Russell E. Train facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Russell Train
2nd Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
In office September 12, 1973 – January 20, 1977
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Deputy	John R. Quarles Jr.
Preceded by	William Ruckelshaus
Succeeded by	Douglas M. Costle
Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality
In office January 1, 1970 – September 12, 1973
President	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Russell W. Peterson
Personal details
Born	Russell Errol Train (1920-06-04)June 4, 1920 Jamestown, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	September 17, 2012(2012-09-17) (aged 92) Bozman, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Aileen Bowdoin Travers
Parent	Charles R. Train (father)
Relatives	Charles J. Train (grandfather) Charles R. Train (great-grandfather)
Education	Princeton University (A.B.) Columbia University (LLB)

Russell Errol Train (June 4, 1920 – September 17, 2012) was an important American leader in protecting our planet. He was the second head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a government group that works to keep our air and water clean. He also helped start and lead the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which protects wildlife and nature around the world.

Russell Train worked with Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He helped make environmental issues a big deal for the country in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This was a key time for the environmental movement, when more people started caring about nature. He believed that as the country's economy grew, businesses and projects should always think about how their actions affect the environment.

Early Life and Education

Russell Train was born on June 4, 1920, in Jamestown, Rhode Island. He grew up in Washington, D.C., where his father was an officer in the United States Navy. His family had a history of public service. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also important figures.

When he was young, Russell got a special look at how Washington D.C. worked. In 1932, he and his brothers even spent a night at the White House! They slept in a special bedroom and had breakfast with President Herbert Hoover. Russell later joked that the big glasses of fresh orange juice made the biggest impression on him.

Russell went to the Potomac School and then the St. Albans School. He graduated in 1937. He then studied politics at Princeton University, finishing in 1941. While there, he joined the Army's training program.

After college, Russell served in the United States Army for four years during World War II. He was stationed in different places, including Okinawa. He became a major before leaving the Army in 1946.

Then, Russell went to Columbia University Law School and became a lawyer in 1948.

Early Career and Family

After law school, Russell Train worked for the government. From 1949 to 1956, he was a lawyer and advisor for different groups in Congress. He also worked for the United States Department of the Treasury from 1956 to 1957.

In 1954, Russell married Aileen Bowdoin Travers. They had four children: Nancy, Emily, Bowdoin, and Errol.

He also served as a judge for the U.S. Tax Court from 1957 to 1965.

Protecting Wildlife and Nature

Russell Train cared a lot about protecting animals and their homes. In 1959, he started the Wildlife Leadership Foundation. In 1961, he founded the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). This group helped people in Africa learn how to manage their own wildlife. He was the chairman of AWF until 1969. He also helped create a college in Tanzania to teach about wildlife management.

On December 1, 1961, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) was started in Washington, D.C. Russell Train became its first Vice-President. Later, he was named Chair Emeritus of the WWF. He also led The Conservation Foundation from 1965 to 1969. In these roles, Russell helped more Americans understand the importance of the environment. He pushed for environmental issues to be discussed at the highest levels of government.

In 1968, Russell was chosen to lead a special group for President-elect Richard Nixon. This group focused on the environment, showing that protecting nature was becoming a big deal for the government.

Before leading the EPA, Russell Train worked for the United States Department of the Interior from 1969 to 1970. Then, from 1970 to 1973, he was the chairman of the new Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

Leading the EPA

Russell Train became the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in September 1973. He led the EPA during an important time.

During his time, the EPA approved the use of the catalytic converter in cars. This device helps reduce pollution from car exhaust, making the air cleaner. He also helped put into action important laws like the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). These laws help control harmful chemicals and prevent water pollution.

As the head of the EPA, Russell Train is known for making environmental protection a top priority for Presidents Nixon and Ford. He helped start talks with other countries about global environmental issues, which was the beginning of modern American environmental diplomacy.

Return to World Wildlife Fund

After leaving the EPA in 1977, Russell Train returned to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). He was the president of WWF-U.S. from 1978 to 1985, and then its chairman from 1985 to 1994.

Under his leadership, WWF-U.S. did even more to protect nature. They focused on saving animal species and also on protecting their homes by creating national parks and nature reserves. He also helped create new ways to fund conservation, like "debt-for-nature swaps." This is where a country's debt is reduced if they agree to spend money on protecting their environment.

In 1983, thanks to Train's efforts, President Ronald Reagan presented the J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize at the White House. President Reagan called it "the Nobel Prize for Conservation."

In 1994, Russell Train became WWF's chairman emeritus, a special title for a past leader. That same year, WWF started the Russell E. Train Education for Nature (EFN) Program. This program helps train people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to become conservationists. It has given many scholarships and training grants to help protect nature.

Russell Train wrote a book about his career in 2003 called Politics, Pollution and Panda: An Environmental Memoir by Russell E. Train. It tells the story of how America became more interested in environmental issues.

Death

Russell Train passed away on September 17, 2012, at his farm in Bozman, Maryland. He was 92 years old.

Awards and Honors

Russell Train received many awards for his work:

• In 1981, he received the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences.
• In 1991, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the U.S.
• In 2001, he received the Heinz Award Chairman's Medal. He was honored for being "a tireless advocate for the cause of the environment since 1961" and for showing "how a single life can make a difference in the world."
• In 2009, a type of gecko, Gekko russelltraini, was named after him!

Collector of Books and Artwork

Russell Train loved collecting books, old papers, photos, maps, and art about African exploration, hunting, and wildlife conservation. These items mostly came from the 1800s and 1900s.

In 2004, his collection, called the Russell E. Train Africana Collection, was given to the Smithsonian Institution Libraries in Washington, D.C. It includes letters, diaries, and pictures from famous explorers, hunters, and naturalists in Africa. Some of the important people represented in his collection include President Theodore Roosevelt, explorer Henry Morton Stanley, and missionary Dr. David Livingstone.

See also

In Spanish: Russell E. Train para niños

• Presidency of Richard Nixon#Environmental policy