(Left) Mary Kline with her wildfowl carvings at the Fine Art & Wine Festival in May 2008 Mariposa, California. Credit: Sierra Sun Times
Mary began her NPS career as an SCA at Shenendoah National Park. Her first paid position was working at an entrance station in Yosemite National Park.
Her distinguished career included stints at Shenandoah, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. She also worked at Vicksburg National Military Park, Petrified Forest, John Muir National Historic Site, Sequoia - Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Women’s Rights National Historic Park, and, finally Steamtown NHS.
Mary worked in several disciplines, including fee collection, law enforcement, interpretation, EO, PIO, and dispatch.. She served as chief of interpretation at three parks.
She also did significant work in the areas of universal accessibility and ensuring all visitors had access to park facilities and services. Projects Mary spearheaded and worked on garnered several national awards. Recently, Yosemite National Park, through Mary's efforts, received the Distinguished Service Award of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for the development of the aphasia-friendly visitor guides.
"One of Mary's most significant and lasting contributions to the NPS and park visitors is her work on universal accessibility. Her work on deaf services and providing access for people with cognitive disabilities in particular was award winning and very impactful,” said Tom Medema, chief of interpretation and education at Yosemite National Park. “Mary brought to work every day a deep sense of caring for everyone including her staff and co-workers."
Mary plans to stay in the Northeast and is now the volunteer manager of the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art.
Submitted by Scott Gediman, Public Affairs Officer
