by Mike Matzinger
Wallace Stegner (1909–1993), often called the dean of Western writers, was a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist, conservation leader, and influential teacher. Born in Iowa and raised in Montana, Utah, and Saskatchewan, he grew up with a deep connection to the land. As a Scout in Utah, he became an Eagle Scout and explored wild places such as the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park—experiences that shaped his lifelong reverence for wilderness.
At Stanford University, Stegner founded one of the nation’s leading creative writing programs, mentoring writers such as Edward Abbey, Larry McMurtry, Wendell Berry, and Ken Kesey. His novels earned top honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for Angle of Repose and the National Book Award for The Spectator Bird.
Stegner was also a powerful voice for conservation. His 1960 “Wilderness Letter” helped inspire the Wilderness Act of 1964, protecting millions of acres of wild lands. He later coined the enduring phrase “the geography of hope.”
As a teacher, author, and environmental champion, Wallace Stegner left behind both literary treasures and lasting protections for America’s wilderness.