50th Anniversary Employee and Alumni Reunion at Big Spring

NPS Photo

News Release Date: August 28, 2014

Contact: Faye Walmsley, 573-323-4844

VAN BUREN, MO:  Hundreds of individuals have worked or volunteered at Ozark National Scenic Riverways during the last 50 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act establishing the park as a unit of the National Park Service in 1964.  "These folks may have worn the National Park Service green and gray uniform one season or spent their entire careers at the park;volunteered to serve as campground hosts;worked for Eastern National, our cooperating association;or provided recreational services to our park visitors. It doesn't really matter. We want to invite all who have served in the park in the past or currently, along with their families, to attend the 50^th Anniversary Employee and Alumni Reunion," said Superintendent Bill Black. As part of Ozark National Scenic Riverways 50^th Anniversary Celebration, the reunion will be held at the Big Spring Pavilion on Sunday, October 12^th, beginning at 3:00 pm. The park's"Haunting in the Hills" event will be conducted all day and evening prior to the reunion on Saturday, October 11^th at Alley Spring.

Festivities will begin with a social in order to reminiscence, visit and reconnect with former colleagues.  There will be plenty of story swapping going on! Dinner is at 5:00 pm and will be catered by Tiny's BBQ. On the menu is pulled pork barbeque, fired catfish, river chips, hush puppies, corn on the cob, coleslaw, lemonade, ice tea, and cake for dessert –all for $12 per plate.  Activities continue with a welcome and few words from park and National Park Service staff, sharing of park tales, and a concert by the Non-Lethal Tactics (NLT) band whose guitar player is retired Park Ranger Marty Towery.

Former employees, we need to hear from you! Please contact Park Ranger Mary Ficker at e-mail us or [phone] to get your name and address on the employee list. We'd like to send you a formal invitation to attend. 

An employee photo display will be available at the reunion. If you'd like to share memories of your time in the park, send high resolution digital images to Mike Gossett at e-mail us. Insure those people in the photographs have given their permission to be part of the display. If you would like to donate your original slides and photographs (or any other ONSR related material and memories) to be preserved in the park's museum collection, please contact Tricia Miller at [phone] or e-mail us. Those interested in attending the reunion must RSVP and provide their $12 per meal payment by close of business Wednesday, October 1^st. 

Send RSVP and Make Check Payable to:

Ozark National Scenic Riverways Employee Association

ATTN: Sue Duncan, Treasurer

P. O. Box 490

Van Buren, MO 63965

All the reunion activities are certain to make your evening under the stars at Big Spring a special night to remember. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for the musical entertainment.

For information on the 50^th Anniversary Employee and Alumni Reunion, visit the park's Facebook page under events, or contact Faye Walmsley at e-mail us or [phone]. 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. 

 

Enjoy the "Non Lethal Tactics band!"