FHA President George Relic talks to Mr. Gallatin and Mr. Monroe today at Friendship Hill. (7/22/17)
Photos by Laurel Miller
President’s Notes:
Stephen M. Clark is the Superintendent of the National Park Service (NPS) of Western Pennsylvania. He visited with the Friendship Hill Association’s (FHA) Board of Directors at their April 17, 2017 meeting in my home in Masontown. While there he was interviewed and photographed by Herald standard reporter, Fran Zajac, and photographer, Rebecca Deveraux.
Prior to the meeting Superintendent Clark was kind enough to provided our board with biographical information. Clark currently serves as the Superintendent of the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania, which include Flight 93 National Memorial, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Friendship Hill National Historic Site.
He is a 30 plus year veteran of the NPS, starting out his career in 1986 at two of the parks he now manages: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. Prior to joining the NPS, Clark also worked with the Pennsylvania State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service.
Prior to his current assignment, He served as the chief ranger for the Northeast Region from January 2011 until March 2015. Prior to that, Clark served as the branch chief of law enforcement and emergency services for the region.
Other park assignments include serving as the chief ranger at Biscayne National Park and Virgin Islands National Park. He also served as a park ranger at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and Shenandoah National Park.
Significant detail assignments include superintendent at Congaree National Park and two details as chief ranger at Gulf Islands National Seashore in the aftermath of the Mississippi Canyon oil spill in 2010.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management with a concentration in Park Management from Slippery Rock University and an associate’s degree in Wildlife Technology from the Pennsylvania State University.
He is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government along with completing the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University in Chicago and he earned a certificate in the National Park Service Ranger Program from Slippery Rock University.
On a personal note, Clark enjoys spending time in the outdoors, especially golfing and fishing, and is an avid baseball fan. He especially enjoys time with his three daughters Brieanna, Erin, and Makenna, and his grandchildren.
During the April 17 interview with Fran Zajac, Clark previewed the direction he intends to lead our five regional national parks and sites. His overview of the park system is that it is there “to protect, preserve and tell the story of America.” He disclosed that the Western Pennsylvania Parks “reached a milestone with a combined1.2 million visitors last year.” And they generated $80 million to the regional economies. He has a focus on children and “wants as many kids through these parks as possible…We want to use the parks as classroom and laboratories.” To that end, he abolished the entrance fees to Fort Necessity, Allegheny Portage Site and the Johnstown Flood Memorial, and eliminated the $1 charge per student for field trips. Clark claims to be a “budget hawk,” and he wants a bigger NPS presence in the parks. To that end, when the deputy superintendent retired early in 2017, Clark did not fill the position, but used the funds to hire more interpretative rangers and seasonal maintenance personnel.
Clark had high praise for our local Chief Ranger, Chip Nelson, who looks after Friendship Hill and Fort Necessity. He commented upon a Friendship Hill project involving Monarch Butterfliers. [President’s Note: Visit the Monarch butterfly tent at FestiFall 2017. Madonna Bird brings wonderful visual displays and provides a wealth of knowledge about the project and the butterflies.]
Clark shares a feeling with the FHA in that we all want Fayette County to be proud that a national park is in our neighborhood. In our case not only one, but two.
George Relic
President, Friendshiphill Association
Stephen M. Clark is the Superintendent of the National Park Service (NPS) of Western Pennsylvania. He visited with the Friendship Hill Association’s (FHA) Board of Directors at their April 17, 2017 meeting in my home in Masontown. While there he was interviewed and photographed by Herald standard reporter, Fran Zajac, and photographer, Rebecca Deveraux.
Prior to the meeting Superintendent Clark was kind enough to provided our board with biographical information. Clark currently serves as the Superintendent of the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania, which include Flight 93 National Memorial, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Friendship Hill National Historic Site.
He is a 30 plus year veteran of the NPS, starting out his career in 1986 at two of the parks he now manages: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. Prior to joining the NPS, Clark also worked with the Pennsylvania State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service.
Prior to his current assignment, He served as the chief ranger for the Northeast Region from January 2011 until March 2015. Prior to that, Clark served as the branch chief of law enforcement and emergency services for the region.
Other park assignments include serving as the chief ranger at Biscayne National Park and Virgin Islands National Park. He also served as a park ranger at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and Shenandoah National Park.
Significant detail assignments include superintendent at Congaree National Park and two details as chief ranger at Gulf Islands National Seashore in the aftermath of the Mississippi Canyon oil spill in 2010.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management with a concentration in Park Management from Slippery Rock University and an associate’s degree in Wildlife Technology from the Pennsylvania State University.
He is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government along with completing the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University in Chicago and he earned a certificate in the National Park Service Ranger Program from Slippery Rock University.
On a personal note, Clark enjoys spending time in the outdoors, especially golfing and fishing, and is an avid baseball fan. He especially enjoys time with his three daughters Brieanna, Erin, and Makenna, and his grandchildren.
During the April 17 interview with Fran Zajac, Clark previewed the direction he intends to lead our five regional national parks and sites. His overview of the park system is that it is there “to protect, preserve and tell the story of America.” He disclosed that the Western Pennsylvania Parks “reached a milestone with a combined1.2 million visitors last year.” And they generated $80 million to the regional economies. He has a focus on children and “wants as many kids through these parks as possible…We want to use the parks as classroom and laboratories.” To that end, he abolished the entrance fees to Fort Necessity, Allegheny Portage Site and the Johnstown Flood Memorial, and eliminated the $1 charge per student for field trips. Clark claims to be a “budget hawk,” and he wants a bigger NPS presence in the parks. To that end, when the deputy superintendent retired early in 2017, Clark did not fill the position, but used the funds to hire more interpretative rangers and seasonal maintenance personnel.
Clark had high praise for our local Chief Ranger, Chip Nelson, who looks after Friendship Hill and Fort Necessity. He commented upon a Friendship Hill project involving Monarch Butterfliers. [President’s Note: Visit the Monarch butterfly tent at FestiFall 2017. Madonna Bird brings wonderful visual displays and provides a wealth of knowledge about the project and the butterflies.]
Clark shares a feeling with the FHA in that we all want Fayette County to be proud that a national park is in our neighborhood. In our case not only one, but two.
George Relic
President, Friendshiphill Association
Friendshiphill Association Christmas Dinner
From Bottom to top: Treasurer Lourie Stewart. President George Relic, Vice President, Dr. Toni L’Hommdieu, Board Member Joe Cocalis, Board Member Vicky Evans, Board Member Marice Clark and Secretary Jo Loftstead.
Click here to see the 2017 FHA Officers.
Click here to see the 2017 FHA Officers.