Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day and a former U.S. senator and Wisconsin governor, has been named a winner of the Wisconsin Alumni Association's 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Nelson received his LL.B. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1942.  He began his public service in 1948 as a state senator, and was reelected three times. In 1958, he became only the second Democrat of the century to be elected Governor of Wisconsin. After two terms as governor, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served a total of 18 years.

Nelson has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to him in 1995. The proclamation from President Clinton read, "As the father of Earth Day, he is the grandfather of all that grew out of that event: the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act."  The first Earth Day took place in 1970, drawing 20 million participants.

Nelson will be officially presented with the UW Distinguished Alumni Award on Friday, May 7, 2004 in the Memorial Union Theater.  All are welcome to attend.  The ceremony will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. in the foyer, followed by the awards program at 6 p.m.  The program will be followed by the Alumni Dinner at 7 p.m. in Great Hall of the Memorial Union.  For ticket information for the dinner, call the WAA's Sue Miller at (608) 262-9647.

Submitted by on January 21, 2004

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