A familiar Glacier Park face retires

Columbia Falls resident Fred Reese, 75, retired this fall after 45 seasons at Glacier National Park and several years at other National Park Service locations.

A familiar face at Glacier Park’s west entrance since 1990, Reese started his Park career as a seasonal ranger at the Rising Sun Campground in 1966.

He worked summers at Glacier Park through 1982 except for three years with a permanent position at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. He also worked several winter seasons at Death Valley National Park in California.

Reese was an elementary special education teacher in Columbia Falls from 1990 to 2010. The combination of working for the school district and Glacier Park was ideal for Reese, allowing for two careers.

Born in Sulphur, Okla., near Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Reese says his connection to national parks was created when he was very young. He traveled to Montana for the first time when he was about seven, joining his grandfather and uncles on annual fishing trips and visits to Glacier Park. He always hoped that someday he’d travel back to Montana and work at the Park.

Reese served in the Army and began his career with the National Park Service in 1966. He worked as a campground ranger, backcountry ranger, visitor-use assistant, fee collector and entrance station supervisor.

Reese says his favorite part of the job was the people he worked with and the visitors he met. He also enjoyed hiking the Park’s many trails and really enjoyed being a backcountry ranger. He developed an extensive knowledge of the Park’ backcountry and trail system, which greatly served visitors and other employees.

When asked what he won’t miss about his job, he smiled and said, “Long lines at the entrance station.”

Reese was recently recognized for his many years of contributions to the Park. He lives in Columbia Falls with his wife and son, and hopes his health sustains him and he’s able to enjoy some of the backcountry trails in his retirement.