Roger Brucker
Encyclopedia
Roger W. Brucker is an American cave explorer
and author of books about cave
s. He is most closely associated with Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the world's longest cave, which he has been exploring and writing about since 1954.
with an art degree in 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
near Dayton, Ohio
where he wrote and directed documentary, technical and training films.
, Brucker and other explorers formed the Cave Research Foundation
(CRF), to survey and study Mammoth Cave and other caves in the area. Through the late 1950s and 60s, under the leadership of Brucker and others, CRF expanded the known reaches of Mammoth Cave and other caves under the adjoining Flint Ridge. In 1972, cavers found a connection between Mammoth Cave and the Flint Ridge Cave System. That historic discovery made Mammoth the world's longest cave, inspiring Roger Brucker and Richard Watson to write The Longest Cave, which is now considered a classic in the field of speleological non-fiction literature.
, who was trapped in a cave in 1925 and could not be rescued, despite a massive effort that received national attention. The authors interviewed dozens of witnesses and studied hundreds of documents to uncover facts about the tragedy that were not previously known. As part of the research, Brucker and a small group of explorers even ventured into Sand Cave several times to the spot where Collins was trapped, to better understand why rescuers had been unable to free him.
Trapped! was published in 1979, and became an instant success. The book helped to inspire the stage musical Floyd Collins by playwright Tina Landau and composer Adam Guettel
. Landau has referred to Trapped! as her "bible" during the period in which she wrote her play. In 2006, the book was optioned by actor Billy Bob Thornton
, who planned to develop it into a movie. A screenplay was written by Thornton's writing partner, Tom Epperson
, and the project was reportedly greenlit by Paramount Pictures
. However, Thornton's option expired, and rights to the book were then acquired by producer Peter R.J. Deyell in 2011.
, a slave who gained fame as a guide and explorer at Mammoth Cave in the 1840s and 50s. Brucker researched Bishop's life for several years, in a desire to write the story as accurately as possible. At the age of 79, he even ventured deep into Mammoth Cave, following routes that were once explored by Stephen Bishop, so that he could describe them accurately. Although the book is classified as fiction, Brucker claims it does not alter any known historical facts.
in Dayton. He is a co-founder of, and is active with, Karst
Environmental Education and Protection, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of land containing sinkholes and caves.
He and his wife are avid bicycle travel enthusiasts, kite flyers and agility dog trainers. Brucker has drawn cartoons and illustrations for publications on caves, dog training and bicycling.
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
and author of books about cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s. He is most closely associated with Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the world's longest cave, which he has been exploring and writing about since 1954.
Early life
After graduating from Oberlin CollegeOberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
with an art degree in 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
near Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
where he wrote and directed documentary, technical and training films.
Cave exploration career start
While in the Air Force, Brucker was temporarily stationed in New York City, where he became friends with some people who introduced him to caving, through the National Speleological Society (NSS). It was through those connections that he participated in the highly publicized Floyd Collins' Crystal Cave (C-3) Expedition in Kentucky in 1954, in which dozens of explorers spent one week underground, in an effort to determine if Crystal Cave might be connected with other caves. Although such connections were not found at that time (they later were), the ambitious expedition set new standards for organized cave exploration, and became the subject of Brucker's first book, The Caves Beyond, which he co-authored with Joe Lawrence, Jr.Crystal Cave
Convinced that Crystal Cave would one day connect with caves in nearby Mammoth Cave National ParkMammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a U.S. National Park in central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. The park was established...
, Brucker and other explorers formed the Cave Research Foundation
Cave Research Foundation
The Cave Research Foundation is an American private, non-profit group dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves. The group arose in the early 1950s from the exploration efforts at Floyd Collins Crystal Cave, now within Mammoth Cave National Park...
(CRF), to survey and study Mammoth Cave and other caves in the area. Through the late 1950s and 60s, under the leadership of Brucker and others, CRF expanded the known reaches of Mammoth Cave and other caves under the adjoining Flint Ridge. In 1972, cavers found a connection between Mammoth Cave and the Flint Ridge Cave System. That historic discovery made Mammoth the world's longest cave, inspiring Roger Brucker and Richard Watson to write The Longest Cave, which is now considered a classic in the field of speleological non-fiction literature.
