GREGORY A. MILLER
Hocking Hills State Park/Assistant Park Manager 4
25 Years of Service - Retired 2004
Started 1978 Tar Hollow Park Ranger
1978 transferred to Hocking Hills
1985 advanced to Chief Ranger
1995 advanced to Assistant Park Manager 3
2004 advanced to Assistant Park Manager 4
Awards, certifications or other outstanding accomplishments: Graduated from the 7th Ranger Academy; Team Lifesaving Award, Management Employee of the Quarter, OPOTA firearms instructor; SIT Team Member
Name of spouse: Lori
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Beth and Ryan
Retirement Plans: Christmas tree farm and gift shop; Committee member for the Pickaway County Special Olympics; spend time with family and travel
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, camping and hiking
JOHN M. WATSON
East Fork State Park/Parks Conservation Coordinato
26 Years of Service - Retired 2004
Started 1978 Jefferson Lake Park Ranger
1980 transferred to East Fork
1981 promoted to Campground Coordinator
1992 reassigned to Parks Conservation Coordinator
Awards, certifications or other outstanding accomplishments: Member of original Volunteer Committee; influential in developing many park programs including annual Halloween and Gold Rush Days campouts
Name of spouse: Jewellann (Julie) Watson
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Jamie, Jennifer, Shanon, Tony, Kimberly, and Adam; 7 grandchildren
Retirement Plans: Grandchildren Taylor, Eli, Brianna, Macey, Sean, Jack, and Caleb will keep us very busy, as will the many golf courses in the Cincinnati area. A part-time job with Conair/Delta Airlines will allow extensive travel.
Hobbies: Travel, golf, reading, Cincinnati Bengals football, and Bearcats basketball
Other: John and Julie are looking forward to moving into a new home
DAVID F. BRUGGER
Buck Creek State Park/Assistant Park Manager 3
25 Years of Service - Retired 2004
Started 1979 Crane Creek Park Ranger
1980 transferred to Buck Creek
1984 promoted to Assistant Park Manager 2
1994 promoted to Assistant Park Manager 3
Awards, certifications or other outstanding accomplishments: Attended Pennsylvania State Park Superintendents Workshop; Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association Award: Outstanding Peace Officer in 1995; Lifesaving Commendation Award; Letter of Recognition from Ohio House of Representative for heroism; Team Awards
Name of spouse: Deborah - teacher at Clark Shawnee School District
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: 20 year old Justin attends Clark State Community College and 16 year old Sean is sophomore in high school
Retirement Plans: to pursue hobbies, enjoy sports with sons, and spend more time with family and friends
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, and boating
MARK A. FALATIC
North Construction Crew/Automotive Technician
27 Years of Service - Retired 2004
Started 1976 at Punderson Automotive Mechanic 1978 moved to North Construction Crew
1978 moved to North Construction Crew
Name of spouse: Linda
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Adam
Retirement Plans: Coaching baseball and soccer, hunting and fishing, work on '72 Corvette, finish my garage
Hobbies: Cooking, gardening (growing and canning garlic and hot peppers), restoring Corvette, and woodworking
PHILIP M. STANLEY
Burr Oak State Park/ Park Manager
30 Years of Service - Retired 2002
Started 1971 at Hocking Hills seasonal laborer 1973 advanced to Park Ranger 1976 advanced to Chief Ranger
1973 advanced to Park Ranger
1976 advanced to Chief Ranger
1985 advanced to Wolf Run Park Manager 3
1995 advanced to Burr Oak Park Manager 6
Name of spouse: Patricia
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Michael and Christa, and 2 cats
Retirement Plans: Working on a new house, traveling, going to Las Vegas for bull riding, working on small construction projects, processing deer meat 2 weeks each year with Rod Garey
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, woodworking, professional bull riding fan, and amateur radio
JOANNE HILLMAN
Deer Creek State Park/Secretary
25 Years of Service - Retired 1995
Started 1972 Deer Creek Park Secretary
Name of spouse: Bob died in 2003 after 51 years of marriage
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: daughter Susan Hillman Maxwell, son-in-law Zale Maxwell, both teach at Ohio University; 3 grandchildren Adam, Milea and Sarah
Retirement Plans: travel to Alaska, fishing trip with grandchildren, travel to Florida with family, and take a trip to Branson at Christmas
Hobbies: read, garden, fish, travel, and participate in Eastern Star
Other: During the years since retirement, Bob and Joanne enjoyed their Pickaway County community where they lived for 40 years; they traveled to Florida, the West, the East, and Canada; and spent time watching their grandchildren participate in sports.
