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Hal Flanders 1915 - 2001
Friends in the Big Bend Region and elsewhere mourn the passing of Hal Flanders on October 8, 2001. Hal and Mary Flanders came to Alpine in 1977 after he had retired and they had traveled some. Hal had worked for years for the Bell Telephone system, in the course of which he and Mary and their children lived in many states of the United States. During those many years he came to know and treasure a diverse variety of natural places. Hal believed that the earth and our world must be protected and nurtured, because it is not just our physical world but our spiritual home. He devoted many years of his life to that task.
Hal is well noted for initiating the recycling center in Alpine, not an easy task. He was dedicated to that effort until the end. He served on many civic and environmental boards including the Sunshine House, the Community Center, the Brewster County Industries, the Rio Grande Council of Government, and the Tuscon Cooperative Warehouse (which is the main base for many food coops, including the Big Bend Food Coop, founded by Mary and Hal). He was one of eight founding members of the Big Bend Regional Sierra Club in 1996 and served several terms on its Executive Committee. He was also involved with other environmental groups including the Nature Conservancy.
The Lone Star Chapter of Sierra Club (the state organization) gave him its Special Service Award in 1997. He also received in 1998 the Texas Environmental Excellence Award, sponsored by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the Governor's Office, for his efforts in recycling in Alpine. The Nature Conservancy gave him an award in 1986 and he received numerous other local awards including the Chamber of Commerce's President's Award in 1992.
He leaves behind his wife, Mary, children Elizabeth Anne Flanders of Camden, South Carolina, and Rev. Robert Harold Flanders of Flagstaff as well as a granddaughter and grandson. He also leaves behind his beloved dog Willy.
Hal was loved by many who will cherish his memory.
Memorial Contributions may be sent to Big Bend Regional Sierra Club, P. O. Box 474, Marathon, TX 79842, or the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, 130 Prospect St., Cambridge, MA 02139-1845.
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