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Finding Aid of the Richard G. Illing papers concerning the Ellis Forest Loop Road and the Sandia Mountains, 1950s-1990University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest ResearchEmail: cswrref@unm.eduURL: http://elibrary.unm.edu/cswr/ © 2009 The University of New Mexico
Biography / History
Richard G. Illing (Box 1 Folder 1) Richard G. Illing came to New Mexico in the 1950s. He settled his family in Albuquerque and later moved to El Rancho de San Francisco in Placitas, N.M. The family enjoyed ranch life and the Sandia Mountains. When his daughter, Lynne, died in an accident her ashes were scattered on the eastern slope of the Sandias. In part as a memorial to Lynne, Richard became a devoted advocate for the environmental protection and preservation of the Sandia Mountains. He was especially vocal and energetic in his opposition to the U.S. Forest Service proposed construction of the Ellis Loop Forest Highway, which originally was to be a skyline highway from the Sandia Crest, north along the crest line ending in Placitas. Illing with other environmentalists felt that such a road would destroy the natural beauty of the mountain, its forests and wildlife. The highway would also have adverse effects on the Placitas community water resources and create hazards from increased highway traffic. Illing was active in the Las Placitas Association and served as president in 1973. The association was formed to organize community members in an effort protect their local environment. In testament to his determination to protect the Sandia Mountains from development the Loop Road has still not been built. Scope and ContentThe collection contains a scrapbook created by Illing's family to honor his achievements. It also includes articles, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs and maps associated with Richard G. Illing's fight to keep the Sandia Mountains in the Cibola National Forest from being overdeveloped. The Ellis Loop Forest Highway is a central theme of the collection and includes a paper written about the road. There are also various articles pertaining to forest conservation issues and correspondence with other environmentally active groups like the National Wildlife Federation, Save our Sylvania Action Committee (SOSAC), the New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Association, and the Albuquerque Wildlife Conservation Association as well as individual environmentalists concerned about the Sandia Mountains. Also included are materials from Las Placitas Association relating to the proposed highway and other land development issues. RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThe collection is open for research. Copy RestrictionsLimited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publications or distribution. Preferred CitationRichard G. Illing papers concerning the Ellis Forest Loop Road and the Sandia Mountains (MSS 818), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries Related MaterialNew Mexico Conservation Coordinating Council records Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Albuquerque Open Space Conservation Collection Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Access TermsAlbuquerque Wildlife Conservation Association Ellis Loop Forest Highway (N.M.) Environmental justice -- New Mexico Forest ecology -- New Mexico -- Sandia Mountains Habitat (Ecology) -- New Mexico -- Sandia Mountains New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Association Sandia Mountains (N.M.) -- Land use planning Save our Sylvania Action Committee United States. Forest Service. Southwestern Region Water-supply -- New Mexico -- Placitas Wilderness Areas -- New Mexico -- Sandia Mountains Wildlife conservation -- New Mexico -- Sandia Mountains Contents List
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