JEAN D'ANDREA
Central Office/Executive Secretary
15 Years of Service - Retired 2001
Started 1986 in Central Office Secretary
Name of spouse: Joe
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: children Mark and Lori; 5 grandchildren - Adam 16, Lindsay 13, 2 year old twins Eliana and Mia, and Isabell 10 months
Retirement Plans: HAVING FUN! Spending time at the Naples, Florida home especially in the winter
Hobbies: Reading, bicycling, walking, golfing, swimming, playing cards, shopping, dancing, and cooking
MARY ANNE GROOM
Central Office Human Resources/Personnel Officer 2
17 Years of Service - Retired 2002
Started in 1985 as a Personnel Officer
Name of spouse: George (Archie)
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: 4 children - Gina, George (Mick), Gary and Gillian; 3 grandchildren - Zackery, Samantha and Matt
Retirement Plans: Running the homestead; watching grandchildren and transporting them to school; feeding all the animals and birds in the yard.
Hobbies: Reading, gardening, bird watching, crafts and fishing
CAROL BROWN
Shawnee State Park/Secretary
23 Years of Service - Retired 2002
Started 1979 Shawnee CCC Camp Secretary
1996 moved to Shawnee State Park Secretary
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: daughter and son-in-law Tessa and Ben Meeker; dog Daisy; cats Jada, Eve and Annie (all walk-ins); 2 grand dogs Sophie and Hulk (boxers)
Retirement Plans: filling in as a dental assistant; teaching water aerobics; working at Shawnee State Forest for 12 weeks while an employee in out for surgery
Hobbies: gardening, swimming, boating, laughing and enjoying friends, watching cooking shows, wine tasting, cruising, and Yoga (thanks to Dorothy Lupo)
DIANNA L. SNYDER
C/O Human Resources Group/Personnel Officer
25 years of state service Retired 2004
- 1978 started at Central Office as a Secretary
- 1980 promoted to Personnel Officer 1
- 1984 reassigned to Personnel Officer 2
- 2000 reassigned to Personnel Officer 3
Awards, certificates or other outstanding accomplishments: Employee of the Quarter 1998; Graduated fro the Ohio State University in 1995 with support from ODNR
Name of spouse: Merle
Names and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Daughter Cheryl Gillispie; Son Scott Snyder, granddaughters Kalasha 10 years and Daphnee 8 years in 2004 / Pets: 2 beagles Molly & Dolly
Retirement plans: Visit Florida & Arizona; plant a garden; build a new home; tease the grandchildren; try to keep up with the beagles
Hobbies: walking, knitting, horticulture
ERIC SMOCK
C/O-Development Group/Planning Section Manager
31 years of state service Retired 2002
- Started in 1968 @ Delaware State Park as a Cons Worker
- Promoted in 1970 Camp Attendant
- Promoted in 1974 Park Officer
- 1976 to Campground Supervisor
- 1980 to Central Office as an Inventory Specialist
- 1986 moved Concessions Section as a Administrative Assistant
- 1996 promoted to Planning Section Manager
Name of Spouse: Terry
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Jennifer; Stacie (son-in-law Ben) grandchild Elizabeth Pets: 4 (too many) cats
What are you up to now?
Rock’N’Roll Playing in Band named “Vinntage” (Many hours of practice very necessary) www.vinntage.com
Home projects
Being a grandpa
Hobbies: Running, volleyball, golf, softball
GARY BLOOM
Stonelick State Park / Park Manager
30 years of state service
- 1971 started @ Rocky Fork as a Conservation Aide
- 1978 went to Alum Creek to accept an Equipment Operator position
- 1985 went to East Fork to accept an Assistant Park Manager position
- 1986 went to Stonelick as to accept a Park Manager position
Name of spouse: Carol
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: one daughter Amanda
What are you up to now? Officiate Basketball, Chauffer for daughter, completing unfinished projects at home, member friends of Stonelick, Ohio State park Volunteer.
