United States Government Official. He was the first United States Forest Ranger. In 1898, at age 22, he rode into Denver, Colorado on horseback looking for work. He saw an article in the "Rocky Mountain News" about the new "forest reserves" (original name for our national forests) seeking men to become "range riders." At that time the forests were under the United States Department of the Interior, and W.T.C. May was Superintendent of Forests for Colorado and Utah. May interviewed young Kreutzer and asked him what politicians he knew who could recommend him for the job. This was before civil service laws were enacted and political patronage was usually how government job seekers were hired. Kreutzer responded, "If it's necessary to get this job through politics, I want none of it." Impressed with the young man's boldness, May immediately offered him the job, thereby making Kreutzer the first appointed forest ranger in the nation. His salary was $50 per month, and he was required to furnish his own horse, housing, food and equipment. His first job was patrolling the Plum Creek Forest Reserve, now part of the Pike National Forest. In 1901 he was transferred to Battlement Mesa Forest Reserve (now the Grand Mesa National Forest) as district ranger headquartered in Cedaredge. He went on to have a long career and retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1939 as Forest Supervisor of the Roosevelt National Forest. In tribute to him, a 13,230-foot mountain four miles east of Tin Cup, Colorado, is named Kreutzer Peak.
United States Government Official. He was the first United States Forest Ranger. In 1898, at age 22, he rode into Denver, Colorado on horseback looking for work. He saw an article in the "Rocky Mountain News" about the new "forest reserves" (original name for our national forests) seeking men to become "range riders." At that time the forests were under the United States Department of the Interior, and W.T.C. May was Superintendent of Forests for Colorado and Utah. May interviewed young Kreutzer and asked him what politicians he knew who could recommend him for the job. This was before civil service laws were enacted and political patronage was usually how government job seekers were hired. Kreutzer responded, "If it's necessary to get this job through politics, I want none of it." Impressed with the young man's boldness, May immediately offered him the job, thereby making Kreutzer the first appointed forest ranger in the nation. His salary was $50 per month, and he was required to furnish his own horse, housing, food and equipment. His first job was patrolling the Plum Creek Forest Reserve, now part of the Pike National Forest. In 1901 he was transferred to Battlement Mesa Forest Reserve (now the Grand Mesa National Forest) as district ranger headquartered in Cedaredge. He went on to have a long career and retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1939 as Forest Supervisor of the Roosevelt National Forest. In tribute to him, a 13,230-foot mountain four miles east of Tin Cup, Colorado, is named Kreutzer Peak.
Bio by: George Bacon
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