Kenneth L. Smith
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Kenneth L. Smith is a former civil engineer for the National Park Service, freelance writer, photographer, author, historian, naturalist, and environmentalist. Working with the Ozark Society, he was a key activist for the formation of the Buffalo National River and working with the Buffalo River Foundation he continues to explore ways to benefit the park.[1] He has served over 30 years as trail development coordinator for the Buffalo River Trail, leading crews of mostly volunteers.
Early life
[edit]Kenneth grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He is the son of Elton V. and Carol Gibbs Smith.[2] He entered the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in 1952. While there, in 1953,[3] he joined a hiking group and became familiar with the Buffalo River area and northwest Arkansas.[2]
After college he worked as an engineer for a paper company in Crossett, Arkansas. During this time he became involved in an effort to preserve the Lost Valley area near Ponca, Arkansas by preparing a report The Nature Conservancy titled "Natural Area Project Analysis, Clark Creek Watershed, including the natural area known as ‘Lost Valley’" in 1958.[3] In 1961 he accepted a position with the National Park Service as civil engineer and park planner.[2]
Leaving the park service in 1974, he returned to northwest Arkansas to work as freelance writer, photographer, activist.[4]
Education
[edit]B.S Mechanical Engineering, University of Arkansas, 1956.[2][5]
M.S. Natural Resources Administration, University of Michigan.[5]
Role In Formation of Buffalo National River
[edit]He took a leave of absence from the park service from December 1964 to June 1965 to work on a book to promote preservation of the Buffalo River. Working with the Ozark Society, "The Buffalo River Country" was published in 1967. The book, the first about the area, was a key part of efforts underway to create the first national river and also provided the revenue for future publications by the Ozark Society.[6]
He contributed as an engineer to the first master plan "Final Master Plan: Buffalo National River, Arkansas".[7]
Role In Development of Buffalo River Trail
[edit]He began coordinating development of the Buffalo River Trail in 1986.[3]
Bibliography
[edit]Publications
[edit]The Buffalo River Country: 1967 University of Arkansas Press
Illinois River: Published January 1, 1977 by University of Arkansas Press
Sawmill: The Story of Cutting the Last Great Virgin Forest East of the Rockies: Published July 1, 1986 by University of Arkansas Press. Virginia K. Ledbetter Prize, 1988 best nonfiction work on Arkansas.[2]
Buffalo River Handbook: Published July 1, 2004 by Ozark Society
Awards
[edit]Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame - Inducted 2017.[8]
Notes
[edit]Kenneth L. Smith was the subject of the 2016 video nature documentary "The Trailblazer, Ken Smith and the Buffalo River Trail" by Road of Awe art & media, Bentonville, Arkansas.[9][10] 1
References
[edit]- ^ "BRF Leadership". buffaloriverfoundation.org. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Kenneth L. Smith Papers". libraries.uark.edu. University of Arkansas. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Celebrate The Buffalo". Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ "Celebrate The Buffalo - About Ken Smith". www.celebratethebuffalo.com. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ a b "BRF Leadership". Buffalo River Foundation. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ Compton, Neil (2010). The Battle for the Buffalo River: The Story of America's First National River. University of Arkansas Press and Ozark Society Foundation. p. 166.
- ^ "Final Master Plan: Buffalo National River, Arkansas". Archive.org. United States Department of the Interior / National Park Service. February 1977. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ "Haralson, Smith to be inducted into Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame 1/26/2017". www.Arkansas.com. Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ chris, Engholm (2016). "The Trailblazer". Facebook.com. Road of Awe art & media. Retrieved 3 Jan 2017.
- ^ "The Ozarks Society- The Trailblazer-Ken Smith and the Buffalo River Trail". www.ozarksociety.net. Ozark Society. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.