Cassius Cash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cassius Cash
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| Born | December 10, 1968 |
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Notable work
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Smokies Hikes for Healing |
| Title | Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Cassius Cash (born December 10, 1968) is a special leader who helps manage America's national parks. He is the current superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This park is famous for its beautiful mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Mr. Cash started his career working with wildlife in forests. Later, he joined the National Park Service. In 2015, he became the first African American superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This park is the most visited national park in the United States. It welcomes millions of people every year.
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Early Life and Learning
Cassius Cash was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. His dad was a police officer, and his mom was a cosmetologist.
Mr. Cash became interested in nature by watching a TV show called Wild Kingdom. He also loved going on outdoor trips with his Boy Scout troop in Memphis. These experiences helped him learn about the natural world.
After high school, he studied biology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He later learned more about wildlife management at Oregon State University.
Working for Parks
Mr. Cash began his career in 1991 with the United States Forest Service. He worked as a wildlife biologist in Washington State. For 18 years, he held many leadership jobs with the Forest Service. He worked in different forests, helping to manage them.
In 2010, he joined the National Park Service. This was a big step in his career.
Helping Boston's Parks
From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Cash was the superintendent of Boston National Historical Park. He also led the Boston African American National Historic Site. During this time, he helped open a new visitor center in Faneuil Hall. This center now welcomes over 5 million visitors each year.
He also helped raise $4 million to reopen the African Meeting House. This is the oldest Black church still in its original spot in the country. Mr. Cash also worked to combine the histories of the American Revolution and the fight against slavery. He called this the Boston Trail to Freedom.
Leading the Great Smoky Mountains
In 2015, Cassius Cash became the superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was a very important job. He has led the park through many big events. These include the difficult Chimney Tops 2 Fire in 2016. He also oversaw the park's 100th birthday celebration that same year.
He also helped finish the 'Missing Link' of the Foothills Parkway in 2018. And he guided the park through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020.
Making a Difference: Park it Forward
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has become very popular. More and more people visit it every year. But the park's budget has not grown. In 2022, Mr. Cash suggested a new idea called "Park it Forward."
This plan asked visitors to buy a parking tag when they visit the park. This money would help the park pay for its needs. Some people in nearby towns were not sure about the idea at first. But most people across the country supported it.
The "Park it Forward" program started on March 1, 2023. It is expected to bring in millions of dollars each year. All of this money stays in the park to help take care of it. Many supporters believe this program will be as important as when the park was first created.
Awards and Recognition
Mr. Cash has received special awards for his work.
- On May 24, 2021, he received the Agency Leadership Award. This award came from the Public Lands Alliance.
- On October 21, 2021, he received the Stephen Tyng Mather Award. This award is from the National Parks Conservation Association. He earned it for creating the "Smokies Hikes for Healing" program in 2020.
