Congratulations
to America's 2006 Silver Medal Ranger of the Year
Finalists

Brenda Stringer of Lake Harris State Park- Newcomb, New York

Brenda began working for New York State Parks in 1984. Brenda was promoted to facility supervisor in 1993 managing a team of six. Over the years the roots established by her caring have regenerated additional annual visits per family, who also bring their friends. One arriving in the campground after the dinner hour may find what appears to be a family gathering for a cookout at the caretaker's cabin. In truth, it's the family of campers who feel secure knowing Brenda is on the job, but who have stopped by to share food, stories, and the friendship she began many years ago.

Testimonial

"When the transmission went out in our pick-up truck at the camp site, we were fine until the rest of our family had to depart "on time". It took another week for the repairs to be made and Brenda went far above the line of duty to make sure we were OK. She shared her personal supply of wood for our nightly camp fires. She took us to the grocery for ice and incidentals on her own time as needed. We are forever in her debt and still communicate with her via e-mail. When we think of "park rangers" we always will think first of Brenda Stringer at Lake Harris!"

Bobby Turner - Myrtle Beach State Park- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

"Mr. Turner", as he was affectionately known by everyone, began his career with the State Park Service in March 1, 1957, when the Park Service was still managed under the Forestry Commission. He worked as a Ranger at Lake Greenwood State Park, and was promoted within the park's staff to a Ranger II position in 1969. He continued to serve at Lake Greenwood State Park until July of 1970 when he accepted the Assistant Superintendent's position at Myrtle Beach State Park. Then, only a year later in August of 1971, he received a promotion to the Superintendent's position at Myrtle Beach, where he would spend the remainder of his 48+-year career.

Testimonial

Mr. Bobby Turner of Myrtle Beach State Park dedicated 50 years of his life to the South Carolina State Park System. He survived everything from hurricanes to the internet and will be retiring this year! His knowledge, experience and passion will be missed.

Richard Enoch of MacKerricher State Park- Mendocino, California

Richard first started to work for the California Department of Parks and Recreation in 1970. He came to work in his current district in 1983 and has been here since. He is a Park Aid Visitor Services and as such works primarily in the entrance station where he has on countless occasions been the difference between wonderful lifetime memories and a bad vacation that one wants to forget. You'll find an attachment that is not too good and feel free to ask for something better.

Testimonial

Absolutely the most upbeat, helpful, courteous person we've ever encountered in the park system. We've known him for a few years and he is genuinely happy to see us every time we arrive and always sad to when we leave. You can arrive, dirt tired from a long 8-10 hour drive in California traffic, and his attitude gets you in the best of moods for your stay. We consider him a part of the trip as much as the camping. He is excellent!!

Mona McCauley of Bahia Honda State Park- Big Pine Key, Florida

Miss. Mona McCauley has worked for the Florida Park Service for over 20yrs. Miss McCauley has received many awards thru the years including the Public Service Award, Team Performance Award and District Employee of the Month three times. Mona always goes above and beyond normal work requirements to further promote the high standards of excellence for witch we strive for in the Florida Park Service.

Testimonial

My family and I have been visiting Bahia Honda several times a year for over twenty years and for most of this time Mona has been there. She has always been professional, cheerful, helpful and willing to go the extra distance to make everyone's visit as pleasant as possible. During this time I have seen Mona deal with the most trying of circumstances and people and never lose her "cool". We have dealt with many Rangers over the years and most have been very good, some excellent, but Mona McCauley is without a doubt the best of the best!

David Landis of Canal Campground- Grand Rivers, Kentucky

My career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District began while I was in college as a co-op student in 1994 at Dale Hollow Lake, Celina, TN. I converted to full time Park Ranger trainee status in 1995 while at Dale Hollow Lake. My career ladder GS 7-9 was completed at Lake Barkley, Grand Rivers, KY from 1996-2002. In 2002, I was selected as GS 11, Environmental Protection Specialist at Lake Barkley.

My responsibilities include environmental compliance and analyses, environmental protection of cultural and historical resources, and project safety operations. I'm the project campground and recreation administrator which includes coordinator for the National Recreation Reservation Service Program and the volunteer program.

Testimonial

"This guy is the friendliest, most helpful, not to mention always smiling park ranger I've ever known in my 27 years of camping at the canal campground in Grand River, KY. HE personally checks on my wife & me when we are camping, knowing we have a favorite site at the canal, he can always find us, and wants to be sure the site us up to par, and that we are having a good time. This makes David a personal friend that we encourage to stay and talk a while, which he does only as a courtesy but with a busy schedule usually doesn't stay as long as we'd like, but we know we are not the only campers on the lake! However, David makes us feel as if we were! He is definitely the most cheerful, likable, and helpful range, gov't employee we will ever know and are privileged to have him as our Park Ranger. We Feel we have a stake in the Canal Campground after supporting it 27 years, and when David came into the picture many years ago, about 12 for us, the difference was noticed when what could have been foreseeable problems were eliminated thank to David Landis. You are very fortunate to have him on your staff."