Miles Standish

After graduation from Tech I went two years to Oakland City College (AA), then on to Cal-State Hayward and graduated with a B.S. in biology in 1967. I worked for California State Parks as a naturalist, went into the Peace Corps, got married, went back to work for State Parks and wound up working in 9 different parks throughout the State. Along the way I picked up four post-graduate degrees and worked my last 29 years at Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains as a ranger. After being forced to retire from State Parks in 2009 (mainly due to budget cuts I suspect) I finished law school, passed the California Bar and was sworn in as an attorney in the Federal Court in Yosemite on June 30, 2014 (the 150th anniversary of Lincoln signing the bill making Yosemite a California State Park in 1864).

Along life's way I married a biology/physical science school teacher (Carolyn Gibson) who died in 2007 rather unexpectedly from blood poisoning. We met in physics class at Cal-State, Hayward and had two daughters. Our oldest daughter, Sierra Autumn, got her M.A. from Colorado State, worked as a consultant for NPS in Environmental History, is now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Colorado and is simultaneously raising three kids in Boulder, CO. Our youngest daughter, Wynter Skye (she goes by Skye), graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.S. in wildlife and is now counting dead birds and bats under the wind generators in the Livermore Hills in an effort to find a less destructive way to generate "green energy."

After our youngest was born, Carolyn, in recovery, said "Skye is the limit."

UPDATE: 11/1/12 - I'm actively involved in the upcoming 150th Anniversary of California State Parks and I'm doing living history presentations as Galen Clark -- California's first State Park Ranger. See the picture below as me dressed as Galen Clark in front of the Grizzly Giant in the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees at Yosemite.

UPDATE: 07/30/14 - Well, I'm now officially a member of the California Bar. What is next you might ask. I don't know, but its been a hellava ride and I can't put on the brakes quite yet. Criminal environmental law seems to be beckoning, but I haven't finished up playing Galen Clark yet. In fact, on the very 150th anniversary of President Lincoln signing the bill that created Yo-Semite state park I was sworn in to the California Bar by the federal magistrate in Yosemite Valley (I'll post a picture below) dressed as Galen Clark. If I've learned anything it is that those that sit back and plan on a comfortable retirement and just enjoy life have the highest chance of permanently checking out sooner than later. 'ya gotta keep going....and going....and going....

UPDATE 02/01/20 - Decided to pull the plug and retire from being an attorney. Now most of my time is taken up volunteering. I'm on four non-profit boards and I'm helping with the 400th anniversary of the coming of the Mayflower by playing (of course) Myles Standish.

Spent much of my time in school with the band and orchestra (I played the French horn rather badly) and working as a photographer for the Scribe and Talsiman. I guess you could have called me a geek as well since I didn't go out for any sports, ROTC or student government. I pretty much stuck to myself. I do remember one memorable event where a bunch of us guys in the 10th grade captured Mr. Cuttitta and tied him to a chair in biology. I think it was his inspiration that led me into the field of biology (environmental protection came later). Mr. Mortarotti (music) was also an inspiration and was the prime reason I stuck it out for three years playing the French Horn. I don't play the horn anymore (although to this day I still like classical music), but I did learn to play the guitar well enough to lead songs at campfire programs while working as a ranger. Mrs. Murphy (Scribe and Talisman) scared me to death. She was a very powerful woman, and I was never very good at English. But even though she was a hard taskmaster, I appreciate now all her dedication in helping us put out the newspaper and yearbook -- probably the main reason I stuck with photography. She must have despaired to think that any of us would ever be able to write anything more than our names. Photography is still an interest (and, boy, has it changed) and the skill has served me well through my years working in parks.