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Protector of the Night Sky: David L Crawford
Protector of the Night Sky
By James R. Benya, PE, FIES, FIALD
It was the middle of August 2011, a great time for a vacation. My work took me to Wisconsin, and after my work and meetings, I secretly arranged for a cottage on Sister Bay in Door County. It was a surprise for Deborah because she did not know where I was taking her.
The drive was 200 miles north from the Milwaukee airport, but once through the town of Green Bay, the scenery became sublime. I had one special thing I wanted her to see.
After dinner on a clear night, I suggested we lay on the lawn and watch the stars. I knew what I was doing. As she looked skyward, she said, “Look, see the smoke in sky!” I paused before telling her, “That’s not smoke. That’s the Milky Way. Because we are so far from population centers, we can see it.”
There were two reasons I joined the Board of Directors of the International Dark Sky Association in 2000. One of them is because I believed, and still do, that preserving the night sky is about more than just a pretty sight. It’s about preserving the environment for all of the creatures living on the planet, something that had been with me since a teenager camping in the woods of Northern Michigan.
The other reason is that I got “Daved”.
One of the nation’s most important observatories is the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO). Located 56 miles from Tucson at an altitude of 7,000 feet, KPNO has more than twenty optical telescopes and two radio telescopes, making it one of the world’s premier observatories. And there are other observatories in Arizona, including the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (operated by the Smithsonian) near Tucson and the US Naval Observatory in Flagstaff.
Since the late 1950s, preserving the night sky has become a passion in Arizona, especially in Tucson and Flagstaff. This coincides with the increasing outdoor use of high-intensity discharge light sources that, compared to their incandescent predecessors, increased the amount of light per watt and the amount of short wavelength light emitted into the atmosphere, both making ground-based astronomy far more difficult due to atmospheric scattering and air pollution. Not to mention the widespread promotion of outdoor lighting and streetlighting for its safety and security benefits. Streetlighting departments, gas stations, and shopping centers leaped at the opportunity to install more lumens for the same amount of electricity and enjoy longer lamp life, too. That’s when the alarm bells first went off – the light pollution was impacting astronomical work.
Flagstaff is the world's first “Dark Sky City,” having passed its lighting ordinance in 1958. Unknown to many residents, the Naval Observatory in Flagstaff is a “mission critical” observatory for our armed services, and protecting the resource demanded proactive management of the environment. Because the Naval Observatory is within the Flagstaff city limits, protecting dark skies was an immediate municipal priority.
In southern Arizona, however, Kitt Peak and other observatories are well outside of Tucson. Kitt Peak leadership took up the challenge, but they knew that they had to address the whole county. The first generation of the Pima County outdoor lighting code was developed in 1975, and it was driven by Dr. David Crawford, then the director of the KPNO.
A decade later, after his retirement from Kitt Peak, Dave realized that the movement to control light pollution had not gained much ground. Dave and Dr. Tim Hunter, a radiologist and avid astronomer, decided to follow the path of evolving environmental groups and, in 1986, created the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), now known as DarkSky International.
Dave had three outstanding skills that made him good at snaring supporters – he was dedicated, articulate, and most of all, compelling. And doggone smart. And kind.
With very little funding, he became the president of IDA and began the decades-long job of building the organization and changing the world’s thinking about anthropogenic light at night (ALAN). Tim’s remembrances of Dave and IDA history can be found on DarkSky’s website.
It took Dave 10 years before he finally got to me. Two others good friends and IES members (now Fellows) had already been snared, Nancy Clanton and Chris Monrad. In 2000 I became a volunteer member of the IDA Board and Chairman of the Model Lighting Ordinance committee. Dave’s leadership skills and compelling personality made it impossible to say no. I had been “Daved”.
Working for and with Dave was generally wonderful. He was a very smart and interesting person, a visionary, a “do-er”, and he seemed to know no boundaries. He could always make time for you. Best of all, strong and compelling as he could be, he was always kind, respectful and appreciated the contributions of me and many others. There was a certain warmth in his interactions that enabled and encouraged the IDA to aspire to be much more than its modest foundation and funding warranted. That part most “Daved” me.
