Donald Paul Hodel

Donald Hodel (b. 1935) practiced law, headed the Bonneville Power Administration and was president of an energy consulting firm. He sat on numerous energy-related boards and was a delegate to four World Energy Conferences. During the Reagan Administration, he served as under secretary of the Interior for Secretary Watt, then as secretary of Energy, and ultimately as secretary of the Interior. Known as a consensus builder, he continued Reagan's policies but in a style far different from his immediate predecessors. Hodel "truly believed that the United States would be best served if we could find a way to protect and preserve the environment but also develop some of these incredible resources . . . rather than importing them." His concept of restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park by removing the 1923 O'Shaughnessy Dam met with resistance and never came to fruition. Another hallmark of Hodel's tenure was the creation in 1985 of the "Take Pride in America" campaign to enhance public lands through volunteerism.