Location
Brother Daniel Lynch
Topics
Description
Brother Daniel Lynch grew up in Detroit, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, earned a Ph.D. in botany and soil science from Washington State University, and took his vows as a Brother of the Holy Cross. Lynch taught biological sciences at St. Edward’s University (1954-96), and engaged in botanical research and publication, writing Plants of Austin, Texas (1974) and Native and Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin and the Hill Country (1981). He was also active in conservation and community affairs, serving on the Austin’s Board of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, the City’s Task Force on Oak Wilt (a 1986-93 term to mitigate damage from a major tree disease epidemic), and the Austin Treaty Oak Recovery Team (a 1989 effort to save a 500-year old tree after its poisoning). He is particularly remembered for his grassroots advocacy to create the 40-acre Blunn Creek Nature Preserve as a protected wild space and outdoor laboratory in the City (1982).
Location Notes
Given his long and successful activism and coalition building to set aside Blunn Creek Nature Preserve, a marker for Lynch at the entrance to the preserve would be fitting. Also, since the preserve is very close to the St. Edward’s campus, where Brother Daniel taught for decades, a marker at the preserve would tie in well with his role at the University.
Files
- Brother Daniel Lynch, "Plants of Austin, Texas: An Annotated Checklist of Native and Naturalized Plants", St. Edward's University, 1974.
- Brother Gerald Muller, "Lover of all Things Living: A Biography of Brother Daniel Lynch", St. Edward's University, 2002.
- Brother Daniel Lynch, "Study of a Grassland Mosaic at Austin, Texas", Ecology, Vol. 43, No. 4, October 1962.