Stephen Mather Image via Wikipedia
July 4 is not only the birthday of the U.S., it is also the birthday of Stephen Mather who was the first director of the U.S. National Park System. Stephen Mather was a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley and the sales manager of Pacific Coast Borax Company, where he invented the brand “20 Mule Team Borax”. He described meeting John Muir on a hike at Sequoia National Park as one of the highlights of his life.
He is responsible for developing the National Park Service, increasing public awareness of the National Parks, enlarging existing parks and creating new ones. To learn more about him check these sites
National Park Service: Biography (Steven Mather)
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea: People – Stephen Mather
Natural History Wanderings 
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