Leland Fetzer, the son of a part-time mine owner, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He spent thirty years as a San Diego State University professor specializing in Russian. Retired from teaching, Dr. Fetzer built a home in Julian's North Peak, a subject he explored in his collection of essays, A Year in the Cuyamacas. His book, A Good Camp, explores San Diego's Gold Rush in detail; another of his local history titles is San Diego County Place Names, A to Z. Dr. Fetzer is a popular speaker who lives with his wife in San Diego and Julian.