Ten years later, when the time came, it was hard for me and other Board members to ask Dave to retire. Dave had devoted his senior years to inventing, creating, building, and growing IDA, but he needed our help – and he needed someone to relieve him from trying to act half his age.
The current generation of IDA leadership carries on the tradition with a younger staff led by Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director. As Ruskin writes, “He was not only fun to be around but also extremely well-educated and a captivating speaker with a powerful ability to inspire others.”
The highest individual recognition in the field of lighting is the IES Medal. The Society notes, “The IES Medal shall be awarded for the purpose of giving recognition to meritorious technical achievement that has conspicuously furthered the profession, art, or knowledge of illuminating engineering. Accomplishments shall be in the field of engineering, design, applied illumination, optics, ophthalmology, lighting, research or education.”
David Crawford was awarded the IES Medal in 2021. Of the 69 IES Medal winners to date, he is the only one who could be called an astronomer and an environmentalist. David passed onto his next set of challenges on 22 July 2024 at the age of 93. I hope we name a galaxy after him.
Industry Leaders Reflect on Dr. David Crawford’s Legacy
By Randy Reid
Dr. David Crawford, co-founder of the International DarkSky Association (IDA), passed away recently, leaving behind an enduring legacy. He transformed the global understanding of light pollution. Interviews and conversations with some of his closest collaborators and industry peers make it clear that Crawford’s work was both visionary and profoundly impactful.
Dr. Tim Hunter, who co-founded the IDA with Crawford, emphasized the deep-rooted partnership they built over decades. Hunter recalled, “Dave was fascinated by electric lights, especially the physics behind high-energy bulbs like HPS and LPS. He wanted to learn about lighting because if he was going to advocate for changes, he needed to know about it from the experts who actually installed it.” This curiosity and commitment to collaboration were central to Crawford’s approach and helped bridge the gap between the dark sky movement and the lighting industry.
Crawford’s philosophy of making friends rather than adversaries played a key role in bringing together the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the dark sky community. Cheryl English, former VP of Public Policy at Acuity Brands, worked with Crawford during the development of the IES/IDA Model Lighting Ordinance. Reflecting on those collaborations, English said, “David always broke through the heated debates on this topic, reminding everyone, ‘We all want good outdoor lighting… it’s our common goal.’” Crawford’s ability to find common ground in the face of tension exemplified his leadership.
Pete Strasser, former Executive Director of the IDA, highlighted how Crawford’s foundational principles continue to resonate today. “First, it can be argued that he and Dr. Hunter’s founding of IDA brought the concept of light pollution to global realization, and to this day, it is a fundamental environmental concern,” Strasser noted. He also pointed out Crawford’s enduring guidelines for lighting: “Where you need it, when you need it, in the amount necessary for the task, and no more. All else is waste.” These simple yet powerful rules remain at the heart of responsible lighting design.
Crawford’s influence extended far beyond the IDA’s founding years. Paul Tarricone, retired editor of LD+A magazine, noted how Crawford’s presence was consistently valued at IES events. “Early in my tenure at IES, I noticed that our Executive Director Bill Hanley always gave David a seat at the table and a platform to speak at our events. At first glance, it may have seemed the two organizations were at cross purposes, but the leadership of both men resulted in a non-adversarial relationship. As a result, both associations benefited.”
Yet, despite the progress made, challenges persist. Strasser observed that many lighting regulations are not enforced, undermining the efforts of advocates like Crawford. “Laws on the books exist that, in many cases, took heroic action on the part of concerned citizens, only to have the work become meaningless without enforcement,” Strasser lamented. This lack of enforcement remains a significant impediment to reducing light pollution.
Crawford’s work laid the foundation for a global movement that continues to push for better lighting practices. His passion for both astronomy and quality lighting allowed him to bridge divides and create lasting change. As English put it, “Astronomy is a science of extending boundaries and learning new things, and David exemplified that with his commitment to the IES and quality outdoor lighting.”
For his extensive efforts and valued leadership, Crawford was awarded the industry’s highest honor, the IES Medal, in 2021.
Dr. David Crawford’s legacy is one of collaboration, perseverance, and a relentless commitment to preserving the night sky. His work with the IDA and his partnerships across industries have had a profound impact, ensuring that his vision for a world with less light pollution continues to inspire generations.
