Culture Page

Preserve Our Florida Park Service Culture

Did you grow up in parks, begin you career as a youngster, or have other inspiring FPS stories such as those below? Our Park Service Culture is deserving of being preserved for those who come after us. Share your recollections by E-mailing them to the Florida Park Service Alumni Association

Memory Lane

by Jack Gillen
       The Park Service has been in existence for sixty years! It’s hard for me to believe that I have been in the Park Service for more than two-thirds of that time. Even though I was not on the payroll all that time, I was certainly in the Park Service.... My father became a park ranger forty-one years ago. As a result, I grew up in the service: an F.P.S. brat if you will! I have many fond memories from my childhood and adult Park Service days. Some things that come to mind:
       There were only a dozen or so parks when my dad started. Consequently, I knew practically everyone in the service. Now there are over 150 units in the system, and some people in the same district that I do not know.
       I remember growing up living and working in parks. Because of this, I developed an appreciation and love for them along the way.
       You might classify me as a pioneer volunteer in the Park Service....I probably spent more time picking up litter, raking campsites, cleaning restrooms, and helping park visitors, etc. during my pre-high school years than the average ranger has. And yet, I wasn’t called a volunteer, just a park ranger’s son. It was part of my training, much like a carpenter’s, or blacksmith’s son—they learned their father’s trade.
       I was not the only family member involved in the Park Service; we all took part. Incredible I remember when State Parks were racially segregated! My older brother and I were in a movie promoting the Park Service. Similarly, I remember when my mother actually drove a park truck and cleaned the cabins at Gold Head Branch State Park.
       I remember when my father was special assistant to the park director during my senior year in high school. At that time the central office in Tallahassee was operated from a building smaller that the tenth floor of the Douglas building.
       Because of frequent moves as a Park Service brat, I attended two elementary schools, three middle schools and four different high schools. My oldest brother used to joke that he came home from school on several occasions only to find that the family had moved.
       I remember the first time I entered the caves at Florida Caverns; my first dive on a coral reef; my first encounter with a buffalo; a wildfire on Paynes Prairie; and meeting “Red Wolf” at his camp for the first time.
       I remember working with some of the finest, most dedicated, and hard working people imaginable. In addition, this job gave me the opportunity to come in contact with a variety of people; visitors, members of other organizations, agencies, and businesses. I can say without a doubt that “Park People” are the finest group of people I have encountered throughout my life.
       The Park Service has afforded me opportunities that most people only dream about. I have been privileged to work at what I consider to be three of our most outstanding resources; Florida Caverns, John Pennekamp Coral Reef and Paynes Prairie State Preserve. Along the way I was honored to be able to open our first two visitor centers in the system—Coral Reef and Paynes Prairie. I was fortunate enough to meet five governors, work under seven directors, wear four different uniforms, live and work in seven different parks, drive four different colored vehicles, and cannot even count the number of hats and caps I wore along the way.
       I witnessed the birth and growth of resource management in the Park Service. I’ve been involved in a deepwater survey that included scuba diving, travel in a submarine, and going on board Johnson & Johnson’s research vessel.
       I’ve been part of some of the biggest drug seizures and drug trafficking cases in the country. I've taken governors, foreign dignitaries, and heads of state, diving, fishing, and horseback riding. Similarly, I’ve worked security details for others in these categories. I have been a part of reintroducing, preserving, and managing Spanish horses, cattle and American bison at Paynes Prairie.
       I have seen a lot of change over the years. However, what’s most important and gratifying, is no matter what color uniform I wore or, who was the head of the organization, the basic park philosophy has not changed. I hope it never does. The Park Service is an institution—and for a lot of good park people it has become a way of life.

The Maxwell Family

a tradition of excellence in state park management
(excerpts from article by Clif Maxwell

      In the winter of 1937 times were tough and Carlos Maxwell was faced with the failure of his farm. Not because he couldn't produce, but because nobody had the money during these depressed times to purchase his crop. He accepted a position with the Federal Work Projects Administration to work on the Forestry Training Camp at the abandoned town of Old Leno. Soon after he was asked to be the construction foremen for the WPA using Civilian Conservation Corpsman from the camp at Gold Head.

After the construction was complete the property was turned over to the newly formed Board of Forestry and Carlos was asked to stay as the caretaker. This decision would prove to have a profound impact on four generations of Maxwells and help shape the stewardship philosophy of Florida's premier state lands-Florida State Parks.

      Carlos was the sole full-time employee at Camp O'Leno, which eventually became O'Leno State Park. He was paid $40.00 per month, and was provided a pickup truck, and space to raise livestock and grow a garden to help support his family. Although Carlos occasionally hired day labor, much of the development was accomplished by himself, a testament to his knowledge of levers, pulleys and the like. There was little money for development, so lumber and native stone taken from the property were used. While he was planning facilities for visitor use, he was concerned about the impacts to the banks of the river, and developed low impact erosion control terraces that are still in use today. During a time when fire was viewed as devastating to forests, and the policy of state lands was one of strict fire suppression, Carlos was burning longleaf pine forests and bringing forestry officials to look at the results. In 1961, Carlos assumed the role of one of four District Supervisor positions. When Carlos began there were six state parks, now there were 60. Carlos retired in 1972 and was honored by the Governor and Cabinet for his significant impact on the state park system.

      As important as Carlos felt it was to share his love and understanding of natural Florida to others, it was far more important to him that he instill that in his children. In 1957, William, Carlos's second child, was working shifts at a paper mill. He wasn't thrilled at the prospect of doing that for the rest of his life. So, he accepted a position as Park Ranger at Florida Caverns. Because of his exposure to and understanding of parks he quickly climbed the ranks to Park Superintendent. He worked at St. Andrews, Florida Caverns and Myakka River. His two sons, Cary and Clif, were born during his stint with the Park Service before he left 1967 to pursue other career interests. He later returned to the area near O'Leno where both of his sons worked seasonal jobs with the Park Service. Clif began to understand the life that his grandfather had chosen. One of the tasks assigned to him was to refurbish those same terraces that his grandfather had constructed. He even enlisted the aid of his grandfather on the project.

      After attending college with an intention to major in communications, Clif accepted his destiny to work for the FPS and became a Park Ranger at Stephen Foster. He too, quickly moved up the ranks to Park Manager and worked at Cayo Costa, St. George, Ichetucknee, The Barnacle, Tallahassee-St. Marks Geo Park and Fort Clinch. While at St. George he met and married Sandra, who was also a park ranger.       While Clif was pursuing his career, his father William, returned to the Park Service at the urging of his new daughter-in-law. He later met and eventually married his second wife, Judi, a 23 year career park person. He now helps manage the park Carlos so carefully nurtured and lives in a house built by his father.

      Today, Clif's son Emory, and his brother Cary's son, Byron, are continuing the tradition of excel-lence and public service that has been Carlos's heritage. Emory begged for and finally received permission to volunteer at Fort Clinch. Byron volunteers at Stephen Foster.

      In 1990 the FPSAA developed the Carlos Maxwell Award, to be bestowed upon an individual who has "contributed significantly and dedicated themselves to the FPS system." Carlos was the award's first recipient, which was accepted on his behalf by his son, William and grandson, Clif.

The story of Carlos and his offspring is unique; but, there are many other examples of family tradi-tions. This is an agency with a strong culture. Park Service kids cannot help but be affected by their surroundings when growing up in parks, and many choose to follow in their parent's footsteps. Park people are really different.

(The above was taken from a paper developed by Clif Maxwell.

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