October 2021 - 16

A LOOK BACK CASE FILES
Words hold true today
Cheyenne resident reflects on magazine essay written 50 years ago
By Robert Gagliardi
F
ifty years ago David Zwonitzer entered
an essay contest by Wyoming Wildlife
magazine, and his efforts were rewarded
when the work was published in the
September 1971 issue.
When asked what he remembered about
the process of his winning entry, Zwonitzer,
68, said with a laugh: " Not a heck of a lot. "
That year, Wyoming Wildlife held an essay
contest for National Wildlife Week with the
theme Wildlife - Who needs it? Neal Blair,
one of two associate editors of the magazine
at the time, also was the state chairman for
National Wildlife Week. The contest had
adult and student divisions. Zwonitzer, a 1971
graduate of Cheyenne East High School, was
the student winner.
" I remember learning about the contest
but I wasn't much into writing, journalism or
things like that, but I thought I would give it
the old American try, " said Zwonitzer, who is
retired and a Laramie County native who still
lives in Cheyenne.
Zwonitzer had an appreciation for wildlife,
conservation and outdoor-related interests at
a young age. He hunted with his dad, and
hiked the hills in the area. That appreciation
showed in his essay.
" One cannot reflect on the forces which
make the outdoor world tick without
becoming somewhat of a conservationist. All
wildlife refers to some sort of conservation. If
one merely looks out the window to watch a
bird fly above, then they are enjoying wildlife
- as do millions of people daily. "
In high school Zwonitzer was involved in
4-H and was vice president of the Cheyenne
Future Farmers of America chapter. He was
part of the vocational agriculture department
at East and also liked biology. Zwonitzer said
he spearheaded a project to build a biology
pond at East, part of which is still on school
grounds today.
Horses and horseshoeing were big parts
Wyoming Wildlife, September 1971 cover.
16 | October 2021
of Zwonitzer's middle-to-late teenage years.
He spent time as a farrier and said money
from those jobs put himself through college.
Zwonitzer said many of his friends told him
he should become a veterinarian based on
his farrier skills. Instead, Zwonitzer received
a master's degree from the University of
Wyoming in water resources through the
agricultural engineering department.
Zwonitzer's career path took a different
turn after college. His father was in the auction
business, and Zwonitzer was the auctioneer for
David Zwonitzer, a native of Laramie County and graduate of
East High School, was selected as the student winner of the
Wyoming Wildlife magazine, National Wildlife Week, essay
contest in 1971. (WGFD archive)
" I remember learning about
the contest but I wasn't much
into writing, journalism or
things like that, but I thought I
would give it the old American
try. " - Dave Zwonitzer

October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2021

October 2021 - 1
October 2021 - 2
October 2021 - 3
October 2021 - 4
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October 2021 - 6
October 2021 - 7
October 2021 - 8
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October 2021 - 10
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October 2021 - 24
October 2021 - 25
October 2021 - 26
October 2021 - 27
October 2021 - 28
October 2021 - 29
October 2021 - 30
October 2021 - 31
October 2021 - 32
October 2021 - 33
October 2021 - 34
October 2021 - 35
October 2021 - 36
October 2021 - 37
October 2021 - 38
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October 2021 - 40
October 2021 - 41
October 2021 - 42
October 2021 - 43
October 2021 - 44
October 2021 - 45
October 2021 - 46
October 2021 - 47
October 2021 - 48
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2024
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/wyoming-wildlife-may-2024
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2023
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-iak-special-issue
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2021
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/January2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/September2020
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