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04-20-2006, 06:59 PM
Santa Fe Resident Spent Four Decades With Feds, State in Resource Management
By: Ben Moffett - Staff Reporter
© 2006 Ben Moffett - Reprint Permission Granted
SANTA FE -- José Cisneros, who has managed and protected some of America's most cherished lands over four decades, has stepped down as director of New Mexico State Monuments.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Los_Jose_Cisneros4.jpg
Jose Cisneros, right, recently retired director of New Mexico
State Monuments, poses with another Jose Cisneros, a
famous Mexican artist, at a meeting in Socorro. The two
Cisneros, no relation, worked together on El Camino
Real International Heritage Center. Cisneros, the artist,
was born in Via Acampo, Mexico, in 1910, and is a
painter, wood carver, writer and muralist famous for his
illustrations of the history of the Southwest border region.
(NM State Monuments photo)
Cisneros, who will retire in his adopted hometown of Santa Fe, also spent over 30 years with the National Park Service. During that time he served as superintendent of Bandelier National Monument, Big Bend National Park and the adjacent Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, San Antonio Missions, Gettysburg National Military Park and the nearby Eisenhower National Historic Site, the President's retirement farm.
He retired from Big Bend and the NPS in 1999 and returned to Santa Fe. A year later he was named director of New Mexico State Monuments. He retires from that post after 5 ˝ years of service.
"New Mexico is very fortunate in have had José at the helm of the State Monuments Division," said Stuart A. Ashman, Cabinet Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs. "His expertise in the field of cultural property management and preservation, along with his love and commitment, made him a tremendous asset.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Jose_Denish.jpg
Jose Cisneros & Lt Gov. Diane Denish
at Coronado Monument Rededication
"In a short time, he was able to accomplish a great deal," Ashman said.
"Among his major accomplishments was oversight of the construction of Bosque Redondo Memorial, the inauguration of both the Bosque Redondo and El Camino Real International Heritage Center, and the renovation of Coronado State Monument.
"José was also successful in securing the gift of the Barela-Reynolds State Monument in Mesilla from the Paul Taylor family for the people of New Mexico."
In his comments to retirees and well-wishers, Cisneros seemed most proud of his role in establishing citizen support groups, called "Friends," for the monuments. "The friends groups are a great benefit to the parks," he said.
His efforts also include working to get Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner recognized by the International Coalition of Historic Museums of Conscience. "If it is recognized it will be the only museum of conscience that deals with the treatment of Native Americans," he said. Establishment of such "museums of conscience" -- recognizing the value of historic events where great wrongs were perpetrated, is a relatively new phenomenon worldwide.
A native of Benavides, Texas, Cisneros first came to Santa Fe as chief of personnel for the National Park Service's Southwest Regional Office in 1973. Progressive assignments took him back to Texas twice -- the first time as the first superintendent of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park that he established from scratch. The park today gets more than 1.1 million recreation visitors per year.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Jose_Staff_Family3.jpg
Cisneros with family and well-wishers at Coronado Monument - 3/11/06
Later, at Big Bend National Park, he was in charge of one of the biggest parks in the lower 48 states, 1250 square miles, as well as the adjacent Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River that run along the border between the U.S. and Mexico. At Big Bend, he worked closely with Mexico in the establishment of two protected areas across the Rio Grande in Mexico.
Perhaps his most significant historical assignment was at Gettysburg National Military, where a key Civil War battle was fought and Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address. While there, he also worked with the Eisenhower family over an extended period of time in the management of the Eisenhower Farm, the retirement site of President Eisenhower.
Cisneros and his wife, the former Berta Corkill, both grew up in Benavides, attending school together from first grade through high school. She worked as a registered nurse at St. Vincent during his 1970s tour of duty in Santa Fe, and later worked at the Los Alamos Hospital during his tour at Bandelier from March 1988, to March 1990.
One of Cisneros final projects, still underway, is a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the State Monuments System, established in 1931. The yearlong celebration, including seminars and diamond anniversary celebrations at each monument, was not only to recognize the individuals that founded the state park system, but also to educate New Mexicans, and visitors, about New Mexico. "It's particularly important that our youth, tomorrow's leaders, understand their history," Cisneros said.
For additional information please visit www.nmstatemonuments.org (http://www.nmstatemonuments.org), Coronado State Monument Rededication (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/modules.php?name=News&file=showarticle&threadid=222), or Secrets of Coronado - The Steel Roadrunner (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/modules.php?name=News&file=showarticle&threadid=237).
