National parks. Steven mather, the first director of the National Parks service. Good afternoon. Its a pleasure to be with you. And let me hasten to thank bill and gary, two pillars, if you will, two scholars and two outstanding friends of your National Parks and your National Parks service, that have known and worked with these gentlemen for many, many years. But also, to thank the leadership of the organization of american historians for the gracious invitation to be with you. When i think about it, scholars among all of you, and coupled with the opportunity to speak about an agency that ive been associated with directly and indirectly for over half of a century, its difficult to discipline my long windedness, because it is something that i cherish the opportunity to share the richness of the National Parks and the responsibilities of the park service with such an audience. But i will attempt to be brief, because we want to allow for some opportunity to interact with you ladies and g
Session. E to this we hope will be coming in. I know you are giving up your cocktail hour but we are going to have a reception right behind the black curtain here when our session is over. You are all cordially invited to that. I will make some introductions, a few remarks, and this is how we will proceed. After the introductions i will talk a bit about the theaboration and about promised report which was commissioned by the National Park service. Done by four members and issued a few years back. Rightanton here to my throughout in fort worth. He was recruited into a summer seasonal job while he was a houston. T that began a long career now stretching out some 54 years in the nations service. A stalwart member of the National Park service. He started at the bottom and grand teton National Park and worked his way up all the way to the top when president bill clinton appointed him the director of the National Park service from 1997 to 2001. Before that he was superintendent of National C
Rightanton here to my grew up in fort worth. He was recruited into a summer seasonal job when he was a student at houston filton college. That began a long career stretching out some 54 years in the nations service. Bottom in at the grantee 10 National Park and worked his way all the way to the top, when president bill clinton appointed him director of the National Park service from 1997 through 2001. He wasthat superintendent of National Capital park in the d. C. Area. And the Virgin Islands National Park. He then served as regional director to the National Capital region. Then he made the mistake of retiring, which meant he was in even greater demand. Senioras served as advisor to the Secretary Department of the interior, and then was appointed by president obama in 2014 for a four year term on the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation. , who is supposed be here, is unfortunately home in bed. Home in bed with the flu. She sends her regrets. This is no longer a legal session becau