David Backes (born May 14, 1957 in

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

) was an American

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

and

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...

, best known as the official biographer of Sigurd F. Olson, who devoted his life to protecting Minnesota's northwoods and the

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA) comprises of pristine forests, glacial lakes, and streams in the Superior National Forest. Located entirely within the U.S. state of Minnesota at the Boundary Waters, the wilderness are ...

. He published six books related to Olson and the northwoods, and his book, titled ''A Wilderness Within: The Life of Sigurd F. Olson'', won the Small Press Book Award for 1998, and received a positive review in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

''. Backes was a professor in the Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies department of the

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UW–Milwaukee, UWM, or Milwaukee) is a Public university, public Urban university, urban research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It is the largest university in the Milwaukee metropo ...

until his retirement in 2015. In Backes' final years, his driving purpose was what he described as a healing ministry, especially the healing of the natural world. Much of his writing late in life was devoted to spreading awareness of the threats posed to the planet, while also reflecting on the beauties and the simplicity of the small things found all around us in everyday life. His final project before his death was a novel, ''Listening Point'', which has yet to be published.

Death

Backes died on December 23, 2022.

Works

* ''A Private Wilderness: The Journals of Sigurd F. Olson'' * ''Spirit of the North: The Quotable Sigurd F. Olson'' * ''The Meaning of Wilderness: Essential Articles and Speeches of Sigurd F. Olson''. * ''Canoe Country: An Embattled Wilderness'' * ''The Wilderness Companion'' * ''A Wilderness Within: The Life of Sigurd F. Olson''

References

External links

University bio

David J Backes Official Website

Sigurd F. Olson website
(maintained by Backes)
Interview with David Backes
at Listening Point about his Sigurd Olson biography (Part One), ''NORTHERN LIGHTS Minnesota Author Interview'' TV Series #437 (1999)
Interview with David Backes
at Listening Point about his Sigurd Olson biography (Part Two), ''NORTHERN LIGHTS Minnesota Author Interview'' TV Series #438 (1999) {{DEFAULTSORT:Backes, David 1957 births Living people Writers from Milwaukee University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee faculty