Bill Brown, Dedicated Community Servant, Passes at 68
by John Weckerle
We have just received word that Bill Brown, president of the New Mexico Wildlife Association (the organization that manages Wildlife West Nature Park) , died Friday night at his home. He was 68 years of age.
Bill, known to many as the “Cat Guy” because of his daily work inside the mountain lion enclosure at Wildlife West, was a retired firefighter from Houston, Texas. We will be featuring an article on Bill later this week, once we have obtained more information about his life before Wildlife West.  A memorial service will be held in the Bean Barn at Wildlife West at 3:00 p.m. this Wednesday, November 26, 2008. The barn is heated and very large; however, we recommend bringing appropriate outer wear in case of a large turnout, and also because there is a bit of a walk from the Park entrance to the barn. Bill’s son, David Brown, has requested that donations be made to Wildlife West Nature Park in lieu of flowers.
3 Responses “Bill Brown, Dedicated Community Servant, Passes at 68”
I am going to miss my friend Bill so very much.
Of several things I am certain. Bill was small in stature; he was a giant in the eyes of his charges. He will be grieved by the humans in his midst, but more, he will be grieved by the cats in whose midst he was, on an every day basis. I’m sure Bill was the man his cougars thought he was.
Rest well, Bill. There will be other lions to love.
Chuck, your words very eloquently say what I feel. As one of the volunteers at the Wildlife West Nature Park I know many people are intentionally spending extra time with the big cats. Sharing, and finding, the balance of comforts and grieves in their midst.