Yosemite ranger receives regional award, will vie for national honor

Yosemite National Park Ranger Robert “Rob” Lewis received the Pacific West Region Harry Yount Award, presented annually for excellence in “rangering.” Lewis was recognized for his overall impact, record of accomplishments, and excellence in traditional ranger duties. He is among the seven finalists for the national award of the same name, one of the highest recognitions available to rangers.

Lewis was recognized for consistently performing at a high level in a multitude of duties of a national park ranger. These include performing technical high-angle rescues, swift-water rescues, and structural and wildland firefighting. Additionally, Lewis is a park medic, crisis negotiator, firearms instructor and coroner. Because of his extensive technical training, he also has the knowledge and skills to patrol National Park Service lands via horseback, helicopter, motorboat, snowmobile, motorcycle, skis, raft and canoe.

Lewis’ leadership skills have allowed him to participate in numerous rescue missions, in Yosemite and other national parks, such as negotiating with individuals to keep them from committing suicide, high-angle technical rescues off of El Capitan, swift-water rescues and others. Additionally, he has helped return stolen cultural artifacts to Sequoia National Park, restored underwater resources at Virgin Islands National Park, returned healthy sea turtles to the Caribbean Sea that were captured by poachers, and helped dart and capture goats at Glacier National Park to further scientific research.

Catholic organization board named

The Catholic Social Service Guild, which supports senior services in Stanislaus County, announced its board members for 2015. They include Marie Gallo, founder; Pixie Kinser, president; Els Blom and Ginger Ratto, first vice president and program; Sue Fenton, second vice president and planning; Rose Labriola, secretary; Catheryn Harty, treasurer; Joan Hart, historian and newsletter; Dianne Changnon, membership; Tammy Menezes, publicity; Mary Ann Caratti, social services; Jayne Cunningham, spirituality; and Sandy Schaefer, hospitality.

This story was originally published March 28, 2015 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Yosemite ranger receives regional award, will vie for national honor."