Floyd Collins
Following publication of The Longest Cave, Brucker began working on the book Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins with historian Robert K. Murray. Brucker had long been fascinated with the true story of Floyd CollinsFloyd Collins
William Floyd Collins was a celebrated pioneer cave explorer in central Kentucky, an area that is the location of hundreds of miles of interconnected caves, including the Mammoth Cave National Park...
, who was trapped in a cave in 1925 and could not be rescued, despite a massive effort that received national attention. The authors interviewed dozens of witnesses and studied hundreds of documents to uncover facts about the tragedy that were not previously known. As part of the research, Brucker and a small group of explorers even ventured into Sand Cave several times to the spot where Collins was trapped, to better understand why rescuers had been unable to free him.
Trapped! was published in 1979, and became an instant success. The book helped to inspire the stage musical Floyd Collins by playwright Tina Landau and composer Adam Guettel
Adam Guettel
Adam Guettel is an American composer-lyricist of musical theater and opera . He is best known for the musical The Light in the Piazza, for which he won two Tony Awards, for Best Score and Best Orchestrations, and two Drama Desk Awards, for Best Music and Best Orchestrations.-Early years:Guettel...
. Landau has referred to Trapped! as her "bible" during the period in which she wrote her play. In 2006, the book was optioned by actor Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
, who planned to develop it into a movie. A screenplay was written by Thornton's writing partner, Tom Epperson
Tom Epperson
Tom Epperson is an American screenwriter et writer known for his collaborations with Billy Bob Thornton.-Selected filmography:*One False Move *A Family Thing *Don't Look Back *A Gun, a Car, a Blonde...
, and the project was reportedly greenlit by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. However, Thornton's option expired, and rights to the book were then acquired by producer Peter R.J. Deyell in 2011.
Mammoth Cave
In 1983, rival groups of explorers, including Brucker, discovered a connection between Mammoth Cave and nearby Roppel Cave, further expanding the known reaches of the Mammoth Cave system far beyond the boundaries of the national park. Brucker later teamed up with James Borden, who was instrumental in the exploration of Roppel Cave, to write Beyond Mammoth Cave: A Tale of Obsession in the World's Longest Cave.Stephen Bishop
In 2009, Brucker's fifth book and first historical novel was published. Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave is based on the true story of Stephen BishopStephen Bishop (cave explorer)
Stephen Bishop was a mixed race slave famous for being one of the lead explorers and guides to the Mammoth Cave in the U.S. state of Kentucky....
, a slave who gained fame as a guide and explorer at Mammoth Cave in the 1840s and 50s. Brucker researched Bishop's life for several years, in a desire to write the story as accurately as possible. At the age of 79, he even ventured deep into Mammoth Cave, following routes that were once explored by Stephen Bishop, so that he could describe them accurately. Although the book is classified as fiction, Brucker claims it does not alter any known historical facts.
Other career activities
In addition to spending more than 50 years exploring Mammoth Cave, Brucker worked as an advertising executive and was, at various times, an adjunct professor of marketing at Wright State UniversityWright State University
Wright State University is a comprehensive public university with strong doctoral, research, and undergraduate programs, rated among the 260 Best National Universities listed in the annual "America's Best Colleges" rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Wright State is located in Fairborn, Ohio,...
in Dayton. He is a co-founder of, and is active with, Karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
Environmental Education and Protection, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of land containing sinkholes and caves.
He and his wife are avid bicycle travel enthusiasts, kite flyers and agility dog trainers. Brucker has drawn cartoons and illustrations for publications on caves, dog training and bicycling.
Books
- The Caves Beyond with Joe Lawrence, Jr. (1955), ISBN 0914264184 / ISBN 978-0914264187
- The Longest Cave with Richard A. Watson, Ph.D. (1976) ISBN 0809313227 / ISBN 978-0809313228
- Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins with Robert K. Murray (1979), ISBN 0813101530 / ISBN 978-0813101538
- Beyond Mammoth Cave: A Tale of Obsession in the World's Longest Cave with James D. Borden (2001), ISBN 080932346X / ISBN 978-0809323463
- Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave (2009), ISBN 978-0-939748-72-3 (pb) / ISBN: 978-0-939748-71-6 (hb)