ie ee Une BOON SB alas her UN 3 
Establishing a conservation-ethic, and a land-stewardship 
are his prime long-range goals. “That involves all the 
people of Illinois—not just those who work on the land.” 
WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN 
by JOHN G. WARREN, Department Division of Education 
KEYNOTE of the new look in IIli- 
nois conservation is “performance.” 
Emphasizing protection and pre- 
servation of the natural resources, 
while providing increased oppor- 
tunities for multi-use recreation 
and the quality outdoor experience, 
is no easy task. It requires top per- 
formance — in every facet of 
conservation discipline. 
And the man instituting the 
performance factor is tall, thin 
sandy-haired Anthony T. Dean of 
Naperville, the new Conservation 
Department director, who, at 27, 
is Governor Dan Walker’s young- 
est agency appointee. 
Tony brings the vigor and dedi- 
cation of youth plus a meteoric 
rise in the ranks of Illinois eco- 
logical/environmental: veterans to 
the chair of direction in the Con- 
servation Department. 
He has the complete confidence 
of Gov. Walker, who said, “Tony 
represents what I believe to be 
the best in younger people. He 
feels, as I do, that government has 
not been responsive enough to 
people needs in protecting our 
natural resources. I share with 
Tony the belief that the Depart- 
ment of Conservation must be pro- 
fessionally staffed. I know that 
under Tony Dean, Illinois will de- 
velop a forward-looking program 
for the protection of our natural 
environment.” 
THE DUAL ROLE the new di- 
rector saw as he entered the De- 
partment of Conservation has ex- 
panded, as he comes to grips with 
Department realities and _ prob- 
lems. He brought into the Depart- 
ment a citizen’s convictions — now 
he has, in government, opportuni- 
ties to implement them. 
Overshadowing all, however, is 
the dual responsibility to which 
the Department is dedicated — 
primarily, protecting and preserv- 
ing the natural resources and, 
secondarily, providing as many out- 
door opportunities for people, as 
possible, consistent with protection 
of the resource base. Sometimes 
these Department dual objectives 
conflict, and the decisions that must 
come from the director’s chair are 
tough. 
“T don’t mind the difficult de- 
cisions,” says Tony. ‘Work in con- 
servation is challenging, exciting 
and, above all, rewarding, though 
clear-cut accomplishment is often 
hard to attain and not easy to 
measure.” 
Dean’s work day is never limited 
to eight hours, often totals 14 to 
16 hours or more, and many nights 
find him pondering property take- 
lines with a planning assistant, dis- 
cussing site management policy 
with a parks or wildlife division 
head, or participating in budget 
and personnel decisions. 
