And let me just leave you my definition of leadership as i think about stewart udall. Leadership demonstrates an unwavering philosophical underpinning of service to others. Anchored in humility, courage, humanity, and gratitude. And if you were to take a look at those whom we have honored as a people in your National Park system, theres a lesson there. There are those who have given of themselves, who have given of themselves, that in the end as the people of the nation, those are whom we honor most of all. Its interesting. Just take a look at those individuals by name. Those have been of service to others. That is the american legacy. To honor those who have given to others. Lastly, before we open it up to questions, on this centennial. Yes, august 25th is a big day. And i know you historians like to traffic in facts. So contrary to popular belief, i was not there for the signing of that act in 1916. Ive been around a long time but not that long. With respect to the centennial and the
Wilderness society for some few decades or more, and as of 2014, serves as vice chair of the organizations governing townsy. Council. My own role working with the National Parks service goes back to the first collaborative agreement signed in 199495 when i was president of oah and ive worked in philadelphia with the Independence National historic parks and others and was one of the coauthors of imperilled promise that ill speak about after bob stanton talks, and i was a member of the Second Century Commission which delivered the report to congress on the state of affairs in the National Parks service. So with those introductions, ill turn to bob stanton, whos going to reflect on all these years in the Parks Service and some of the problems he sees. He or she is a better citizen with a keener appreciation of living here in the United States, who has toured the National Parks. Steven mather, the first director of the National Parks service. Good afternoon. Its a pleasure to be with you.
The National Parks service done by four members of oeh and issued a few years back. So bob stanton here to my right. Grew up in ft. Worth. He was recruited into a summer seasonal job while he was a student at houston hiliton college. That began a long career stretching out some 54 years in the Nations Service as a stalwart member of the National Parks service. So he started at the bottom in Grand Teton National Park and worked his way all the way to the top when bill clinton, president bill clinton appointed him the director of the National Parks service from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he was superintendent of National Capital park in the d. C. Area as a virginia islands National Park. He then served as regional director for the National Capital region. And then he made the mistake of retiring, which meant that he was even in greater demand. And so he has served as Senior Adviser to the secretary of the department of interior, and then was appointed by president obama in 2014 for a fou
Matter. The agency is real. But there are these Larger Forces that impose these great constraints. And yet, when you get to the presidency, you actually start to see wow, this individuals one particular decision did matter. And thats not always true in other realms. And it does take you back to character. And its why i think that character, both for great president s and for the worst president s, reenters the picture where these discussions of which are very important discussions to have. What was nixons native american policy . Or what was such and such position on this . Important questions. But they dont speak to the president s and the hold that they have over our imagination. And in a way, thats what discussion is about. And with that, i want to thank the audience for your attention, your wonderful questions, your wonderful tweets, and i want to thank the panel and say what a great pleasure it has been to share the stage with three such wonderful thinkers, but also three of my fa
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