L. Jack Lyon

Life ends, and life goes on. On April 13, 2018, L. Jack Lyon left this world to join Natalie in the great beyond. He was born in Sterling, Colorado, in 1929, and moved to Montana in 1962. From that year to his death, Montana provided a rewarding career with the U.S. Forest Service, an enviable family life with Natalie and two daughters, over fifty years of memorable big game hunting, and many years of hiking, skiing, camping, touring and golf under the Big Sky.

Following a not very spectacular High School career, Jack entered Colorado A&M College in Ft. Collins. There, he apparently found his niche, because he stayed for four years while earning a B.Sci. and then two years more to complete a M.Sci. at Colorado State University. Graduation in 1953 was the signal flag for the draft board, and the next two years were served in the Army of the United States. Unlike many less fortunate Korean veterans, Jack was stationed in Alaska and had an enjoyable tour of duty. Returning to Colorado in 1955, he began work for the Game and Fish Department by designing a unique pheasant habitat study. In 1956, he met, courted, and married Natalie Allen of Bryn Athyn, Pennsyvania; a graduate of Colorado A & M, and his life companion for the next fifty-six years. When the pheasant research was accepted for a Ph.D. Program at the University of Michigan, she accompanied him to Ann Arbor and worked at the hospital to support the family.

On returning from Michigan, the advanced degree proved to be a political liability within the Colorado Game Department, but was of positive interest to the Intermountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service. Jack was hired as Leader for a wildlife habitat research project in Missoula. There, for the next 35 years, he developed an array of field studies examining forest succession following wildfire, logging, and grazing, and the resulting habitat changes and effects on wildlife populations. Included in over 130 published papers and books are habitat management recommendations affecting elk, deer, caribou, grizzly bears and smaller forest carnivores. Jack's Research Project was a primary driver in the Montana Cooperative Elk-Logging Study involving four government agencies and a major timber company for 15 years ( 1970 – 1985). Results of this research have provided guidelines favoring wildlife in public land management for most of the western United States. Jack's road density model, in particular, has justified closure of thousands of miles of forest roads to protect and enhance elk habitat, and other publications have described the necessary proportions of hiding cover and foraging area for productive elk habitat.

In addition to his wildlife research, Jack enjoyed his family. He and his daughters attempted to camp overnight in every drainage of the Bitterroot Range south of Missoula. They spent many winter days skiing and summer days hiking. Natalie went on the hikes, but avoided other activities while developing her exceptional talents as a gardener and photographer. After the girls left Missoula for college and marriage, they moved to Hawaii and Alaska where the parents enjoyed numerous family visits.

In addition to his wildlife research, Jack was active in the 1995 campaign to approve Missoula's Open Space Bond. In 2000 he worked on the citizen initiative to prevent trophy shooting of Montana game farm elk, and in 2003 he testified in defense of the initiative when the legislature attempted to cancel it. Following retirement, Jack took up golf with the Geritol League, and engaged with the University Administration over the future of the University Golf Course. He served as handicapper in the League for over 10 years, and, when academic construction on the course was proposed, he served as plaintiff to require the question be settled in court. The bottom line for Jack was his love affair with the State of Montana. He arrived in Missoula at the age of 32, and never once considered returning to Colorado. The years in Montana provided repeated pleasures and friendships. Natalie also loved this place, and the family took pride in the success of the children who grew up here.

L. Jack Lyon is survived by his two daughters, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He had a full and productive life and in lieu of a celebration recommends to all his friends, “take your wife to dinner and salute me with a glass of wine.” Or, make a donation to Five Valleys Land Trust or another charity of your choice.