Grits and Mary Ryan Gresham Bird Trail Dedicated

Northwestern State University dedicated the Grits and Mary Ryan Gresham Bird Trail Tuesday, May 4 near Watson Library on the NSU campus.

The dedication of the trail on the Northwestern campus is the first of four stages, according to the Gresham’s daughter Barbara Gresham Hammerman. In the second stage, the trail will extend off campus and connect with the planned Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Natchitoches. One of the exhibits at the Hall of Fame and Museum will be “The Gresham Collection,” including memorabilia, writings, photography, outdoor art and audio and video recordings by Grits and Mary Gresham.

The third stage would go to woodland areas outside Natchitoches and the final stage would link to American Trails, a national project bringing together regional and community trails.

“My mother was an avid birder,” said Hammerman. “She loved birds and worked on a variety of issues related to birds including habitat. When she passed away, we set up Mary’s Bird Fund and asked people to donate to the Fund in lieu of flowers. We received many touching stories from people who shared with us their experiences in the outdoors.”

Professor of Ecology and Mathematics Dr. Margaret Cochran and Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Steven Gabrey made a proposal to Mary’s Birds Fund, which had been set up at the NSU Foundation, for the trail. The fund was set up in Mary Gresham’s memory in 2001. Interest from the endowed fund has created the trail.

Students and faculty at Northwestern have been working on the trail for the past year as a service learning project. According to Cochran, the preparation has included designing habitats, providing plants, shrubs and trees to attract birds and butterflies and building a birdbath and bird feeders.

“The Mary and Grits Gresham Bird Trail will greatly enhance the Northwestern campus,” said Cochran. “Those who appreciate birds and the outdoors the way Mary did will have a place to walk and enjoy some of our area’s natural sights and sounds.”

Mary Ryan Gresham was a noted artist and taught art in several towns and cities, including Natchitoches, and owned and operated a commercial art studio in New Orleans. She served as a judge for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in selecting a painting for the national duck stamp.

She and her husband traveled extensively across the U.S., and to many foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Ethiopia, Argentina, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Her love of nature and talent for art enabled her to become a talented photographer with photos published in many national magazines. She appeared on numerous television and radio shows to talk about wild game cooking.

Grits Gresham is perhaps best known as field host, consultant and producer for 13 years on ABC-TV’s “The American Sportsman.” He led celebrities such as actors and athletes on hunting and fishing trips, all the while interviewing them for national magazines while filming their outings for the Sunday afternoon magazine-style television show. He became close friends with such renowned entertainers as Bing Crosby and Jonathan Winters and visited with figures such as President Ronald Reagan and actor John Wayne.

Grits Gresham used his place on the national stage, on television and in print, to promote outdoors causes such as gun safety and conservationism. He published six books and served as outdoors editor for several national publications.

“It is my heartfelt desire that others who are wishing to support the project be encouraged to contribute to the fund and continue to build this legacy of love for the outdoors,” said Hammerman. “I am so appreciative of all the donors and the faculty, staff and students of NSU who have made this dream come to fruition.”

For more information on Mary’s Bird Fund, please contact the NSU Foundation at (318) 357-4414.