Hobbies: camping, sports Junkie, watching old westerns
MARIANNE MARSCH
Delaware State Park Account Clerk 3
29 years 5 months of state service
- 1972 started at Delaware State Park as a Clerk
- promoted to Clerical Specialist
- promoted to Account Clerk 2
- promoted to Account Clerk 3
Name of spouse: Roger
Names and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Daughter Lori married to Casey, they have two children Alexandra & Natalie. Son Curtis married to Natalie. They have one son with one on the way...due date of September 2003.
What are you up to now? Enjoying life! Taking care of grandkids. Shop a lot with my daughter.
Hobbies: My husband has many and I have “NONE!!” He reminds me all the time I am never home though, so I seem to be doing just fine entertaining myself.
JAN SAFFER
Shawnee Park Manager
27 years of state service Retired 1995
- 1968 started at Hueston Woods as a Laborer
- 1969 promoted to Park Ranger
- 1970 promoted to Park Manager @ Lake Erie Islands
- 1974 went to Shawnee State Park to accept Park Manager
Name of spouse: Lee (married for 37 years on April 29, 2003)
Names and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: two children, four grandchildren
What are you up to now? While with Parks - my wife went where I went. She now manages a Wal-mart store in Beaver Creek (Dayton). . . I now go where she goes . . . .
Hobbies: Riding Motor Cycle & enjoying life
STEVEN R. BILLIAR
C/O-Field Support Manager
22 years of state service
- 1974 started at the District II Office as an Assistant District Supervisor
- 1988 was promoted to District Supervisor
- 1990 went to Central Office to accept Manager of Field Support Group position
Name of Spouse: Amy
Names and/or number of children/grand children/pets: Jacob 13 years old in 2003 / Dog: Harvey
What are you up to now? Mr. Mom; Assistant Patrol Director for National Ski Patrol at Mad River Mountain; Member Bellefontaine Board of Zoning Appeals; EMS Special Topics Inst. Hi Point Jus & CPR Inst.; Assistant Scout Master (BSA)
Hobbies: Travel; Hike; Snow Ski; Travel Hockey (the kid plays)
FREDERICK B. BARKER
Muskimgum River Parkway/Blue Rock State Park Lock Area Technician “Lock Master”
23 years of state service
- 1981 started at Muskingum River as a Conservation Aide
- 1982 went to a Parks Conservation Aide
- 1993 went to Lock Area Technician
Name of Spouse: Penelope (Penny)
Retirement plans: Traveling with wife & farming
Hobbies: Farming; attending local football games, visiting with friends at local gas station
ROBERT D. BUCHER
Mohican State Park Park Officer
26 years of state service Retired 2004
- 1979 started at Mohican as a Park Officer
Awards, certificates or other outstanding accomplishments: Life Saving Award for River Rescue in 1997; Meritorious Life Saving Award For Cliff Rescue in 1997; Awarded Honorary FFA Chapter Member for working with Conservation Class in 2003.
Name of spouse: Linda
Names and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: Daughters: Abbey & Alley Dog: Sadie
Retirement plans: Spend more time with family to help raise the two daughters.
Hobbies: Avid Fly Fisherman and Enjoy tying own fishing fly’s.
Other: Works as a photojournalist and does wedding photography.
JIM TUTTLE
Findley State Park / Park Manager 4
26 Years of Service - Retired 2003
- Started 1977 Punderson Conservation Aide
- 1978 promoted to Park Ranger
- 1979 reassigned to Camp Supervisor
- 1981 promoted to Guilford Park Manager
- 1983 promoted to Findley Park Manager
Awards, certifications or other outstanding accomplishments: Past
recipient of Lifesaving Commendation Award; Member of the "Team of the
year" in 2001
Name of spouse: Debbie
Name and/or number of children/grandchildren/pets: 2 daughters: Lori 14
and Kelly 11 / no grandchildren / 1 dog: Kevin Brown 7 years old
Retirement Plans: Spend move time with wife & kids. Become more
involved in school & church activities. Teach & play guitar. Get a
part-time job as a greeter at Wal-Mart .
Hobbies: Playing guitar & singing praise & worship music. Downhill
skiing, camping, fishing, boating, racquetball, church choir.
Other: Deacon & active member of United Church of Huntington; serve on
Board of Directors of Wellington, Chamber of Commerce. Chamber of Lorain
County Police Chief's Association.