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Contact: Saudia Muwwakkil, 404-507-5612
Contact: Giselle Mora-Bourgeois, 404-293-4952
ATLANTA — Today, National Park Service (NPS) Atlanta-based Regional Director Bob Vogel announced the selection of Kristofer “Kris” Butcher as superintendent of Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument in Alabama, effective October 27.
“Kris’ background in business administration and economic development will be essential to standing up operations at two of the nation’s newest national parks,” said Vogel. “His record reflects eager, yet thoughtful leadership. Kris is well-equipped to take on the responsibility of administering Birmingham Civil Rights and Freedom Riders National Monuments as their first permanent superintendent.”
Butcher said, “Many of my earliest memories are of stories my great uncle told me about his life and the people he met during the civil rights movement. His stories chronicled the struggle for equality and profoundly impacted me. I am humbled to now have the opportunity to partner with the city leaders and communities of Anniston and Birmingham in preserving their stories for future generations.”
For the past two years, Butcher has served as the chief of business management for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Maryland where he has overseen a budget of more than $45 million, partnerships and administrative functions. He also recently served temporarily as acting regional comptroller in the NPS’ National Capital Area, providing financial and administrative services to 14 national park units.
He began his federal career with the U.S. Postal Service in 2004 before transitioning to the U.S. Forest Service’s Wayne National Forest where he was a resource specialist, program assistant, and administrative clerk. He later worked with the Small Business Administration’s Eastern Pennsylvania District as an economic development specialist and administrative officer. Butcher graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He is married to Brittany, a physical therapist assistant. They have one child, Kylie, and love traveling and watching movies.
About Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Established in 2017, Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument interprets the struggle for equality and civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama. The park’s boundary includes The Gaston Motel, Kelly Ingram Park, 16th Street Baptist Church, St. Paul United Methodist Church and a number of other historic properties that are part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Register Historic District. These properties are significant with regard to the civil rights organizing and protests that occurred in downtown Birmingham between 1956 and 1963.
About Freedom Riders National Monument
Established in 2017, Freedom Riders National Monument preserves and interprets the sites where, on Mother's Day in 1961, a Freedom Riders bus was attacked at the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Anniston, Alabama, and attacked again and firebombed six miles away on State Highway 202. The Freedom Riders were a small interracial band of activists challenging discriminatory laws that required separation of the races in interstate travel. Images of the attack appeared in hundreds of newspapers, shocking the American public and spurring the federal government to issue regulations banning segregation in interstate travel.
www.nps.gov
Last updated: October 9, 2019