Bruckart, John Ray, 1887-1979

John Ray Bruckart was born June 23, 1887, in Columbus, Pa. From 1905 to 1908 Bruckart served with the U.S. Cavalry, and in 1909 he began a 45 year career with the U.S. Forest Service. From his first position as a fire guard, he rose to serve in various administrative positions in the Snoqualmie, Gifford Pinchot and Olympic National Forests in Washington and in the Portland regional office. In 1938, Bruckart was appointed supervisor of the Willamette National Forest, a position he held until his retirement in 1954. Bruckart was an expert on Douglas fir silviculture and management and fought to convince the public of the need for regulated and controlled use of America's natural resources. Bruckart died on Nov. 11, 1979, in Eugene, Or.

John Ray Bruckart dedicated forty-five years of his life to the United States Forest Service. He was born June 23, 1887, in Columbus, Pennsylvania, and attended public schools in Ohio. He came west when he was 12 and from 1905 to 1908 served with the U.S. Cavalry.

Bruckart's first position with the Forest Service was as fire guard in 1909. He then moved rapidly through the echelons, serving in various administrative positions in the Snoqualmie, Gifford Pinchot and Olympic National Forests in Washington and in the Portland regional office. In 1938, Bruckart was appointed supervisor of the Willamette National Forest, a position he held until his retirement in 1954.

Bruckart was an expert on Douglas fir silviculture and management. He was part of the pioneer group of foresters who came into the Northwest "with regulations affecting the cutting of timber, the burning of brush, the shooting and trapping of game and with ideas of forest management which were new and strange to people who had always figured that God's country was a place where you could do whatever you pleased." ( Eugene Register Guard, June 14; 1950, p. 12A) Over the years the sullen resistance of the natives was overcome by the tact, goodwill and patience of men like Bruckart, who labored diligently to produce the present-day public acceptance of the need for regulations and the controlled use of America's natural resources.

John Ray Bruckart died on November 11, 1979, in Eugene, Oregon. He was 92 years old.