Detring heading ONSR
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Detring began duties June 22 as head of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, based in Van Buren, Mo., and stretching along a lengthy expanse of the Current and Jack’s Fork rivers. The park is considered by many to be the premier national park in the Midwest.
Detring succeeds Noel Poe, who retired from federal service late last year. “Due to the breadth of park management experience Reed has, and his ability to deal with similar publics and issues as are faced at Ozark — water quality, concessions management, and horse use, to name a few — we feel he is best suited for the park,” said National Parks Service Midwest Regional Director Ernest Quintana. “We are delighted to welcome him as part of our Midwest management team.”
Detring’s more than 32 years with the NPS began when he served in seasonal appointments as a Park Technician at both Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, Wash., and at Death Valley National Monument, Death Valley, Calif.
His first permanent position was as a Park Technician at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine, Fla., then in the same position at Fort Matanzas National Monument also in St. Augustine.
Detring then served as a Park Ranger and Supervisory Park Ranger (District Interpreter and sub-district ranger) at Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Mont.; as Supervisory Park Ranger (Chief, Interpretation and Resource Management) at Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, Ariz.; as Park Superintendent at El Morro National Monument, Ramah, N.M.; and as Supervisory Park Ranger (Chief Ranger) at Everglades National Park, Homestead, Fla.
In addition, Detring served detail assignments as Acting Chief Interpreter at Glacier; as Acting Superintendent at Fort Smith National Historic Site, Fort Smith, Ark.; and as Acting Assistant Superintendent at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in New Orleans, La.
A St. Francois County, Mo., native, Detring graduated from Farmington Senior High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts, both in History, from the University of Missouri.
“I think probably in his background he was thinking forestry or something ... then he got into history,” his mother, Hollie, said recently. Hollie and her husband, Frank Detring, raised their children just outside Farmington. She remains in the area.
“Reed and (his wife) Margery have lived in some pretty remote places, like 50 miles to the supermarket,” Hollie tells. A side benefit of having a son working and living in some of the most pristine places in America was the chance to visit from time to time. Hollie and Frank made several memorable trips to remote locations to visit their son and his family. Frank passed away a while back, and Hollie has not been up to comfortably making the long trips alone to visit far away locales. Now with Reed and Margery living somewhere in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways region, Hollie can comfortably make that shorter trip to see them more often.
Detring has gained a reputation in the National Parks Service as being very professional and detail oriented. One example of that attention is in his uniform. He’s always been adamant about park rangers looking professional when in service to the public.
“Reed has always said ‘It’s every American’s God-given right to see a Park Ranger in full uniform,’” his mom recalls.
Reed and Margery have two grown children, daughter Erika and son John.
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