By: Ben Moffett - Staff Reporter
© 2006 Ben Moffett - Reprint Permission Granted
SANTA FE -- José Cisneros, who has managed and protected some of America's most cherished lands over four decades, has stepped down as director of New Mexico State Monuments.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Los_Jose_Cisneros4.jpg
Jose Cisneros, right, recently retired director of New Mexico
State Monuments, poses with another Jose Cisneros, a
famous Mexican artist, at a meeting in Socorro. The two
Cisneros, no relation, worked together on El Camino
Real International Heritage Center. Cisneros, the artist,
was born in Via Acampo, Mexico, in 1910, and is a
painter, wood carver, writer and muralist famous for his
illustrations of the history of the Southwest border region.
(NM State Monuments photo)
Cisneros, who will retire in his adopted hometown of Santa Fe, also spent over 30 years with the National Park Service. During that time he served as superintendent of Bandelier National Monument, Big Bend National Park and the adjacent Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, San Antonio Missions, Gettysburg National Military Park and the nearby Eisenhower National Historic Site, the President's retirement farm.
He retired from Big Bend and the NPS in 1999 and returned to Santa Fe. A year later he was named director of New Mexico State Monuments. He retires from that post after 5 ˝ years of service.
"New Mexico is very fortunate in have had José at the helm of the State Monuments Division," said Stuart A. Ashman, Cabinet Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs. "His expertise in the field of cultural property management and preservation, along with his love and commitment, made him a tremendous asset.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Jose_Denish.jpg
Jose Cisneros & Lt Gov. Diane Denish
at Coronado Monument Rededication
"In a short time, he was able to accomplish a great deal," Ashman said.
"Among his major accomplishments was oversight of the construction of Bosque Redondo Memorial, the inauguration of both the Bosque Redondo and El Camino Real International Heritage Center, and the renovation of Coronado State Monument.
"José was also successful in securing the gift of the Barela-Reynolds State Monument in Mesilla from the Paul Taylor family for the people of New Mexico."
In his comments to retirees and well-wishers, Cisneros seemed most proud of his role in establishing citizen support groups, called "Friends," for the monuments. "The friends groups are a great benefit to the parks," he said.
His efforts also include working to get Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner recognized by the International Coalition of Historic Museums of Conscience. "If it is recognized it will be the only museum of conscience that deals with the treatment of Native Americans," he said. Establishment of such "museums of conscience" -- recognizing the value of historic events where great wrongs were perpetrated, is a relatively new phenomenon worldwide.
A native of Benavides, Texas, Cisneros first came to Santa Fe as chief of personnel for the National Park Service's Southwest Regional Office in 1973. Progressive assignments took him back to Texas twice -- the first time as the first superintendent of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park that he established from scratch. The park today gets more than 1.1 million recreation visitors per year.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Jose_Staff_Family3.jpg
Cisneros with family and well-wishers at Coronado Monument - 3/11/06
Later, at Big Bend National Park, he was in charge of one of the biggest parks in the lower 48 states, 1250 square miles, as well as the adjacent Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River that run along the border between the U.S. and Mexico. At Big Bend, he worked closely with Mexico in the establishment of two protected areas across the Rio Grande in Mexico.
Perhaps his most significant historical assignment was at Gettysburg National Military, where a key Civil War battle was fought and Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address. While there, he also worked with the Eisenhower family over an extended period of time in the management of the Eisenhower Farm, the retirement site of President Eisenhower.
Cisneros and his wife, the former Berta Corkill, both grew up in Benavides, attending school together from first grade through high school. She worked as a registered nurse at St. Vincent during his 1970s tour of duty in Santa Fe, and later worked at the Los Alamos Hospital during his tour at Bandelier from March 1988, to March 1990.
One of Cisneros final projects, still underway, is a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the State Monuments System, established in 1931. The yearlong celebration, including seminars and diamond anniversary celebrations at each monument, was not only to recognize the individuals that founded the state park system, but also to educate New Mexicans, and visitors, about New Mexico. "It's particularly important that our youth, tomorrow's leaders, understand their history," Cisneros said.
For additional information please visit www.nmstatemonuments.org (http://www.nmstatemonuments.org), Coronado State Monument Rededication (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/modules.php?name=News&file=showarticle&threadid=222), or Secrets of Coronado - The Steel Roadrunner (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/modules.php?name=News&file=showarticle&threadid=237).