Traverse City - Leonard Rudolph Barnes, 94, of Traverse City died Monday, May 12, 2014 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Len was born on Sunday, December 28, 1919 to Leo and Anna (Frost) Barnes in Boyne City, MI. During grade school in Grand Rapids, MI he observed a classmate's father, outdoor writer Ben East, leave for work with a fly rod or hunting rifle in hand, and realized that the writing life would be for him. He attended high school in Cadillac, MI, where he spent his teen years hunting and fishing with his father and friends.

He entered the ROTC in 1941, and during WWII served two years as a member of the U. S. Army on the Aleutian Island of Shemya as editor of the Post newspaper, radio station manager and president of Williwaw Tech, an on-duty education school for 3500 students. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. On October 17, 1953 he married the former Ellen Cutright in Detroit, who was his lifelong travel companion, interpreter and photographer at times. Under his tutelage Ellen learned to operate a double reflex camera and the old Bell and Howell movie camera.

Len was a 1943 journalism graduate of Michigan State University and managing editor of the Michigan State News when it became a daily. MSU and the University College of Communication Arts named him a Distinguished Alumnus for his award-winning travel articles.


For 26 years, Len was editor of AAA's monthly travel magazine, Michigan Living and the author of its feature column 'Dining Out in Michigan' for 35 years. He was the creator in 1961 of the Auto Club's "Bring 'Em Back Alive!" traffic campaign and the Holiday News Service which offered live road condition information to drivers over 167 radio stations.
He is past president of the Society of American Travel Writers and the Council of Writers Organizations. His travel for AAA Michigan Living took him to more than 130 countries and all 50 states. He made many fishing films with the late Mort Neff and George Pierrot.

Len served 13 years on the Michigan Travel Commission, including two as chairman and travelled as a member of Governor Blanchard's commission on China. He was president of the Michigan Chapter of the Circumnavigator's Club, a member of the board of directors of the Detroit Zoological Society and president of the Detroit Press Club. He founded the Midwest Travel Writers Association and was president of the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association.
In 1974, Len was named a Michigan Ambassador of Tourism and served on the Detroit Bicentennial Commission 1975-76. In 1975 he was one of 38 members of the Society of American Travel Writers selected to travel the world to invite foreign visitors to attend U.S Bicentennial celebrations. He later co-chaired the SATW's annual meeting which drew 250 members to Michigan for ten days in the fall of 1985.
In1978, the Michigan Legislature adopted a resolution recognizing Len as "the voice of travel and tourism across Michigan and the Midwest" and as a pioneer in the promotion of Michigan's tourist industry. Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum also honored his contributions to the travelling public.

In retirement, Len was a member of the Traverse City Elks Lodge #323.

Len is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ellen; children, Hilary Barnes (David Ortland) of Seattle, WA, Julia Barnes of Amsterdam and Stephen Barnes (Kathi) of Traverse City. Also surviving are his nine granddaughters Kathryn Speyer (Justin), Alyson, Elizabeth and Eleanor Ortland; Leah and Shira Wolfe; Sarah Seekamp (Robert), Katie Fielder (David) and Melissa Barnes, and three great grandchildren. Len was a storyteller and an engaging public speaker whose good nature and appreciation of a fine meal and a great martini will be missed by all.

A gathering of family and friends will be held later in the year.
Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the
SATW Foundation at www.satwfoundation.org or to the
AAA Len Barnes Michigan Fund Award, a MSU journalism scholarship at https://tinyurl.com/lkb6xqe

Please share your memories of Leonard with his family by way of his online guest book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .

The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
A celebration of his life will be planned for July...