Mollie H. Beattie (1947-1996)

Mollie H. Beattie (1947-1996) was the first woman to become FWS Director (1993-1996). Mollie – as she was known to friend and foe alike – fiercely defended the Endangered Species Act, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She passionately advocated ecosystem approaches to conservation and reintroducing gray wolves into the American West. After her death, several Congressional antagonists joined in naming an eight-million-acre Arctic Refuge wilderness in tribute to her. Mollie lived her words noting: What a country chooses to save is what a country chooses to say about itself.