Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
An Interview with Pat Lynch |
Catalog Number |
2021.074.060 |
Object Name |
Recording, Video |
Scope & Content |
An Interview with Pat Lynch >>Oral history interview with Pat Lynch, March 15, 2023, Carefree, AZ >>Interview Summary Born in 1939 in Coffeyville, Kansas, Lynch moved with his family to Oregon during WWII after his father's job at a local refinery ended. His upbringing in a mountain community near Mount Hood fostered a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the Forest Service, especially under the respected leadership of a local ranger, Jim Langdon. His early exposure to nature and scouting experiences—where he once reported a wildfire from a lookout as a child—set the stage for a career in forestry. Lynch initially pursued petroleum geology at Colorado State University (then Colorado A&M), following his father’s and brother’s interests. However, after working summers in Oregon with the Forest Service, he switched to forestry and range management. After graduating in 1963, he started his career in Region 2 as a junior forester and eventually served in various roles, including Assistant District Ranger and District Ranger, across multiple national forests in Colorado and Wyoming. He also served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant and later, in a creative twist, secured a position as a fish and wildlife officer on post by signing his commanding officer's name. Throughout his career, Lynch was known for innovation, community engagement, and working creatively around bureaucratic limitations. He established a youth conservation camp on the Rifle Ranger District, known as the Youth Environmental Program (YEP), using local donations, borrowed equipment, and volunteers to bypass federal restrictions. His leadership style emphasized hands-on experience, mentoring, and goodwill-building. Later, as District Ranger in Encampment, Wyoming, Lynch led efforts in timber and range management, wilderness designation (Huston Park), and volunteer-driven projects like building trails and expanding offices. He also played a role in a regional planning initiative and developed the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) program in Alaska, which was later adopted across the federal government. In his personal life, Lynch was supported by his wife Patty and their two sons, both of whom became successful professionals. He balanced a demanding Forest Service career with entrepreneurial ventures, notably founding the Western Heritage Company, which popularized Forest Service belt buckles and memorabilia—sometimes stirring controversy with certain agency officials. Lynch’s interview reflects a deeply committed public servant who combined practicality, creativity, and a strong sense of purpose to leave a lasting impact on the Forest Service and the communities he served. >>Positions Held —Summer of 1957: GS-3 Trail Crew Member, Zig Zag District, Mt. Hood NF —July-October 1960: Field Crew Member, Sapinaro District, Gunnison NF —Summers of 1961-62: Crew Leader, Poudre District, Roosevelt NF —March-June 1963: Junior Forester, Supervisor's Office, Arapaho NF —June 1965-1967: Lands and Special Uses Forester, Idaho Springs District, Arapaho NF —1967-1971: Assistant District Ranger, Aspen District, White River NF —1971-1973: Assistant District Ranger, Dillion District,White River NF —1973-1975: District Ranger, Rifle District, White River NF —1975-1977: District Ranger, Encampment District, Medicine Bow NF —1977-1979: Regional Safety and Training Officer, Regional Office, Alaska COPY & PASTE LINK BELOW INTO BROWSER TO WATCH INTERVIEW https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YMnj9khn1V2AN-559I2tBi9UzfA1haJA/view?usp=sharing |
Additional File |
Click here to view transcript. |
Year Range from |
2023 |
Year Range to |
2023 |
People |
Lynch, Pat |
Subjects |
Mt. Hood NF Gunnison NF Roosevelt NF Arapaho NF White River NF Medicine Bow NF Alaska |
Search Terms |
Oral History Buildings-Skiing BuildingsRecreation-Skiing Lassie NEPA Range Management Recreation-Skiing |
Catalog date |
2023-04-06 |
Collection |
Oral History |