William Lovell Finley: Champion of Oregon's Wildlife Refuges by Joe R. Blakely

This biography of the pioneer photographer and conservationist, William Finley, not only tells the astonishing story of his efforts to save Oregon wildlife in the early 1900s, but includes the original photographs of birds that made his work so successful. William Finley and Herman Bohlman climbed 150-foot trees, scaled cliffs, crawled through poison oak, and paddled on mosquito-infested lakes carrying heavy camera gear in search of wild birds to photograph. Finley worked for over 25 years to save the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon. Finley fought to clean up the Willamette River. Possibly every wildlife refuge in Oregon -- including the one named in his honor south of Corvallis -- owes its existence to this man's struggle to provide sanctuaries for wild animals.

Joe Blakely is the author of 19 books. His interest in writing books was piqued when he wrote, “The Bellfountain Giant Killers,” a miraculous basketball championship season by a tiny Oregon high school in 1937. Encouraged by this book’s success, he wrote two other championship stories--The Tall Firs- and the Drain Black Sox of Oregon vs the Alpine Cowboys of Texas; He has also written about the history of U. S. Highway 101 on Oregon's Coast-- Lifting Oregon out of the Mud--Building the Oregon Coast Highway; He’s written the history of the Willamette River--Saving the Willamette River; He’s written about Oregon’s scrappy governor who saved Oregon’s beaches--Oswald West-Governor of Oregon (1911-1915);.He’s written about a 1933 dictator who tried to take over Medford and Jackson County--Rebellion, Murder, and a Pulitzer Prize; he’s written novels that take place on Oregon’s Coast Highway--Kidnapped on Oregon Coast Highway 1926--and Murder on Oregon's Coast Highway 1961; he’s written books on the legendary beast—Bigfoot. His book on Eugene’s Civic Stadium helped save a ten acre piece of land, that is now a sports facility for Eugene’s youth.

He received an award from the Lane County Historical Museum for his historical works relating to local, regional, and state history. His books have been cited on TV, Radio, newspapers, and state magazines.

Mr. Blakely has enjoyed these outstanding Oregon authors: William L. Sullivan and his book, A Deeper Wild, a novel about Joaquin Miller: Bob Welch and his book: The Wizard of Foz, Dick Fosbury’s one-man high-jump revolution: Judy Fleagle and her book, Crossings, McCullough’s Coastal Bridges: and Peg Willis and her book, “Building the Columbia River Highway.”

Mr. Blakely has lived in Eugene since the 1950s. He continues to write on subjects that are dear to him.