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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FOREST SERVICE HISTORY NAMES LYNN SPRAGUE AS EXECUTIVE FELLOW
Missoula, MT – The National Museum of Forest Service History (Museum) has named
Lynn Sprague to the post of Executive Fellow. Sprague’s selection comes as the
organization develops plans for the permanent and traveling exhibits and programs to
be presented at the National Conservation Legacy and Education Center in Missoula,
Montana.
“Lynn Sprague has long been a leader in our organization as a volunteer and past
board member. His leadership in the Society of American Foresters, experience as a
smokejumper, work with the mining and energy industry and career in the U.S. Forest
Service will guide our development of partnerships,” said Gray Reynolds, Museum
president.
The Executive Fellow position was established to complement the work of the
Museum’s Vice President and Executive Director. As planning for the Center ramps up,
the Board sought an experienced leader to garner input and collaboration from
organizations whose relationship to the Forest Service is connected to the Agency’s
multiple-use mandate. As Executive Fellow, Sprague will assist with the planning of the
Center by inviting leaders in the mining, energy, aviation and forest industry to join us in
telling the stories of innovation, stewardship, restoration and lessons learned in the
management of our national forests and grasslands.
“I am excited to work with the Board of Directors to seek opportunities for partnership on
behalf of the Center,” said Lynn Sprague. “At the Center, we will have a forum to share
how the Forest Service and its many cooperators and partners have shaped
conservation in the U.S. I look forward to strengthening the Museum’s connections with
these key organizations to ensure this important story is told.”
Sprague enjoyed a 38-year career in the U.S. Forest Service. Starting as a seasonal
smokejumper, he spent his earlier years in the forests of the west, including positions in
Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and California. Following his time as Deputy Regional Forester
for the Alaska Region, he went to Washington, DC as Director of the Minerals and
Geology staff, where he championed environmental responsibility in the development of
mineral resources on the National Forests so vital to the country. He retired as the
Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region in 1998.
Following his retirement from the Agency, he worked for two environmental consulting
firms, including as Federal Lands Program Manager at Battelle, before establishing his
own firm in 2004. In addition to his professional experience, he has held leadership
positions in the Society of American Foresters and has been active with the National
Smokejumpers Association and the National Association of Forest Service Retirees. His
interest in the mission of the Museum led him to volunteer his talents, and in 1999 he
joined the Board of Directors. Upon accepting the Executive Fellow position, he stepped
down from the Museum Board.
In anticipation of groundbreaking for the Center, site preparation, building design and
exhibit planning are underway. As a showcase for combined collections of more than
40,000 objects, the 30,000 square-foot conservation education center, national
repository, exhibit and event space will encourage visitors to explore the history of the
lands and people that have defined the nation and given meaning to the term
conservation. Through its virtual museum and traveling exhibits, the Center will reach
the larger public on-line and on-the-road.
About the National Museum of Forest Service History
The National Museum of Forest Service History, a national nonprofit organization
founded in 1988, is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the entire
national history of the USDA Forest Service for the education and enjoyment of the
general public, scholars, and historical researchers. For more information, visit
www.nmfs-history.net.
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