The Essential Mack Prichard

Writings of a Conservation Hero

A view of Savage Gulf from above the Great Stone Door. Photo by Ray Zimmerman.

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The Essential Mack Prichard: Writings of a Conservation Hero
Mary Patten Priestley, Editor
ISBN 9798883910060

On April 20, I attended a presentation by the editor and author Mary Patten Priestley with images from the life and career of Mack Prichard (1938-2020) It was a happy turn of events that this presentation took place at the Trails and Trilliums Naturalist Rally at Beersheba Springs. The location is just a few miles from Savage Gulf State Park, and Prichard played a critical role in preserving that location.

Prichard led a delegation of dignitaries, including Winfield Dunn, who was governor from 1971 through 1975, on a horseback excursion into the Savage Gulf region. By 1973 it was a State Natural Area. The Natural Area later became part of South Cumberland State Park and is now Savage Gulf State Park. Governor Dunn wrote the preface to Priestlsy’s book.

The book is a celebration of Mack Prichard/s life and career as well as a collection of published works. Prichard had an office in Nashville, but he could usually be found on the road to Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, The Tri-Cities, and anywhere else in the state to give one of his many slide talks and promote conservation and the natural beauty of our state.

I met Prichard when he served as Tennessee State Naturalist and saw him give several talks. He has been called a force for nature, and his work led to the preservation of historic and natural areas. He began giving speeches for conservation while still in high school, and continued promoting conservation after retirement, with the title of Tennessee State Naturalist Emeritus.

Randy Hedgepath, formerly a park ranger at South Cumberland State Park, became the State Naturalist when Prichard retired. Hedgepath is now retiring and passing on that leadership role to a new State Naturalist.

The personal papers presented in this book include letters to family and state officials, the texts of speeches, descriptions for classes he offered at various symposia, and articles from the Tennessee Conservationist magazine and elsewhere. Priestly not only organized the materials into topical sections but also persuaded people acquainted with Mack to provide introductory articles for each section.

Author and Editor Mary Patten Priestley serves as a Curator at the Sewanee Herbarium. She edits their newsletter, the Plant Press, and edited the 3rd edition of Sewanee Under the Sun, a book I have read and found delightful. She has authored several books, including Sewanee Wildflowers in Color and Fiery Gizzard: Voices From the Wilderness. Tennesseeans who care about our state’s natural areas will cherish this most recent book. It is a vitamin for the soul.