Alex Katovich(deceased 2013) spent 36 years in central Wisconsin as a forester. He was a graduate of Iowa State University. Alex's forestry work focused on private lands, he frequently used his interest in wildflowers to establish his working relationships with a diverse array of landowners. Most of his photographs were taken in the sand counties of central Wisconsin. Alex was born in 1922 to Russian immigrants, growing up in Kenosha Wisconsin. He was obviously impacted greatly by growing up during the Depression era and serving in World War II. After the war the GI Bill helped him obtain his bachelors degree in forestry from Iowa State University in 1950. Alex became a forester for the state of Wisconsin in 1954. He would retire in 1986 having served as a County, Area and District Forester. He worked and lived in Waushara County, one of the Sand Counties so eloquently described by Aldo Leopold. Leopolds book, A Sand County Almanac was a favorite source of quotes and inspiration. Forestry work revolved around private landowners with much of the local landscape in the 1950s and early 60s being abandoned farms and grazed woodlots. Through extensive tree planting programs and educating landowners on forest management practices, Waushara County was transformed into a mix of valuable pine plantations, and oak dominated woodlots, many with abundant white pine regeneration. Eastern white pine was a favorite tree species. Alex purchased his first camera in 1958, he developed a passion for photography. Wildflowers were a favorite subject. He spoke fondly of tracking through the woods, bogs, and sand prairies in Wisconsin trying to arrive at the right time of year for a nice photo of a rare flower. He organized his extensive slide collection into a series of talks that he would give to students, teachers, landowners, or whomever would listen. Environmental ethics and appreciation for wild things was a core value to him.