OCTA HQ received word that Don Buck passed two weeks at age 95. He died peacefully at his home in Sunnyvale, CA on September 13, 2022. His wife Vilma and three adult children were with him that day. There are no public services planned, just a small family gathering.
Don was a 1982 OCTA Charter member and Emigrant Trail researcher. He was known for his on-the-ground discoveries and mapping, his diary collection, and research on the western emigrant trails.
Born in San Diego, CA, September 3, 1927, he graduated from the California Maritime Academy and served with the Merchant Marines. Don graduated from U.C. Berkley with a master’s degree in European History. He was a professor of history at DeAnza College and retired after 30 years.
He was an active member of OCTA, the California-Nevada Chapter, and Trail West Inc, leading many trail mapping outings. Over time he accumulated a large collection to trail research material, including maps, emigrant diaries, books, an extensive library.
Don and his wife Vilma recently celebrated their 66th. wedding anniversary.
Chairman of the History Dept at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA.
Mapped the California National Historic Trail for the National Park Service and worked with both the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service on historic trail preservation.
Served on the Board of Directors of both OCTA and Trails West, Inc.
In OCTA, he was active in organizing the long-range goal of computerizing overland emigrant documents. He was a leader of the Black Rock Expedition of 1986 and proposed the idea of the OCTA Rendezvous and led the first one to the Mojave Desert in 1988.
AWARDS:
1991: Meritorious Award; Certificate of Achievement; MJM OJ Article
2010: Dave Welch Preservation Award
2019: Merrill J Mattes Award (Publication Award)
Roles in the national organization: 1987-88 National Secretary; 1988 Chair of Finance Committee; Director two terms 1985-1988 and 1988-1991
Listed in the 1990-91 Policy and Procedures Manual as COED Advisory Board Member and Convention Chair Member
He was the 2nd Publications Chair for OCTA. One of the Editors of the Howell Diary; Wrote articles for the Overland Journal Development of Emigrant Trail Research in the Post-Weddell Era in the Truckee-Donner Pass Region of California;
Looking West Trail Classifications by David J. Welch and Don Buck; Annotated several articles in the Overland Journal and reviewed books.
Don Buck guided the MET Manual, as editor and principal contributor, through several revisions and expansions (1994, 1996, & 2002).
At the chapter level: served as Trail Guide especially Southwest trails.
Outside: Authored guides for Trails West, Inc.
We'll share more when we have it. Memorials can be made via the OCTA website.
