William W. Dunmire

After studying wildlife management and zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, he spent nearly three decades with the National Park Service, working in parks including Yosemite, Hawaii Volcanoes, Yellowstone, and Carlsbad Caverns. He later served as superintendent at Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

In his writing, he focused on the natural and cultural history of the Southwest, especially New Mexico. His books explored topics such as useful wild plants, Pueblo and Four Corners traditions, historic gardens, and the long story of Spanish livestock in the region.

He was also affiliated with the University of New Mexico and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science as a researcher and associate. Remembered as both an author and a naturalist, he brought together science, history, and storytelling in a way that made the Southwest feel vivid and lived-in.