Dennis Cowals

Dennis A. Cowals (12 May 1945 – 22 October 2004) was an American photojournalist and publisher who contributed many photos to the United States Environmental Protection Agency sponsored DOCUMERICA project.

Cowals, 1973

Early career

Cowals graduated from the Medill School of Journalism with a degree in journalism,^[1] and went on to attended the University of Alaska for his post-graduate studies in 1967. He worked as a photographer and news editor at the university starting in 1968.^[2] He became press secretary for congressman Don Young in 1971.^[1]

Environmental Protection Agency sponsored DOCUMERICA project began in the early 1970s. Cowals was hired to photograph the Alaskan landscape before and during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.^[3] Hundreds of photos he took during this time period have since been published. He focused on both ground and aerial photos of geography, flora, and fauna. They are now in the public domain.^[4]

Later life

Cowals was part of the Mount McKinley hang-gliding expedition on June 2, 1976.^[5] He was part of a support crew that saw four pilots launch from the top of the mountain.^[6] He wrote about the experience in a 1976 article for Mariah.^[7] In 1980, he launched a search for the Kad'yak.^[8] He later worked as an author and rescue guide.^[9]

Cowals died on 22 October 2004 of lung cancer.^[10] He was survived by his son, Dawson.^[1]

Publications

Cowals was the editor and publisher of Alaska Fieldbooks.^[9]

• Cowals, Dennis "The Expedition that Fell from the Sky," Mariah (Winter 1976), pp. 41 ff.
• Cowals, Dennis (1981). Mount McKinley Climber's Guide. Seattle, Washington: The Mountaineers. ISBN 0-89886-020-2.
• Cowals, Dennis; Decker, Dave; Wright, Frederick (1986). Alaska Wilderness Companion. Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Fieldbooks.

Gallery

Select DOCUMERICA photos taken by Cowals

• 
  Salt marsh near Valdez, Alaska
• 
  View of Donnelly Dome
• 
  Wild caribou grazing near the Sagavanirktok River
• 
  Young female fox near Galbraith Lake
• 
  Autumn colors in Atigun Gorge
• 
  Eastern end of the Atigun River