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AMIGOS
Around the Neighborhood
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Around the Neighborhood contains news, updates and stories of interest about our members. Have you been on a trip and want to share your adventures? Have you an interesting hobby? If you have stories, pictures or information about yourself or others you would like to post on the AMIGOS web page, please contact the AMIGOS Webmaster.
Nelson Bernard
Mr. Nelson Bernard lost his 13-year battle with cancer on 14 October 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. His family was at his side when he passed away.
His passions in life were his family, the US Forest Service, the Society of American Foresters, and working with Mexican foresters and the western outdoors. He accomplished much in the field of forestry; however, his accomplishments in working with the Mexican foresters are immense. Even today, his work guides the SAF’s Southwestern Section, as well as its national office.
In 1968, Nelson alone established the biennial reunions between the Southwestern Section and the Chihuahua Section of the Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Forestales, a relationship that has endured to the present time. In New Mexico in the fall of 2009, the Southwestern Section will host the foresters of the Sección Chihuahua at their 22nd biennial reunion. Nelson also assisted the Mexican government in the development of their system of forest parks in Mexico. He was elected SAF Fellow in 1984.
A memorial service will be held on 8 November 2008 at 2 pm at the Inn of Rio Rancho in Rio Rancho, NM. This will be followed by a service at Vista Verde Memorial Park in Rio Rancho.
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Lou Romero - Recent Chief's Review
 This photo was taken March 6, 2008 at the conclusion of the Chief's Review of the Rocky Mtn. Research Station in front of the Historic Huffaker School house in Reno, Nevada. In the picture are all the Deputy Chiefs and Associate Chief Sally Collins. Chief Gail Kimball was not there. Ann Bartuska, Deputy for Research was the team leader.
Review team: Deputy Chiefs are Joel Holtrop, NFS, Hank Kashdan, Adm, Jim Hubbard S&PF, Leslie Weldon, External Affairs Officer, Jesse King, Chief Financial Officer ...Joe Ellen Force, National Association of University Forest Resource Programs, Michael Rains Director of NE Research Station (next review in August)
Others were mostly scientists from RMRS, a couple of Forest Supervisors and Rick Cables RF, R2.
I am pretty sure there are several people there that our Amigos will recognize. (Click on the photo in order to see a larger view.)
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To All My Dear Friends & Family from Jill Thornton Corbeille:
With my deepest sadness and sorrow I have to inform you that my Father, Howard Wayne Thornton, passed away on Wednesday, December 19th at 9:30am after a 12-year battle with cancer. I am so incredibly happy to be able to tell you that his final moments and breaths were peaceful, and he was in his home with me, my mom and one of their dear friends, Judy, who is a retired RN. He was mentally and spiritually strong and absolutely amazing to the very end...not that I would expect anything less from him.
Here is all the information regarding his Memorial Service:
Memorial Service:
Friday, December 28, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.
Hoffmantown Church
8888 Harper Drive NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. He will receive full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following, per my Father's request:
New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation
4901 Lang Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
The New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation, a non-profit organization, supports New Mexico cancer patients who need financial assistance during their battle against cancer.
Also, the obituary and some great photos are attached!
Thank you so much for all your phone calls, e-mails, text messages, support, prayers, love, and kindness towards my family through the years of this battle. Some of you have solely been there for me, which directly affected my ability to take care of my Father. Without your prayers, phone calls and ears to listen to me talk I do not know how I would have made it, especially in the last week. I cannot even express my gratitude and appreciation without breaking into tears. I will never, ever forget the love and support from everyone. And of course, please continue to pray for my family as we move through our grief, loss and mourning. As we all know, my Father is rejoicing in Heaven, free of cancer, pain, hurt and sorrow. He was as close to a Saint on Earth as you can get. He will be doing great work for God... and he'll be a "top hand" as he would say! And, as Patty, our miracle Hospice nurse that we swear was sent to us by God, told my Father as he was passing, "Wayne, there's forests in Heaven that need supervising!"
My Father would love for me to end with this verse from the Bible...he started to write this on the palm of his hand in marker in April 2002 when he went in for a major surgery to save him that landed him in Intensive Care for one week. He continued to write "Isaiah 41:10" on his hand through the next years of chemo, tests, procedures and numerous surgeries:
"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
If you feel like forwarding this e-mail onto anyone who you think would
like the information regarding the service, or to read in general, please feel free to do so. It would make me happy!
