Raymond David Vela - Hola Ranger, My Journey Through The National Parks

Copyrighted Material

Hola Ranger

Copyright 2021 by David Vela. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwisewithout prior written permission from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Bryan, Texas

ISBN: 978-1-7377270-2-6 (Hardcover)

978-1-7377270-0-2 (Softcover)

978-1-7377270-1-9 (Ebook)

Cover and Interior design: 1106 Design

Author at Grand Teton National Park, 2019
Vela Family Photo

FOREWORD

by Robert G. Stanton

15th Director of the National Park Service

(first African American Director)

INTRODUCTION

by Fran P. Mainella

16th Director of the National Park Service

(first female Director)

DEDICATION

To Melissa

my wife and loving partner in my journey

through the national parks

To Christina, Anthony, and Amelia

my children and my inspiration

To Xavier, Issaac, Noah, Mariah, Nathaniel,

Gabriel, and Kingston

my grandchildren and legacy

To Raymond and Mercedes

my parents whose decision to explore our

national parks changed my life

To all of my Latino colleagues

thanks for your example, encouragement,

and support

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T hroughout my journey through our national parks, there were many individuals who encouraged and supported my dream of one day wearing the green and gray of the National Park Service.

I will always be grateful to my parents and siblings, a high school sweetheart, a high school assistant librarian, an American war hero, a businessman and philanthropist, and several NPS directors (to name a few) for their inspiration, guidance, and support.

More later regarding my high school sweetheart and a national war hero. As for the high school assistant librarian, Mrs. Betty Bergstrom worked in the Wharton High School Library and was my source of information in the late 1970s on everything involving the National Park Service. During that time, all we had by way of career information in our public libraries were publications, magazines, and encyclopedias as computers were in the realm of science fiction.

Although there was more information available on being a state game warden, there was little information available to feed my appetite for data on national park rangers. However, Mrs. Bergstrom was always willing and able to do what she could to satisfy my hunger for information while in high school, and I will always be grateful.

I first met John L. Nau III when I was superintendent of the only U.S. Mexican War property in the National Park System while he served as Chairman of the Texas Historical Commission. Johns passion for Civil War and American history would soon become apparent to me as well as how much I would value his guidance and friendship. Whether in his business life or supporting causes to protect our nations most special places and stories, John remains a very strong influence and mentor in my life, for which I am eternally grateful.

In addition to former directors of the National Park Service, I am also deeply grateful for the support and friendship of my former colleague P. Daniel (Dan) Smith, who came out of retirement to serve as deputy director, exercising the authority of the director of the National Park Service for twenty-one months in the Trump Administration (now retired).

When asked by the Secretary of the Interior on two separate occasions who should serve as the next director of the National Park Service, Dan did not hesitate with his response.

From my deputies, chiefs of staff, superintendents, office and staff assistants, administrative officers, park rangers, U.S. park police officers, and many more colleagues past and present, I cannot adequately put into words how much I greatly valued and appreciated your hard work and friendship. A very special thanks to all of my amazing office assistants who kept me focused and who helped to fulfill the duties of my officeKelly Fox, Janice DeSordi, Deb Frauson, Monette Graham, Erika Breeze, Rachel Wheelus, Anna Womack, Bonnie Jenschke, and Carol Gonzalez.

It would take many more pages to appropriately thank all of those family and friends who also guided and helped me along my journey through our national parks. In addition, special thanks to all of my Latino colleagues both past and present who inspired me and through their own actions, helped to give me the confidence to achieve my dreams and aspirations in the National Park Service. I sincerely hope that they all realize that I was the ultimate benefactor of their time and support.

My sincere thanks to our dear friends April Landale, Grand Teton Association Executive Director; C. Scott Shafer, Professor and Head of the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences department, Texas A&M University; Doreen Wise; Mary and Randall Kaufmann; and Yvette Benavidez Garcia (author of Tango Mike Mike, The Story of Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez) for their technical and editorial review, comments, and support of Hola Ranger, My Journey Through theNational Parks.

In closing, this publication captures my life experiences growing up in Southeast Texas and the people I met along my journey in protecting and managing our nations most special places. Most importantly, it reflects and embodies my profound belief in faith, family, and country.

FOREWORD

T he letter was dated April 4, 1962, and addressed to Mr. Robert G. Stanton from Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. It went on to read, This will confirm your selection for appointment as seasonal park ranger at Grand Teton National Park for the coming summer. The uniform you will be wearing is familiar to the millions of individuals who visit our national parks annually. I am sure that your work assignment in one of the great areas of scenic beauty in this country will be both pleasant and rewarding.

My journey through the national parks began in 1962 when I borrowed $250 to buy a uniform and a train ticket to Grand Teton National Park in Moose, Wyoming. As a seasonal park ranger during the summers of 1962 and 1963, I experienced my first visit to a national park. It was quite the experience as I had never been outside of my home state of Texas. In 1997, and after thirty-one years of service with the National Park Service, I would become the first African American to administer the agency.

Hola Ranger reflects upon many of the same experiences that I had encountered growing up in Texas as a person of color, everything from travels outside of our home community and comfort zone, to having the privilege and honor of wearing the green and gray uniform of the National Park Service. It also provides a first-hand view of Davids journey through the national parks, the people that influenced him, and his life experiences along the way.

As with me, and having sat in the directors chair, David had a front row seat to what it was like to lead the National Park Service while managing COVID at 419 park units, demonstrations involving racial and social unrest, and much more.

He also provides the reader with a potential blueprint designed to help ensure that all Americans are included in the national narrative while building the next generation of conservation stewards, leaders, and advocates. In addition, he reflects upon and honors all of the dedicated women and men of the National Park Service who protect our nations most special places and all of their stories.