Jim Ridenour - Wabash County Museum History Hunters

In this episode of History Hunters at the Wabash County Museum, you will see and hear from Mr. James Ridenour, former Director of the National Park Service under the George Bush administration.
James Michael Ridenour, born 1942, served as the director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for eight years before becoming NPS director in April 1989. Director Ridenour was not willing to accept additions to the system simply for local economic development. He spoke out against the "thinning of the blood" of the system and sought to retain the initiative from Congress in charting its expansion. He favored alternatives to full federal acquisition of proposed parklands, stressed the importance of working with other government bodies and private entities to protect lands in and outside the system, and sought to achieve a greater financial return to the NPS from park concessions. He departed with the Bush administration in January 1993.
James Ridenour is a Vietnam War veteran having served in the U.S. Army (1966-1969) as commander of a medical company in Denver, Colo., as commander of a medical detachment in Vietnam; and in Valley Forge, Pa. General Hospital, as chief of the Welfare and Recreation Branch.
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