Cover Story: HELPING OTHERS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

by Donna M. Mooney

Alumnus Cassius Cash began as a biology major, but found his true path in wildlife management. Today, he is the first African American superintendent of the most visited national park in the U.S.

Cassius Cash is photographed in front of a mountain range located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Photo by Emmett Given

Biology pre-med majors don’t usually become National Park Superintendents, but one alumnus discovered his true passion for the outdoors during a summer internship through UAPB Career Services.

Cassius Cash, Superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, learned that he didn’t have to wear a white coat to help others, but he could wear a green coat and still accomplish his goals – he had to – it’s in his DNA.

Cash is the first African-American named to the Superintendent position and the second youngest overall. This popular half-million acre National Park and 300 active employees have been under Cash’s jurisdiction since February 2015. Cash supervises the overall process of managing park activities for the purpose of maintaining and preserving natural resources for generations to come. Almost a city within a city, the grounds include a public works system, waste water system, government housing, and U.S. Park Rangers. More than 10 million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year, making it the most visited park in the nation.

A Memphis native, Cash graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology (pre-med). Prior to graduation, he accepted a summer internship with the U. S. Forestry Department that led him from the medical field to the great outdoors.

The DNA effect

Cash is photographed inside his office at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

. Photo by Brian T.. Williams

Working outdoors was the farthest idea in Cash’s mind when he participated in the U.S. Forestry Service interviews through UAPB Career Services, many years ago. His intention was simply to hone his interviewing skills, but in the end, he walked away with an intriguing offer he couldn’t refuse. Even though he had no prior experience in the outdoors or wildlife services, other than the Boy Scouts and an amusing fascination with "Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” television show, he accepted the offer. Before his internship ended, Cash knew he had found his niche. His hardest conversation, after convincing his mother to let him travel to Washington (state), was later telling her she would not have a doctor in the family.

“I grew up in a family that helped others, so I thought my obvious options were to become a police officer, a doctor, or a lawyer,” Cash explained. “So I chose doctor and enrolled at UAPB as a biology pre-med major.”

Cash was a junior when he changed his mind about his future; however, he was clever enough not to change his major – an act that would have delayed his graduation. He stayed the course and graduated on time, using the tools that helped him reach success.

Cash says his ultimate goal is to help people – he says it was in his DNA.

“My influence came from my instructors...the teachers and the course work at UAPB taught me a sense of self. You knew who you were and what you had to be and do to be a success."

His mother and father were his role models – a cosmetologist and a policeman, respectively. His mother made wigs for young cancer patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and his father was a Memphis officer known for helping people.

Band scholarships are valuable assets, and Cash used his scholarship as a trumpet player to help finance his undergraduate education.

“My influence came from my [UAPB] instructors,” he said. “Band taught me discipline, respect, timeliness and teamwork. Mr. Milton Jackson was a great person, and we had music discussions and life discussions about how the world works. Dr. Shelton Fitzpatrick was another important mentor to me. The teachers and the course work at UAPB taught me a sense of self. You knew who you were and what you had to be and do to be a success.” Success for Cash meant life in the higher elevations.

Mountains of truth

Two days shy of winter’s onset, administrator Cash takes a morning drive with guests up the winding road to Newfound Gap (overlook) – a popular sight-seeing destination for tourists and regulars searching for amazing views and nature’s unspoken ode to beauty. Weeks earlier, a kaleidoscope of gold, red and brown leaves made for a breathtaking backdrop against these hazy clouds and ever rolling hills. On this day, the theatrical show of leaves has come to an end, and only the mountains command the view – offering a surreal view of endless peaks.

Cash, dressed in a traditional green semi-formal uniform, is confident, professional and knowledgeable. He values the GSMNP as much as he is impressed with it, quick to spout the history of its humble beginnings and declare appreciation and admiration for the previous land owners. “Even though those families no longer live in this park, their traditions and cultures are very much a part of the Smoky Mountains,” Cash said. “We will never forget the sacrifice that families made 100 years ago to ensure that these mountains were protected for future generations to enjoy.” Cash is a part of that future generation.

“This is my home no matter where life takes me, and I will always return to the Great Smoky Mountains.”

One year into his job as GSMNP superintendent, Cash faced the traumatic event of a fierce unpredictable fire in the Smokey Mountains that stole lives, destroyed homes and threatened businesses of the beloved mountain community. Remnants of the violent fire of 2016 are prevalent near downtown Gatlinburg; the exposed burned hillsides stand as a sobering reminder of the brutal capabilities of an extreme wind and fire combination.

“The fire of 2016 changed me in two ways,” Cash said. “It reminded me that people being upset is a natural course of emotions. People had to make sense of the situation. And, I learned the value of relationships during turbulent times. I also learned the dynamics of humanity and workforce and community are almost the same. Leaders need support – I gained experience and learned a lot about myself in selfreflection.”

Retrospectively, Cash said he learned four truths – forensic, personal, social and resolved truths. “I learned that people needed to talk about their personal truth – the feel and the smells of the fire. You have to let people talk about the social issues and share their concerns. Finally, resolved truths allow people to get back to normal.” He was full circle back to helping others.

Cash added that speaking about this experience reminded him of what he would tell students to prepare for while still in college. “I’d tell them to develop their interpersonal skills,” he said. “During the fire event, there were internal and external challenges. I learned to listen, hear, lead and facilitate.” the path to success

The trail leading to Cash’s current position at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been an adventurous one. After graduating from UAPB, he attended Oregon State University to study wildlife management. He began his federal career in 1991 with the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State. He worked with that agency for 18 years in various leadership positions.

From graduation on, Cash remained unwavering in his career, having served as an administrative officer in Nebraska, district ranger in Georgia, and a civil rights officer in Mississippi. Next, Cash was the deputy forest supervisor at the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in southern Oregon, and he also served as the deputy regional director and chief of staff in the Northeast Regional Office. Cash served as superintendent at the Boston parks from 2010 to December 2014. While there, his accomplishments included opening a new visitor center in Faneuil Hall, and collaborating with park partners to raise $4 million to reopen the African Meeting House, the oldest black church still in its original location in the country.

Cash stands in front of the gallery of superintendents of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Being the first African American appointed to the position, his promotion was a pivotal moment in the history of the national park.

Photo by Brian T.. Williams

In 2017, Cash served a 120-day detail as acting superintendent of the National Mall and Memorials Parks in Washington, D.C.

“There will be times that you will be the only one or the first, an uncomfortable position to be in, but don’t let that stop you,” Cash said. “Your best moments come when you are stretched and overcome. History shows that it will always be worthwhile.

This job [at the Smoky Mountains] made me realize I was living my dream. I didn’t know how to tell my story until I learned my story or my journey of success, failures and fears. I didn’t think my story had any value until now.”

Showing others the way

“My desire is for the younger generation to learn more about the outdoors and what it has to offer,” Cash said. “The field of wildlife biology is open and people don’t have to have a job outdoors – they can be computer technicians, graphic designers, business and budget managers.”

Putting his boots to the path, Cash met his own personal challenge in 2016 to hike 100 miles of park trails in honor of the National Park Service’s 100th birthday celebration. During that summer, he walked part of his challenge with 20 different groups of visiting children in an effort show them first-hand the existing recreational and historical parts of the park.

Cash explained that because children today spend a lot of time indoors with electronics, they may not be exposed to the opportunities the outdoors offer in National Parks like hiking, fishing and sightseeing. “I understand the fear of the unknown in the woods,” he said. “I had to overcome my fears as an urban kid from Memphis; that’s how I know the more knowledgeable kids are about national parks today, the better our National Parks will be in the future.”