03/01/07 Environmental Movement Mourns Loss Of Good Friend

Environmental Movement Mourns Loss Of Good Friend

The Capital Times
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Al Gedicks University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Dear Editor: Roscoe Churchill of Ladysmith, a dearly loved leader of Wisconsin's environmental movement, passed away at age 90 on Feb. 9 in his sleep after a long struggle with prostate cancer.

Roscoe was the grandfather of Wisconsin's grass-roots anti-mining movement. For more than 30 years, this retired school principal, part-time farmer, former Republican and Rusk County supervisor, along with his late wife, Evelyn, were the heart and soul of the efforts to stop some of the largest mining companies in the world, including Kennecott, Noranda, Exxon, Rio Algom and BHP Billiton, from destroying the land and clean waters of communities from Ladysmith to the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation near Crandon, and from La Crosse County to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Roscoe's untiring opposition to ecologically destructive mining had nothing to do with "Not in my backyard!" sentiment. He traveled across the state to assist the Indian, environmental and sport fishing alliance that formed to oppose Exxon's proposed Crandon mine at the headwaters of the Wolf River.

His knowledge, experience, eloquence and fearlessness in the face of irresponsible corporate and bureaucratic power won the admiration and respect of an entire generation of environmental activists.

The Churchill farm became a mecca for young people interested in learning from the elders of the Wisconsin anti-mining movement. Even when the ravages of prostate cancer were slowing him down, he continued to give his time, energy and expertise to newly formed citizen groups.

Roscoe and Evelyn's legacy is one of the strongest grass-roots environmental movements in the history of Wisconsin.

To help carry on the legacy of these two fine stewards of the environment, memorials may be directed to: Roscoe and Evelyn Churchill Memorial Environmental Scholarship Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 100 Miner Ave. E., Ladysmith, WI 54848.