OBITUARY: Paul Herald Risk II

Paul Herald Risk II

Paul Herald Risk II, age 86, died peacefully on Sunday, October 22 at his home in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was born May 28, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan. His mother, Esther, died when he was 15 years old. His father, Paul (Sr.), died shortly before his 18th birthday, leaving him on his own in California.

Paul was a groundbreaking environmental communicator and interpreter whose work inspired people to love and appreciate the outdoors.

He attended Pasadena City College with hopes of becoming a physician. But during a botany class, he learned of an opportunity to work in the Los Angeles County Botanical Garden, where was hired and began his career in environmental interpretation.

After finishing a Bachelor’s degree in botany, Paul taught high school science classes while continuing work toward his Master’s degree. He worked for the National Park Service as a seasonal ranger at Grand Canyon National Park and at Lassen Volcanic National Park during summers between college coursework. While working at Grand Canyon following the completion of his Master’s degree, he was offered a position at Michigan State University (MSU).

At MSU he developed an Environmental Interpretation program while finishing his doctoral degree, and developed a curriculum centered around outdoor survival techniques. His outdoor survival courses became extremely popular on campus, often having enrollments of hundreds of students.

Dr. Risk was a pioneer in the field of Environmental Interpretation, which he helped to develop during his time at Michigan State University beginning in 1969. He went on to establish Environmental Interpretation programs at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Maine (Orono) before becoming the T.L.L Temple Professor of Forestry at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches in 1990.

Dr. Risk was a prolific writer during his professional life. In 1983 he published the book “Outdoor Safety and Survival,” which is still a highly sought-after guide 40 years later. He also wrote a bi-weekly column called “Field and Forest Facts” for The Daily Sentinel newspaper in Nacogdoches. The column appeared in local newspapers for more than 25 years and was in regular publication up until early September of this year.

Dr. Risk was married to Rosalie Robison Risk, for nearly 65 years. Rosalie, the daughter of Dell and Pearl Robison, grew up in Logandale, graduated from Moapa Valley High School, and attended college at Pasadena (California) City College where she met Paul at a ballroom dancing class. The couple were married in November 1958 in Logandale.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he served in many callings, including as a stake president in Maine, and a bishop in Nacogdoches.

The Risks have three sons: Bradley, Douglas, and Thomas; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in Nacogdoches on Saturday, November 4, 2023. He will be buried in the Logandale Cemetery following a graveside service Monday, November 6, at 11:00 am.