All My Love,
Jill
To view Wayne's obituary, click here.
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To view a larger image, click on the thumbnail. |
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Chuck Williams - Remembering a Close Call
October 10, 1978 started out fairly normally. Chuck was to accompany a Forest Service filming crew on a flight over the Carson NF. The plane took off from the Coronado Airport in Albuquerque and proceeded north to Truchas and Trampas. After making a few slow circles around the area, the pilot informed the passengers that there was some trouble with the plane and they weren’t going to be able to get back to any airport in the area—the pilot was going to have to find someplace close by to put the plane down in. Luckily, there was an “open” field close by. With enough time, altitude and speed for only one try, the pilot put the plane down. After crashin g through the sagebrush, trees and fences and ripping the front landing gear off crossing a gully, the plane came to a stop. Amazingly, the pilot and passengers were able to walk away from the plane with only minor scraps and bruises, but the plane was a total loss. (For more information on the crash, read Chuck's account of the incident in Amigos Remember, pg 70.)
After29 years, Chuck decided it was perhaps time to go back and revisit the crash site and relive somememories. Along with Lou Romero, Chuck took the Forest Service accident report  and drove to the Carson NF to try to locate the site. It is near Truchas, NM and has not been visited since the accident as far as Chuck knows. By using the photographs, maps, and write-ups in the report they believe they found the location where the plane came to rest.
The following week Chuck's son came over from Phoenix because he wanted to see it for himself. On the road in from Trucha s, Chuck and his son met a rancher who wanted to know what they were doing. It turned out they were talking to Mr. Vigil who is the landowner of the pasture where the plane plowed thru the fences, trees and sagebrush. He was very cooperative and gave de tails of the event and confirmed that Lou and Chuck had pinpointedthe site. Upon closer examination Chuck and his son were able to find a few plane parts still there. It turned out to be an exciting adventure for everyone and brought back frightening memories for Chuck all over again.
(To see a larger view of the pictures, click on the thumbnails.)
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At the 2006 Quemado Roundup, a proclamation by the state of New Mexico was read marking May 17, 2006 as "William D. Hurst Day." The proclamation was in honor of Bill's many years of dedicated service, his forestry expertise and his humanity for which everyone loves him.
Bill's career with the Forest Service covered 37 years and took him around the western United States, serving in many positions. Bill served as Regional Forester for the Southwestern Region from 1966 until his retirement in 1976.
(You can click on the following thumbnail images to see a larger image.)
 Amigos President Lou Romero with William D. Hurst at the presentation.
 The proclamation being read by the past presidents of the AMIGOS.
 The New Mexico Proclamation proclaiming May 17, 2006 as "William D. Hurst Day."
 Bill Hurst accepting the honor.
 Also attending the ceremony were Regional Forester Harv Forsgren, District Ranger Janice Stevenson and Deputy Regional Forester Abel Camarena.
Click here for more information on Bill.
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Dick Bassett – Forester to Tractor Boss |
Dick Bassett retired in 1994 as Regional Silviculturist for R3. Even though Dick spent the better part of 30 years working in various locations in R3, he always had a yearning to go back to Iowa, where he spent his early years.
That chance came in 1997 when Dick and Joan moved back to his hometown in Iowa. The farm he had grown up on was still owned by the family, so he got the chance to start working on the farm again. Also on the farm was the 1947 Minneapolis Moline farm tractor his dad had bought while Dick was still in high school. As a teenager, Dick had put in a lot of hours working that tractor around the farm and even hired out with the tractor to do custom hay baling one summer (at 10¢ a bale).
Unfortunately, by 1997 the tractor had seen better times. So, Dick spent the next 3 years restoring the tractor to working order. He completely tore the tractor down and replaced or restored almost every part possible. In the process of restoring the tractor, Dick figures he spent twice what the tractor cost new.
Dick now uses the tractor in local parades and tractor rides and just has fun on it. The highlight of the summer for the last 6 years has been the Great Iowa Tractor Ride. In this ride over 500 antique tractors tour different parts of the state of Iowa. The ride normally covers around 170 miles and takes 3 days to complete.
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Dick Bassett on his 1947 Minneapolis Moline Tractor. Click here to see a larger image. |
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Banner Picture: Left -- Ranger Brown and children on the front porch of the Long Valley Ranger Station, Coconino NF, 1923. Photo by the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. To see a larger image, click on the banner picture.
Last updated: December 10, 2008 |
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