Western Carolina University WCU University of North Carolina Asheville UNCA

Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all
University of North Carolina Asheville (6) View all
WCU - Great Smoky Mountains - A Park for America

Friends of Kephart voice praise for his work

items 1 of 2 items
  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-11408.jpg
Copyright Download
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-11408.jpg

Friends of Kephart voice praise for his work

GSMNP_10184_26_02_01
Item 2 - Friends of Kephart voice praise for his work
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-11409.jpg

Friends of Kephart voice praise for his work

GSMNP_10184_26_02_02
Item
?

Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • Friena ?s Of Kephart Voice Praise tor His Wor k And His St rengt h Of Character State and sectional leaders, officials of the United States and North Carolina forestry services, and men and women In all walks of life today mourned the passing of Horace Kephart, whose life was snuffed out in I an automobile accident near Ela. N. j C, last night. Some were intimately acquainted with Mr. Kephart; others know him j only casually, but all were agreed that his untimely death had remov- I ed one of the outstanding experts in the United States on woodcraft, camping and the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Many of those who spoke in grief stricken tones of Mr. Kephalt felt that his body should be buried on Mt. Kephart. They declared his great love for the out-of-doors in general and for the Smokies in particular made this especially fitting. Leaders in forestry work remembered him for his books on woodcraft and camping, considered standard texts in these circles; civic leaders recall his efforts in behalf of national forests, and leaders here honored him for his assistance in the campaign for a Great Smoky Mountains national park. These statements, as secured by The Times today, follow: BURNHAM S. COLBURN, financi- j er: I enjoyed knowing Mr. Kephart very much. I will miss him greatly. He had visited at my home here a number of times and I was greatly j interested im his work. I VERNE RHOADES, executive sec- I retary N. C. Park Commission; Mr. Kephart's sudden and tragic death was a great shock to me. I have known Mr. Kephart for the last 12. years and he was a good friend of mine. He did valuable work toward launching the movement for the Great Smoky Mountains National park. PLATO EBBS, treasurer N. C. Park commission: Mr. Kephart, who was a pioneer of the Smoky park movement, was one of this country's most remarkable men. His writings have brought to the attention of persons the nation over the natural beauties to be found in the Great Smokies. The Smokies was his life, and I think it quite appropriate that his body be buried on Mt. Kephart, the mountain named In his honor. I am sure that it would comply with his wishes. His untimely death was a great shock, since he and I have been Intimate friends for years. I. K. STEARNS, president of Carolina Wood Turning Company, Bryson City: In the 10 years I had been intimately, associated with Horace Kephart,' I had seen him under the most intimate circumstances, had been the recipient of his deepest confidences and feel that, with two or three other friends, I know more about him than anyone else in the world. In all this time, I had seen nothing petty, nothing narrow, nothing in his disposition except the highest qualities of a real man. Never had he been other than a gracious gentleman of the old school of chivalry. In my opinion, he dedicated his" life In western North Carolina to the best interests of this country and its people. To me, he was a father and a brother. To his host of friends locally, he was a source of inspiration. To lovers of the outdoors, he brought teachings that will live always in a gospel of life that has meant—and will continue to mean— health and happiness. His passing had the same significance to western North Carolina and his followers all over the nation as that of Knute Rockne. His starting the national park movement and his continued effort for it assured him of a name that will live forever. The saddest part of- his passing was that he. could not have lived to see the complete realization of his dreams. I lack words to express the high tribute he deserved so richly. ZEBULON WEAVER, congressman and former title attorney for the N. C. Park commission: The lass of so rare & man as Horace Kephart comes with stunning sorrow to all of us. Western North Carolina and the whole country loses a man who was unique in character and of vast usefulness. He came to us a stranger and found health and happiness in our mountains. He became the articulate voice of the Smoky range: he loved its people and they loved him. There will be sorrow in hundreds of simple homes as well as in the big outer world. He is uone from the mountains.
Object
?

Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).

  • This article is a memorial to Horace Kephart (1862-1931), a noted naturalist, woodsman, journalist, and author. In 1904, he left his work as a librarian in St. Louis and permanently moved to western North Carolina. His popular book, “Camping and Woodcraft” was first published 1906; the 1916/1917 edition is considered a standard manual for campers after almost a century of use. Living and working in a cabin on Hazel Creek in Swain County, Kephart began to document life in the Great Smoky Mountains, producing “Our Southern Highlanders” in 1913. Throughout his life, Kephart wrote many articles supporting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Related items

Part of Collection

Great Smoky Mountains - A Park for America

This digital collection was created to contribute to the public's understanding of the forces and ideas that led to the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934. The most vi...

View collection Read introduction
panzoom image
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-11408.jpg