Obituary of Donald Lee Fraser

Donald Lee Fraser Donald Lee Fraser, former DNR Department Supervisor, died November 6, 2011 at Capital Medical Center in Olympia. He was 94 years old. Fraser played a critical role in DNR’s formation and development as an independent agency. Fraser served under the first Commissioner of Public Lands, Bert Cole, as Deputy Supervisor starting when DNR was formed in 1957 – a position he held previously at the old State Division of Forestry. Fraser was appointed DNR Supervisor in 1967 and served in Cole’s administration until his retirement in June 1977. Fraser was part of the leadership team that guided DNR through its early days, an era that included the creation of the Resource Management Cost Account, the impact of the 1962 Columbus Day storm that blew down an estimated 1 billion feet board feet of timber on state trust lands, establishment of the State Environmental Policy Act, creation of Natural Area Preserves, passage of the Forest Practices Act and the development of the first Forest Land Management Plan and environmental impact statement. Fraser traced his involvement with Washington’s natural resources back to his youth. Writing in the 1993 foreword to his comprehensive history, “100 Years of Management of State-Owned Lands,” Fraser said he started fighting forest fires in 1935 for a monthly salary of $90. His involvement with state Division of Forestry began much earlier in 1929 when, at age 12, he operated a campground area established by the Division and the Washington Forest Fire Association to provide campers a safe place to have campfires. --Submitted by friends and co-workers at DNR Please leave memories of Don or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.