Verdi is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune and a regular columnist for the Sporting News.