A Life Like No Other: The Autobiography of Walter F. Crissey

A Life like No Other is an autobiographical gift to his family, and a record of his career based on the piles of daily journals he so faithfully kept. Now in his nineties, Walt Crissey muses about life before electricity, walking to a one room school house, and hunting and fishing with his father. A country kid, New York State hired him to work the Connecticut Hill ruffed grouse survey, which ultimately led to the book he co-authored, The Ruffed Grouse. Combined with his experience training fighter pilots during WWII, his unique background led to an innovative career in wildlife research and management. He earned recognition for his life’s work by receiving The Distinguished Service Award from the Department of the Interior

When he wasn’t working, Walt was busy trying to carve out his territory in a household of women, fixing or building things, or pursuing one of his many hobbies: hunting, target shooting, sailing, traveling. Retirement meant time for sailboat racing and travels that took him to China, The Galapagos, Africa, Norway, England, New Zealand, The Netherlands, The Greek Isles, The Lee Ward and Windward Islands, Roatan and The Alcan Highway.

Writing an autobiography is a unique experience. In this case, it revealed a life like no other.