Editorial. Special Issue in Honor of Dr. Alfred L. Gardner

It is a great pleasure to introduce this special feature honoring Dr. Alfred Lunt Gardner. Al’s many contributions mammalogy span seven decades, two continents, and practically the entire tree of mammals. impossible imagine what in Americas would look like without him. His academic are as significant his imposing stature. Al was born Salem, Massachusetts 1937 spent early childhood there. first interests natural history were sparked by 3rd-grade teacher, an amateur ornithologist who kept cabinet specimens her classroom (Gardner 2005). In 1947, Gardner family relocated farm North Andover, Massachusetts, where, according Al, he “practically lived woods fishing, hunting, trapping” (pg. 277, adolescent years, spend considerable time outdoors, honing trapping skinning skills. By freshman year high school, selling furs evading game wardens 1953, moved Tucson, Arizona, where found trove new habitats wildlife explore. 1955, graduated signed up for Army Reserves, enrolled at University mammalogical be further stimulated E. Lendell Cockrum graduate students.