Rich East High School
Write something for our Memory Book
Paul Lyden*
Comments
Since the last reunion I completed my BS in Forestry in June of 1979. Immediately I went to work for the U. S. Geological Survey working as a Hydrologic Technician. I worked out of the town of Williamsburg, Kentucky.

In January of 1980 I went to work for the U. S. Forest Service on the Francis Marion National Forest working out of McClellanville, South Carolina. I worked as a Forestry Technician doing such things as marking timber, prescribed burning, and firefighting. A year later I was promoted to Forester.

In July of 1984 I transferred to the Huron National Forest which is located in Northeast Lower Michigan. I have worked out of the Mio office (about 4 hours north of Detroit) ever since. I have spent most of my career in timber management and fire suppression. I have been to most of the western United States, including Alaska, at one time or another on fire suppression assignments. I was in Colorado when there were fourteen firefighters killed on the Storm King Mountain fire just outside of Glenwood Springs. My crew was slated to go to that fire the day after the tragedy occurred.

In June of 1988 I married my wife Norma. We found each other through the Personal Ads in the Detroit Free Press. Yes they do work. We have two children. David is 15 and Michelle is 12.

Hobbies included woodworking, fishing, and model railroad car building. I have been the Recorder for the local council of the Knights of Columbus for the past fourteen years and the Youth Director for the past twenty.

On April 12th, 2009 I will have worked 30 years for the U. S. Government and can retire anytime after that.