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Four “old time” foresters from the class of 1956 met for the first time in 50 years Aug. 16, 2006 at Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C. Pictured are Al Coombes, Dick Stauber, Frank Varseveld, and Peter Preston.








Meet Dick Stauber

Retired forester Dick Stauber (B.S. For. Res. ‘56) has a passion for advancing fire science research and outreach, sparked by his first wildfire experience in 1949 where he prepared pack mules to carry supplies to the fireline. After graduating from high school in 1952, he worked seasonally for the Forest Service and studied forest resources at the University of Idaho. His “first” career spanned 40 years. At age 24, he became district ranger at Hailey, Idaho, and then at the Ketchum Range two years later. He and his wife, Ruby, lived in a small trailer at the garden Valley Ranger Station on the Boise National Forest.

Stauber served in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corp. officer from 1957-1959. As his Forest Service career developed, he held many positions, including:
  •  Varied assignments in the Intermountain Region | 1952-1975
  •  Deputy forest supervisor at Tahoe National Forest | 1975-1978
  •  Forest supervisor at Sierra National Forest | 1978-1984
  •  Forest supervisor at San Bernardino National Foresty | 1984-1989
  •  Forest Service director, National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) | 1989-1994.

After retiring from NIFC in 1994, Stauber began a second career when he and Ruby founded their own consulting business, Forests and Wildfire. Ruby, a retired school teacher, provides writing and editing skills. Stauber’s expertise in interagency cooperation and managing large organizations took him all over the world to educate other countries about fire management and fire equipment. The last international fire he helped manage was in 1999 in the Russian Far East. He and Ruby also arranged fire training at the National Interagency Fire Center for fire specialists from Portugal. They retired from their consulting business and spend time skiing and biking.

Stauber is recognized nationally and internationally for his leadership in fire science. His significant awards include:
  • 1987 | Certificate of Merit for the California Regional Fire Safety Program, “Safety First Action”
  • 1994 | First recipient of the International Forestry Award
  • 1997 | Outstanding Forester Award, Russian Forest Services