Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
Patron Saint of Public Conservation

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) continues to cast a long and profound shadow in American conservation circles, and nowhere more significant than among the men and women of the National Wildlife Refuge System, where he has become something of a �patron saint� because of his fundamental role in creating and shaping America�s vast network of public lands managed for the conservation and stewardship of animals, plants, and habitat, starting with his March 14, 1903, executive order declaring Florida�s tiny pelican island as the Nation�s first National Wildlife Refuge. Never patient with bureaucracy, Roosevelt created the 4 acre Pelican Island sanctuary with characteristic flourish, asking an aide, �Is there any law that will prevent me from declaring Pelican Island a Federal Bird Reservation?� Told there was not, he replied, �Very well, then I so declare it.� Roosevelt signed 51 Executive Orders creating sanctuaries during his presidency, establishing new refuges in 17 states and territories, and making greater use of the Executive Order tool than any president up to that time. In a single day � February 25, 1909 � Roosevelt created 17 different wildlife reservations throughout the Rockies and the far West. Two days before leaving office, Roosevelt was still setting aside wildlife refuges.