William Lowell Putnam III[1] (October 25, 1924 – December 20, 2014) was an alpinist, author and retired broadcasting executive.
[2][3] Putnam studied geology at Harvard University and later was founder and chief executive of the Springfield Television Corp. (Massachusetts), a company which he sold in 1984.
[4][5] Over several decades beginning in the 1940s, Putnam made many first ascents and difficult exploratory expeditions centered in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia.
Related to these activities, Putnam was U.S. delegate to the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (or UIAA) for 30 years, and for much of this period also represented Canada.
The construction of three mountain cabins in western Canada, two of which are operated for the public by the Alpine Club of Canada (Bill Putnam at Fairy Meadows, and The Ben Ferris Great Cairn Hut), the other privately (Battle Abbey), was spearheaded and completed by Putnam.