Betty Reid Soskin named honorary ANPR Life Member

Betty Reid Soskin has achieved pinnacle status within the nation and among her peers. Born on September 22, 1921, Ms. Soskin is renowned, not only within her home state of California and within the National Park ranger profession, but throughout the world.

Alongside President Barack Obama, Betty participated in the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies in Washington, D.C. in 2015, during Obama’s last term in office. In 2016, she was profiled in a TIME book commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. More recently, in February 2024, she was featured in a “PBS Newshour” segment in which she spoke of her early struggle with depression and her love of singing, which buoyed her in the face of enormous life challenges. An autobiographical movie about her is nearing completion.

Soskin became a permanent NPS ranger in 2007 after starting as a temporary ranger at the age of 85. A national treasure, she retired on March 31, 2022, at the age of 100 from Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront National Historical Park. She holds the distinction as the oldest full-time park ranger to have ever worked for the National Park Service, joining the ranks of a very few centenarians who have worked for the agency. In March 2024, ANPR’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to honor Betty Reid Soskin with one of its highest awards, the designation of Honorary Member, an honor which Ms. Soskin has accepted. The Association of National Park Rangers, the premier organization representing the national park ranger profession in the United States, is proud to count Betty among our ranks.

Betty grew up in Oakland, Calif., after her family moved from New Orleans when Betty was 6 years old. She has personal recollections of the events of the 1930s and 1940s, including Amelia Earhart’s flight and the 1944 explosion at Port Chicago near Richmond, Calif., the largest incendiary event in the Lower 48 occurring during World War II. Later, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial became one of a group of National Park Service sites in the San Francisco Bay Area where Betty worked as an interpretive park ranger. An inspiring, 55-minute film of one of her ranger talks is available for viewing at the NPS website for Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront National Historical Park. This talk, which Betty gave in her 90s, demonstrates Betty’s personal knowledge of history and her ability to explain and interpret profound, difficult truths of events in our national life, from Black segregation and women’s rights to environmental justice. The film is worthy viewing for all – including all of us who are, or aspire to be, national park rangers.

Thank you, Betty Reid Soskin, for being a pioneering woman, a truth teller, and a role model and example for us all. We proudly, and warmly, welcome you as a member of the Association of National Park Rangers.

Tom Banks, former board member of ANPR (Seasonal Concerns, Treasurer, Education & Training), serves on several ANPR committees and has been a member since 1986. Send questions or comments to him at tbanks@anpr.org.