Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The True Story of Smokey Bear

The "True Story of Smokey Bear" has some special memories for our family. Elaine worked in the Timber Management Division of the Forest Service at their National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. during the late 60' & '70's. Rudy Wendelin was the FS illustrator who "humanized" the bear and made him the protectorate of all forest. Jim Allen who worked in the same Division as Elaine, was among the group that rescued the little black bear from a forest fire in New Mexico. He was nursed  back to health and brought to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.. Smokey lived for several years in the Zoo as a major attraction. The Zoo and Smokey were always a stop when we had friends visiting. Mr. Allen confirmed that the 20 page "comic book" publication is accurate in telling the story. Elaine and Rudy's offices were close together  and became good friends. I was able to get him do a "pen & ink" drawing of "Smokey's Head" for a paper I wrote for a class at GWU. As I remember, I got a B on the paper but the instructor gave an A++ to Rudy for his drawing on the report's cover. I listed the "True Story of Smokey..." on eBay this afternoon at a very reasonable price. We have sold a considerable amount of the memorabelia that Elaine collected while working there which seems to be in demand.  Hopefully, it will make some parents more aware of the background of Smokey and will make some little kids happy as their parents read them the story.

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