William Tweed (1949 - ) was born in Visalia and grew up in nature. He fell in love with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at a young age, and began working in the Sierras in his early adulthood. In 1978, he began working for the National Park Service in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, where he worked for nearly 30 years in a variety of roles, including as a seasonal and full-time park ranger, park planner, concessions management specialist, public affairs specialist, and chief park naturalist. His knowledge of the Parks was both broad and deep, and was gained over many years of personal interaction with the natural spaces - in fact, he has hiked the entire trail system of both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks! This knowledge and passion was incredibly important to his work there. He was instrumental in the restoration of the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, a task which included removal of nearly 300 buildings and hundreds of miles of asphalt. His impact on the National Parks was huge and long-lasting.
Upon retirement, Bill began working as a columnist for the Visalia-Times Delta. For many years, he wrote for the Our National Parks column, which he eventually restructured into the Our Natural World column. He wrote about natural wonders and environmental issues, both local and abroad. Additionally, he wrote or co-authored many books throughout his lifetime, including Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: The Story Behind the Scenery; Challenge of the Big Trees: A Resource History of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; Recreation Site Planning and Improvements in National Forests, 1891-1942; Death Valley and the Northern Mojave, A Visitor’s Guide; Uncertain Path: A Search for the Future of National Parks; King Sequoia: The Tree that Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We think About Nature; Challenge of the Big Trees: A History of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; and Granite Pathways: A History of the Wilderness Trails of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Bill holds a PhD in history from Texas Christian University.
In addition to all of his conservation and education work in the National Parks, Bill Tweed also had a great impact on Sequoia Riverlands Trust. He has served on our Advisory Board for many years, and continues to share his knowledge and wisdom with us and other non-profit organizations on whose Boards of Directors he serves. His dedication to the natural world and his impact on local conservation efforts made him one of the top candidates for the Alan George Conservation Award, which he was awarded in 2016.
Bill currently lives with his wife in Bend, Oregon.
