COURIER - National Park Service History

RetirementsJames R. Walker, a MAR visitorservices specialist, retired January 3,marking the completion of more than 30years of federal service. Walker movedto the regional office in 1976 fromVoyageurs NP. Other assignments includedBig Bend, Mesa Verde, andCarlsbad Caverns National Parks, aswell as Aztec Ruins, George WashingtonBirthplace, Saguaro, and Wupatki NationalMonuments. In 1978, he wasrecognized with a Special AchievementAward for his contributions, serving asacting supervisory youth activities coordinator.In 1984 he received a SustainedSpecial Achievement Award.Calvin Pride Jr. retired after 40 yearsof federal service. At the conclusion ofWWII he returned to his hometown ofAndersonville and accepted a job aslaborer at the national cemetery. He dugmany a grave by hand and rememberswell having to cut the grass by horsedrawnmower. In 1971 when the nationalcemetery and historic Civil Warprison site became part of the NPS, hechose to remain at the park and continuehis NPS career. He was promotedto engineering equipment operator in1974.As of January 3, James L. Ryan,Associate Midwest Regional Director forAdministration, retired, winding up 30years of federal service. Presentation ofa Department of the Interior SuperiorService Award highlighted a luncheon inhis honor. The citation read, in part,"Mr. Ryan has progressed through increasinglyresponsible assignments sincethe beginning of his NPS career, whichwas with the Midwest Regional Office in1965." He was cited specifically for effectivelypromoting use of small anddisadvantaged business enterprises; applyingcomputer technology to a broadrange of administrative functions;employing a significant number ofminorites in the regional office; and involvinghimself in development of astrong regional training program.Following retirement, Ryan plans to continuehis active participation in theEmployees and Alumni Association activities."One of these years, I'd like tobicycle across Ireland," said Ryan, anavid cyclist.]ames L. RyanBill HoyJohnnie Davis, SWRO General SupplySpecialist, retired after more than 26years of federal service. He joined theNPS in 1966. During his 20 years in theSouthwest Regional Office, Davis alsoserved as a supply clerk and supplytechnician.Two long-time employees ofChiricahua and Fort Bowie, Ted Scottand Bill Hoy, retired at the end of 1986.Scott's NPS career began at Isle RoyaleNP, with other assignments includingLake Mead NRA, Great Smoky MountainsNP, and fourteen years atYellowstone NP. Major activities duringhis assignment at Chiricahua includedrehabilitation of the Bonita Canyoncampground, the 1984 ArizonaWilderness bill that added 850 acres tothe monument, and the purchase andpreparation of historic Faraway Ranch.Hoy's 30 years as a park ranger alsospan a number of parks, among themGrand Teton and Grand Canyon NationalParks, Mount Rushmore NationalMemorial, and Death Valley NationalMonument. Hoy's personal interest andsensitivity to the particular needs of FortBowie have made visits to the site arewarding experience for park visitors.A. Sidney Malbon, chief of theRecreation Planning and EnvironmentalCompliance Division, PNWRO, retiredon December 31, 1986, after 33 years ofgovernment service, 18 of which werewith the NPS. He started his NPS careerin 1951 as a seasonal ranger at MountRainier NP. He held progressively responsibleassignments as a landscape architectin the Western and SouthwesternRegional Offices, at the Blue RidgeParkway, Olympic NP and the MidwestRegional Office. While at Olympic, hewas the NPS representative on the interagencyteam that conducted some of theoriginal surveys leading to later enactmentof the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.In 1966, he transferred to the PacificNorthwest Region of the Bureau of OutdoorRecreation (BOR) and returned tothe Service when HCRS was incorporatedinto NPS in 1981. While with BOR, heTed ScottRobert MitchamJohnnie Daviswas responsible for major accomplishmentsin the Section 4(f) Transportationand Federal Energy Regulatory CommissionReview Programs. It was largelythrough his assistance and guidance overthe years in coordinating all the variousinterests that the development andhistoric compliance in the region hasprogressed successfully.David A. O'Kane, PNWROMaintenance Programs Coordinator,retired after 33 years of federal service onMay 30, 1986. He began his career as aseasonal student engineer at Yellowstonein 1953, then worked in such offices asthe Maintenance Division at Yosemite,and the Southwest Regional Office. Duringhis career with the Service, he workedin 66 field areas, two design and constructionoffices, and two regional offices.Over the years, he and his wife becameexperts at packing and unpacking, butthis time they have decided to remain inthe Seattle area.Robert Mitcham retired after 35 yearswith the federal government, the last 14at Death Valley NM. Regional DirectorHoward Chapman was among the wellwishersat Mitcham's retirement party,and presented him with the Departmentof the Interior's Meritorious ServiceAward on behalf of Secretary Hodel.COURIER/May 1987 25