The National Park Service family lost both a friend and a lifetime advocate of the NPS when Bill Supernaugh succumbed to cancer Nov. 20, 2006, following a valiant battle. With his trademark handlebar mustache, easygoing manner, affability and wry humor, Bill was a distinctive presence in the NPS during his 39 years with the agency. He will be sorely missed.
A memorial service to celebrate his life was held Dec. 1, 2006, at the Nature Center in Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Condolences may be sent to his wife, Jean Sigafoos, and family at PO Box 1005, Sulphur, OK 73086-8005.
Bill was an active member of the Association of National Park Rangers, where he managed the organization’s mentoring program and served two terms as the board member for internal communications. He was largely responsible for writing ANPR's popular booklet, "Live the Adventure: Join the National Park Service."
Bill had just attended the 29th Ranger Rendezvous in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and he was honored with the President's Award for outstanding service to ANPR.
In lieu of flowers, the family has worked with ANPR to set up an account in Bill’s memory. Donations to the account will be used in upcoming years to help members attend their first Rendezvous. Donations should be sent to The William R. Supernaugh Jr. Memorial Fund, c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 1301 Jackson St., Golden, CO 80401. Donors should list account number 716-5422739 on the memo line of the check.
Bill was born into the service on Feb. 17, 1945, and grew up in national parks. His father had been superintendent at Platt National Park (now Chickasaw NRA) and at Joshua Tree and Organ Pipe Cactus.
Bill began his career in 1967 at the Albright Training Center, then moved to Natchez Trace as a park ranger. Here is a timeline of his career:
1967 – Natchez Trace – park ranger
1970 – Blue Ridge – subdistrict ranger for the Swannanoa Subdistrict
1974 – Glen Canyon – natural resource specialist, then chief of resource management
1980 – WASO – natural resource specialist in the Division of Natural Resources
1982 – WASO – wildlife biologist for the same division
1983 – Mid-Atlantic Regional Office – chief of resource protection and visitor use management
1988 – FLETC – superintendent of the NPS law enforcement training program
1992 – Indiana Dunes – assistant superintendent
1997 – Badlands – superintendent
In November 2005, Bill retired as superintendent of Badlands National Park and moved to Sulphur, Oklahoma, where his wife, Jean, works at Chickasaw NRA.
Bill represented the service at the international level, traveling to the Republic of Georgia, Hungary, Sierra Leone and Poland to share his expertise and to establish sister park relationships. Representing ANPR, Bill attended International Ranger Federation meetings in Australia and South Africa.
Through most of his career, Bill was married to his first wife, Linda, who passed away in 1997. They raised two daughters, Victoria Human, who now lives near Atlanta, Georgia, and Michelle Torok, who is currently working at Olympic National Park. She is married to Mike Torok, and they are the parents of Bill’s first grandchild, James Michael, born in March 2005.
Bill will also be greatly missed by stepchildren Chad and Kate Sigafoos, granddaughter Amelia of Helena, Montana, and stepson Kevin Sigafoos, who is in the United States Army and stationed in Germany.
The spirit and dedication of Bill Supernaugh will live on in those who work for and support the national parks.
