Ozark Scenic Riverways superintendent to retire

The end of 2014 will mark the last day on the job for the superintendent of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Bill Black is retiring after three years in the Ozarks and four decades with the National Park Service.

The park service is selecting an acting superintendent, who will serve in a temporary capacity until the permanent position is filled, said Dena Matteson, public information officer.

It is expected to be mid-2015 before a permanent superintendent is chosen, she said.

Black said in a column released this week he has tremendously enjoyed his experience in the Ozarks.

"I'd like to express my deepest appreciation to the NPS employees, park concessioners, park stakeholders, elected officials, and just a lot of great individuals for sharing your passion for Ozark National Scenic Riverways with me," he wrote. "Everyone truly shares the common desire for this to be the best national park that it can be."

Black came to the Van Buren, Missouri-based park in 2012, after serving as superintendent of Fort Smith in Arkansas for 20 years.

His first position with the park service was as a seasonal park technician at Cumberland Gap National Historic Park in Kentucky.

"[I] can't think of a better place to finish up what has been an amazing career with the National Park Service," he wrote. "I am hopeful that my influence here has been positive and very optimistic that as we finish the first 50 years of Ozark National Scenic Riverways, we are off to an excellent start to seeing our park recognized nationally for the jewel it is."

The new fiscal year may bring increased funding for the Riverways, Black said. The recently passed omnibus budget for FY2015 includes funds targeted for hiring temporary employees in recognition of the NPS' 100-year anniversary.

"We hope that Ozark Riverways will receive funding so that we can provide additional services to the public, over what we've been able to offer for the past several years," Black said.

The Riverways has three additional employees retiring at the end of this year.

"Ranger Bill" O'Donnell has been at the Riverways for more than 21 years, and has contributed greatly to the interpretive and educational programming offered at the park, Black said. Chief of Interpretation Faye Walmsley has been with the park four years, and spent 29 years working for the NPS throughout the U.S. Richard Shockley has been part of the Riverways' staff for fourteen years and helped maintain the roads and trails throughout the park that are used by visitors every day, Black said.

"Each of these employees has been a valuable member of the staff and will be sorely missed," he continued. "We appreciate their efforts and personal sacrifice for the NPS mission, and wish them the best as they enter this new stage of their lives."