One of the interesting things I have learned from starting to write a blog is that memories bring back memories bring back you. You may have recognized that I have Maroon Five on my YouTube Music app. I like some of their music. I am very eclectic in my musical “Likes” and sometimes enjoy playing an artist or genre that no one would expect me to play or like. At some point I hope to include a post or two sharing some of the music I enjoy. If you like Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, Mercy Me and Black-Eyed Peas you will want to read the Eclectic Ear post. If I get it posted.
Sorry for the Bunny Trail.
So, let’s discuss the title of this post: I was never Ranger Rick. First, my name is not Rick. And, I was never a Ranger. These two facts support my denial. And yet this is the recurring thought leading to this post. I promise to tie all this together.
My parents knew many people in many different occupations. Their store was part of the reason. Their community positions also led to a fairly wide circle of acquaintances. Dad’s insurance business also led to numerous contacts throughout NE Iowa and through IMT Insurance in Des Moines. He was on the IMT Board of Directors and the President and other IMT officers were often guests of my folks for fish, morel mushrooms and fresh-picked sweet corn. And on it went.
One of the interesting individuals Dad enjoyed would stop at the store to visit. I don’t remember his given name, but I do remember Dad called him “Smokey.” This nickname was the result of “Smokey” being a very “REAL” Smokey Bear while promoting his passion of encouraging people to be careful because “ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES.” He was a great Smokey Bear with a great believable costume and the movements and noises that would keep you alert even though you knew it was a person. He became Smokey Bear!
Dad was Wadena’s Fire Chief and part of Smokey’s job was to call on Fire Chief’s in NE Iowa to promote rural fire safety. Strangely, a fairly common fire call for the local rural fire departments were grass fires, field crop fires and even fires in NE Iowa forests which we called “The Woods.” Because there were farms and towns bordering these fires, it was often critical to put a “stop” on such fires.
On a drive between Clermont and Elgin last Fall, I could see a very big fire lighting up the night sky over the top of the hills to the South. After driving another ten miles I was able to see the burning field another five miles away. The leading edge of this fire was at least the length of ten football fields with flames rising up to twenty feet in the air. This is still not unusual in rural areas.
Smoky asked me to help him by replacing the Smokey Bear posters on the wooden sign frames on two of the roads leading out of Wadena. At that time both were gravel. The signs were about a quarter mile out of town and were located across the ditch on the fence line. The posters were about two feet wide and 4 feet tall. I had to reach as high as I could to attach the posters to the wooden frames. I was probably about 12 and it all seemed like quite an adventure. I sometimes rode my bike out to the signs – which meant I could leave “My Block” which was the one block I had permission to ride around – this was pretty big stuff.
This Uncle Sam style Smokey is the image on one of the posters I placed in the wooden frame on the edge of Wadena. It is one of my favorites as it was easy to understand the message and Smokey looked like the professional Ranger he was. Imagine shaking the hand of the “real” Smokey I knew! As a young boy it was incredible!
I do remember my first taste, literally, of the dust storm that would totally surround and cover me whenever a car or pickup would go by. But, if it had rained, I then was splattered with mud and had to wash my bike when I got home. Dad told me that was part of life in the country and I reminded him I did not live in the country. No sir, I lived in TOWN with the other 349 residents of Wadena. I DID NOT live in the country.
I have attached some of the posters of those years. The originals are selling for $200 and up. I also have shared the Official Smokey [THE] Bear song which after 75 years was revised to the correct name, Smokey Bear. Most kids of that era knew this song by heart, and I still get the words of the first verse and the chorus right. I am still off-key!
This was an image that told the story of Smokey Bear and included his famous message. The young bear cub found after a forest fire became the living spokesbear for the Fire Service. The real Smokey was buried in a park named for him.
You can see Smokey in the background putting up one of his own posters. The poster frame in the foreground is the same shape as the wooden frames I used to display the posters I attached. I like the attention being given to the poster by Smokey’s friends. By the way, I think Smokey has spotted them.
I actually had an original Smokey THE Bear song sheet exactly like the one in the attached image. I have passed that on to one of the kids. I don’t think they sing it often or at all. Just 60+ years and it all changes. [Maybe not all.]
In 1952 “Smokey the Bear” became a favorite song of elementary school kids across the country. I was 5 years old and still remember the words to this as just always being “on my mind.” It was not only catchy but it was a VERY GOOD thing to sing as it was such a GOOD CAUSE” and we all wanted to prevent forest fires. Singing this made us feel that we were a part of a very noble cause. In fact, it was right up there with saying the “Pledge of Allegiance” and singing the “National Anthem”. We share our age and admit to feeling “patriotic” and “good” about preventing forest fires and respecting our country. I still cover my heart and would join in singing, “Smokey the Bear” if given the chance. If only.
Yes, Virginia, there was a REAL Smokey Bear who survived a forest fire to become very famous. In fact, he was so loved and so famous that his remains are buried in his own park. Not bad for a bear.
I was never a Ranger and never a Smokey and do not know much about Ranger Rick. I am OK with that these 60+ years later. But I DID PUT UP SMOKEY BEAR posters! And I am very proud of that!
I lost track of my real Smokey who likely passed on 30+ years ago. He was a REAL SMOKEY and a REAL RANGER! He did good work and was truly A REAL BEAR – SMOKEY BEAR – a’huffing and a’puffing and a’sniffing the air. God Bless both Smokey’s . . .
I trust they rest in peace.
1961 was the 20th anniversary of Smokey being adopted by the Fire Service as their spokesbear. Being a former math teacher, I can say with some certainty, that 2021 marks Smokey’s 80th anniversary. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SMOKEY!!
