Etter, Alfred G. (Alfred Gordon)

Alfred Etter (1919-1978) was an American naturalist during the twentieth century. Etter earned his A.B. in Geology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1941. He later studied with conservationist Aldo Leopold at the University of Wisconsin, then earned his Ph. D in Botany from Washington University. He also served as an aerial photographer for the U.S. Air Force. Etter conducted soil and agricultural research at Washington University and helped to write the Truman Administration's water policy. He taught at New Mexico Military Institute and from 1957 to 1963 was a professor at Michigan State University. He later joined Defenders of Wildlife, serving as their field representative in Aspen, Colorado (1963-1970). From 1970 until his death, Etter was a naturalist for the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. In the course of his career, Etter was a noted advocate for stopping the use of DDT, protecting predators from poisoning, and water issues.