FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Bristol Tennessee parks director resigns

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike Johnson, director of the Bristol Tennessee Department of Leisure Services, 
yesterday (Wed., April 18) resigned
from his position effective Monday, April 23.  The resignation reportedly took 
place during early afternoon when he met
with the city manager.  

Johnson's departure ends a 16-year-watch over the department which began June 
10, 1991.  He came to the position
as a recreational programmer from the Bristol Virginia Parks & Recreation 
Department.  

Birders and naturalists, who have enjoyed a long and valuable relationship with 
the Bristol Tennessee department, will anxiously
await the change of guard.  Members of the Bristol Bird Club continued 
relationship with the Steele Creek Park Nature
Center and how future policies and priorities of a new administration will 
shake out.  

During recent years, BBC has benefited considerably.  The club's contributions 
to every aspect of the nature center's and
park's planning, programs, construction, fund raising, furnishings, research, 
grand opening and leadership have provided some of its finest hours for the 
park and its visitors.  Likewise members introduced, nurtured and mentored 
strong youth participation and helped develop much of the center's finest 
natural history talent.

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN