April 16, 2026

When Gov. Julius P. Heil worked to oust Wisconsin Conservation Department Director Harlan “H. W.” MacKenzie in early 1942, much to the dismay of MacKenzie’s many supporters, he unwittingly set in motion the ascension of Ernest “Ernie” Swift to the top state conservation post.
MacKenzie, an outspoken and at times abrasive proponent of modern natural resources management, had made his share of enemies as director and his removal by a “secret” vote of conservation commissioners was clearly politically motivated.