Commemorating Huey’s Legacy and 40 Years of RRI

Jan 22

*A recap of the fifth annual Huey D. Johnson Legacy Walk**—celebrating persistence, community, and the hard-won victories of 2025*

*RRI supporters and team listening to Miles Johnson reading Huey’s five-minute essay from 1978 .*
*Image credit: Chance Cutrano.*

Dear RRI friends and supporters,

You’re a hearty and loyal crew! Thank you for braving a cold and windy Saturday morning to remember our founder, friend, and mentor, Huey Johnson. For the fifth year in a row, the winter sun shone brightly as we gathered near the Marincello signage in Tennessee Valley.

January 6, 2026, would have been Huey’s 93rd birthday, and we took the opportunity to reflect on his remarkable life and the contributions that continue to guide our path every day. The year that just ended also marked the 40th anniversary of RRI, the environmental organization Huey founded and whose work we are honored to carry on today.

As Huey often reminded us, it’s important to pause and celebrate our wins. At Tennessee Valley, we did just that–reflecting on our 2025 successes: paving the way for the restoration of Point Reyes National Seashore; launching “Lucky Catch” pet treats using Fish in the Fields fish; passing a set gillnet bill to protect marine life; and organizing to defend the Bay-Delta against the threat of a new megaproject to divert water. The whoops and cheers from the group lifted our spirits and reminded us how much collective effort matters.

Susan Ives, RRI Public Relations Consultant and longtime friend, delivered a powerful reflection on a decade of collaborative work to retire private ranching and restore nearly 17,000 acres of Point Reyes National Seashore to its rightful owners–the public. She eloquently reminded us of Huey’s core principle—persistence—which proved its worth once again.

Miles Johnson, Huey’s grandson, beautifully read Huey’s five-minute Marincello essay from 1978, originally published in Stewart Brand’s CoEvolution Quarterly. Many of us remarked how strikingly relevant Huey’s words remain today.

Ron Lovitt, RRI board member, and Tom Hicks, RRI alum, added their own exclamation points, speaking of Huey’s deep love of tule elk and how much he is missed.

We ended the morning walking to and from the beach, relishing the magnificent place Huey helped save and enjoying the simple but meaningful chance to be together—at least once a year—on this special walk.

All of us at RRI would like to thank you, our close friends, colleagues, and both new and longtime allies. Your energy, creativity, critical thinking, and guidance have strengthened our work in countless ways.

See you all on Sunday, January 10, 2027! In the meantime, don’t be a stranger. Drop by and say hello.

With gratitude,

Deborah and the RRI Team