Column: Happy trails to retiring North Maine Woods executive director Al Cowperthwaite

SUN JOURNAL • September 4, 2021

Al Cowperthwaite, executive director of North Maine Woods (NMW) for 46 years, is retiring this month. A Houlton native, Cowperthwaite, 67, says it time for “new blood” and time for him “to spend more time with (his) wife and grandchildren.” Tom Pelletier, an Aroostook County native, has been selected to replace Cowperthwaite. North Maine Woods is a cooperative effort by many private landowners in northwestern Maine created in 1971 to keep 3.5 million acres of forest land open to public use. Each year, between moose hunters, bear hunters and grouse hunters, as well as campers, more outdoor recreationalists pass through NMW gates than the gates at Baxter State Park. ~ V. Paul Reynolds