NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, March 30, 2001 - Supplemental

INCIDENTS

01-019 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Follow-up: Death of Chief 
         Ranger

Jason Houck, the park's chief ranger, died yesterday in a Knoxville 
hospital, apparently from complications following surgery for cancer. 
He had expected to make a full recovery from the operation. Jason's 
funeral will be at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 1st, at the First 
Baptist Church of Gatlinburg, 111 Oglewood Lane, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 
(865-436-2885). The family will receive mourners at 1:30 p.m. at the 
church. To reach the church from downtown Gatlinburg, head north on 
U.S. 321 for about two miles. Uniformed and other employees will have 
a reserved section. All employees will gather outside the church at 3 
p.m. and enter together. As noted previously, the uniform of the day 
is Class A winter, but without Ike or dress jackets. Employees who do 
not wear the Class A uniform can come in either their normal uniform 
or civilian attire. Law enforcement rangers should not wear weapons 
and equipment. Employees with badges should wear the black band on 
them; those without badges will be provided with special ribbons. 
Burial will be in the Gatlinburg area on Monday, but no time or 
location has yet been set. It will be open to all who wish to attend. 
There will be no auto procession. Flowers are welcome and should be 
sent to the church at the above address. Memorial gifts may be made to 
Church of God Home for Children, PO Box 4391, Sevierville, TN 37864. 
Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Superintendent, Great Smoky 
Mountains NP, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. [Bob 
Miller, PIO, GRSM, 3/30]

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the 
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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