COURIER - National Park Service History

added after a pause and with a twinkle inhis eye, "for letting me live." The doctor'sreply was a classic: "Horace, eaglesare an endangered species—and we can'tlet them die."The next morning Marian took us tothe nursing home. There was HMA in hiswheelchair, writing on a yellow foolscappad. In the wake of his usual warmgreeting he exercised his astonishingmemory, once again providing stories ofevents, both new and long-remembered,and of friends. As always, he came backto his beloved Service, his belief in it andhis faith in the future for it. And then hesaid reflectively, "I believe, Fred, I havebeen loyal and faithful." It's a greatepitaph—especially if we try to walk inhis steps.Frederick L. Rath, Jr.It has been my good fortune to haveknown Horace M. Albright for 53 years.I first met him at a conference of parkhistorians held in Washington shortlyafter Horace had accepted the position ofGeneral Manager of U.S. Potash Company.He came down from New Yorkand his opening remarks were, "All myfuture is in the past." He told us of hisown happy experiences in the parks, and,with his infectious enthusiasm, urged usto grasp the "glorious opportunities" thatlay ahead. Never had I heard such a peptalk. He was deeply committed to theparks.The second incident which I recallvividly occurred about 1969. Horace hadretired from U.S. Potash and I hadretired from the Service. We had lunch atthe Cosmos Club, and for an hour hekept me enthralled, explaining how andwhy he got the Service involved in thehistoric preservation program. He pointedout that most of the parks were in thewest while a majority of historic siteswere in the east, and that he needed thesupport of eastern senators and congressmenfor his appropriation bills.Moreover, Horace had a deep andabiding interest in history and believedstrongly that historic sites should be protectedand interpreted. During theluncheon I called Robert Utley, my successor,and told him I was hearing greatoral history that should be recorded. So,following the luncheon, we arranged anopportunity for Horace to meet Utley,Roy Appleman and other members of thehistory staff. For another hour and ahalf, Horace explained in detail how thehistory program came into being. Hisinterest was intense; his memoryphenomenal; and his stamina amazing.All concluded that the basic data wewere hearing should be published. ButNPS funds for publishing were in shortsupply, so Eastern National Park &Monument Association came to therescue and printed his Origins ofNational Park Service Administration ofHistoric Sites.The third episode occurred lastNovember when Fred Rath and I calledon Horace, who was in a convalescenthome in the Los Angeles area. He was ina wheelchair and time had taken its tollon his body, but his mind was as keen asever. He asked me to review a manuscripthe had just written about a trip hehad taken in 1933 with Secretary HaroldL. Ickes to Williamsburg shortly after theSecretary had taken office. The purposeof the trip was to acquaint the Secretarywith some of his new responsibilities. Asusual, Horace had prepared in detail forthe trip. Enroute, he explained the battlefieldsof Fredericksburg and Richmond;he showed the Secretary the great housesalong the James River and finally endedat Jamestown and Yorktown. The nextmorning at breakfast Horace started tomention several items of history when theSecretary cut him short. Pointing to hisneck, he said he was filled up to therewith history and wanted to hear no moreof it.Horace was a man of vision andaction. He loved parks; he loved people.He never forgot old friends and healways eager to make new ones.Herbert E. Kahlerllorace Albright will be rememberedas one of our Nation's foremostconservationists. As the second directorof the National Park Service, he developedthe basic concepts and goalsthat have produced a park system topreserve forever our country's naturalwonders. His legacy has already enrichedthe lives of millions who haveenjoyed the beauty and inspiration ofour national park system, and it willcontinue to enrich generations tocome...We join with all Americans inremembering this great man withpride and gratitude. His foresight anddetermination have made this a finerworld for us all.Ronald Reaganllorace M. Albright has a monumentthat few will ever match, a magnificentsystem of national parks that enriches thelives of millions of people and has beenemulated by more than 100 nationsaround the world.As a co-founder of the National ParkService, Mr. Albright was a pioneer. Asthe first Park Service superintendent ofYellowstone and the Service's seconddirector, he developed the managementconcepts and traditions—based on anequal respect for the wonders of natureand the needs of the park visitor—thatstrongly underpin today's operation ofthe national park system.We all are in his debt.Donald Paul HodelVV ho knows what the parks would belike today if Horace Albright had chosennot to get on the train in California inMay of 1913? Many who have gatheredin memory of him would be different, aswould I.I first met Horace at my first NationalCapital Park and Planning Commissionmeeting, nearly 58 years ago. Ever sincethen he has inspired me with his tirelessefforts to preserve this land of ours. Heunderstood the value of the earth and allliving things on it, and wanted people totreasure that gift from God.Horace's rich heritage of resourcepreservation has had an effect on thenation as a whole that not all fully grasp.From the "Park Purification" bill of 1916,through the CCC days and the supportof state park systems, to his continuedefforts in support of all manner ofenvironmental conservation, HoraceAlbright stands as tall as one can.What many take for granted, he deeplyappreciated and nurtured, from Yellowstoneas its first superintendent to theRedwoods of California. He, forever, inpublic and private life, championed thecause of park preservation.The honors bestowed upon him andthe words we speak can never do himfull justice. The land we stand on and theparks that surround us are living tributesto a founder of the national park systemand a truly mighty person.Conrad L. WirthCOURIER, May 1987 37