William Main Distinguished Visitor Program

The William Main Distinguished Visitor Program in Forestry and Natural Resources was established in 1986. The program honors its namesake, a graduate of Berkeley's forestry program, and longtime friend of Cal and its forestry program. William Main was, until his death in 1981, a community leader and president of the Main Industries, Inc. in Bieber, California. In 1986 his wife, Berkeley graduate Rocky Main, and the couple's sons inaugurated the Main lecture series to provide a forum for exploring topical issues in forestry and natural resource management. The series continued a Distinguished Visitor Program begun in 1973 with funding from the Laird Norton Foundation.

The Main lecture series has always attracted a diverse group of people. It includes those actively involved in forestland management, right along with corporate executives and policy makers. The program has addressed a number of important national forestry issues. Past series have focused on the Quincy Library Group, conservation of the northern and California spotted owl, impacts of forestry practices on California's Native American communities, as well as discussion of several ballot initiatives on a broad range of natural-resource issues. One of the most important features of the Main series is its lasting educational value. It provides a rare opportunity for students, both undergraduate and graduate, to ask direct questions of leaders in their field. This program exists because of the incredible generosity of the Main Family.

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