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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY MAY 10, 2000 Community 8 Zion Superintendent announces retirement After 33 years of continuous Management Team, under Dons federal employment, Zion Su- leadership, was able to raise the perintendent Donald A. Falvey need for a transportation syshas announced his retirement tem to a high visibility in the effective Saturday, July 1. NPS, a proposal which has reFalvey assumed his duties at ceived much national attention Zion in July 1991 where he has and Congressional support, reled the work of over 150 staff sulting in a system that promembers in the daily operation vides a redefined visitor experiof Utahs oldest national park. ence and better protection of Don has had a remarkable Zions resources. tenure at Zion National Park Falvey also was a key player and will leave behind a lasting in helping Zion obtain a Water legacy, said Karen Wade, di- Rights Settlement Agreement, rector of the National Park Services Intermountain Region. Dons legacy is not just the new transportation center, but more importantly, the spirit of cooperation between the park, the surrounding communities, and the parks cooperators and supporters, which frames a new era for Zion, she said. Don has worked long and hard in service of the national parks. He retires with honor and dignity.- In his tenure at Zion, Falvey developed and maintained ef- providing a federal reserved water right and eliminating the potential for construction of dams on the Virgin River. This agreement is being used as a model for other settlement agreements in the State of Utah and for other parks in the western United States. During his long career, Superintendent Falvey has received many awards. Among these are: earthen slump that destroyed a section of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive; and again in 1995 the National Park Foundations Partnership for Leadership Award (along with the Town of Springdale, Zion Natural History Association, and Utah Department of Transportation) for the development and promotion of the Shuttlebus System concept that will be inaugurated next month at Zion. After graduating from Georgia Tech in 1963, Falvey began two years of active duty as a military officer with the U.S. Army in Korea and Ft. Carson, Colorado. He worked as a civil engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1966 to 1972. He then began his career with the National Park Services Denver Service Center (DSC) located in Denver, Colorado, where he served as a design engineer and managed project work contracted to private firms. In 1981, while staying in Denver, Falvey was asked to take over as Chief of the Division of Engineering and Maintenance for the entire Rocky Mountain Region of the NPS and its 41 individual park units including Award for Superior to Service the NPS; 1997-Zio- n Canyon Chamber of Commerce fective community relations with Award: Man of the Year; and Honor Award for Supark neighbors and other adja- 1994-NP- S cent governmental agencies. He perior Service for 21 years of also saw some great potential outstanding contributions in for developing tangible partner- park management and engineerships at many levels, partner- ing. Also, under his term as Zions ships that have been win-wi- n situations for all parties. superintendent, Don accepted In 1993, faced with new grid- group awards in 1995, the In- Glacier, Grand Teton, lock conditions that were seri- termountain Regions Commu- Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain ously decreasing the quality of nity Relations Award for the and Zion National Parks. the visitor experience, the Zion parks proactive response to the From 1985 to 1987, Falvey 1999-Hon- or Get Mom out of the kitchen for Mothers ' Day! Treat her to a romantic lunch or dinner at the (Locking afe Free dessert for all Mothers! Call 644 - 8001 for Reservations, assumed the duties as Superintendent of Badlands National Park in South Dakota where he was responsible for total park operations of that 244,000-acr- e park. During his tenure, he completed the parks General Management Plan for the South Unit, located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and provided oversight for of the swift fox to the park. He moved back to the Denver Service Center as manager of 240 professional and support staff who were responsible for all aspects of the planning, design, and construction programs to the entire eastern tier of states from Maine to Florida. Don and his wife Carole plan to stay in Utah, moving to Marysvale. Both are active in church and community activities. Falvey thanks his staff and all the partners for their support of the many activities and projects at Zion and the other parks where he has served. After all these years, its going to be hard to leave the Service, and our Zion home, but we look forward to return visits and enjoying the grandeur of this magnificent place and visiting our friends in the park and in the surrounding communities, he concluded. i - and Mutts Strut Greyhounds a greyhound Carolyn Mitchell it resGang, By Presto rescues cue. to , reof Utah Presently Dogs from one end non-prof- the other will have their day this habilitates and adopts out 0 weekend. greyhounds a year. Last year Presto organized the Two hundred greyhounds from across the country will sprint into first Greyhound Gathering in Kanab for the second annual Kanab, a southwest version of the annual greyhound festival in Greyhound Gathering. Meanwhile in Salt Lake City, Delaware. The GG raises money resmore than a thousand pooches of for Prestos all varieties will trot, prance and cue and celebrates the canine amble around Liberty Park in breed she calls smart, sweet, Best Friends Strut Your Mutt on calm and loving. We had 110 people and 130 Saturday. The local salute to the worlds dogs, most from the West but two fastest dogs is orchestrated by from as far away as England, Claudia Presto, whose new hori- Presto says. This year we have zons a few years back altered over 200 people and dogs coming nearly everything in her life ex- in from Massachusetts, New Jercept her devotion to greyhounds. sey, Georgia and Kentucky, as When the return on success in well as from western states. The public is welcome to witthe East Coast corporate world subness the greyhound parade down grew thin, Presto sought stance in a odys- Center Street on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., enjoy the group roo ended Friends. Best at that sey I drove out there, she recalls, or baying ofthe greyhounds and and when I saw the canyon, I browse the merchandise offered said, This is what Tm looking for." by a dozen artisans and the GreyBefore she left Connecticut, hound Guild of Arizona. On the same morning in Salt Presto had fallen in love with greyhounds. Not only was she Lake City, canine fanciers may taken by their graceful beauty take part in the 5th annual Strut and winning dispositions, she Your Mutt, the major fundraiser was also moved by the fate that for Best Friends northern Utah office. often befell them. Presto adopted her first greyLast year 1,200 strutters raised volun$85,000 for Best Friends, and hound, Eliminator, and teered for Connecticut greyhound planners hope this years event rescues that saved the fives of dogs will bring in over $100,000. Fee for entering the strut is past their prime on the racetrack Fifteen years ago, 50,000 grey- $15 before the event and $20 on hounds ayear were being killed or May 13. abandoned by their owners when The strut begins at 9 a.m. at their raring careers were over, Trolley Square and proceeds to Presto says. Today those numbers liberty Park After the parade, are waydown, thanks to 200 rescue spectators may enj oy the g around the Science Hills Diet groups country. By the time she arrived in Hennigans Spinning K9s, the Kanab, the former Pitney Bowes Westefn Agility Group demonand W aldenbooks executive was strations and displays ofskills by a dedicated animal person, so the Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs. the presence of a sprawling refPeople without a dog are weluge amidst dazzling scenery sig- come to join the strut in honor of naled the end of her quest for a adeceased pet or on behalfofacat or other animal in their life - and meaningful new life. Presto worked for Best Friends those who prefer to take part in for several months and then in the proceedings by watching 1995 established The Greyhound rather than strutting arewelcome. 20-4- always-in-the-r- ed cross-count- ry Frisbee-handlin- Greyhounds and owners atAngoTs Landng et lost years Grvyhocnd GzZicring. |