Randolph Greene Pack
Encyclopedia
Randolph Greene Pack son of Charles Lathrop Pack
, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio
, at the turn of the century. He attended the college preparatory Ransom School, followed by stints at Williams College
(class of 1913) and Penn State, the latter in a forestry program.
by William Buchanan in partnership with Charles Lathrop Pack. Two years later, Randolph returned to Cleveland long enough to marry Georgia Fuller; the newlyweds set up residence in Good Pine, Louisiana
. After a bout with malaria
, in 1916 Randolph and his wife returned to Cleveland, where, for the next seven years, he was "vice president in charge of engineering" with the American Multigraph Company, owned by Harry C. Osborne, a friend of his father's.
Through the Pack Foundation, Randolph "became a founder of the Mexican Institute of Renewable Natural Resources" (Instituto Mexicano de Recursos Naturales Renovables, or IMERNAR), headed by Enrique Beltrán
, who received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1932 for his conservation efforts. IMERNAR was one of the first environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) in Mexico.
Eyle suggests, as well, that Randolph Greene Pack "helped create the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
."
A further arena of Pack's contributions to international forestry was in helping rebuild the forest resources of Japan and Taiwan, following World War II. Through the Pack Foundation, he helped the US Department of Defense formulate a new forestry law for Japan
, to encourage rebuilding of that country's devastated forestry sector; and the US Department of State in strengthening forest policy in Taiwan.
Pack worked closely in the Foundation with Tom Gill
, secretary of the Foundation, and international forester. Together, they contributed to the establishment of forest education and forest policy also in Venezuela
and the Philippines
..
in 1995, through a bequest of Pack's daughter, Virginia Pack Townsend. Honoring Pack and his efforts in international forest policy and conservation, the Institute aims to support and strengthen scholarship and collaboration in international environmental, natural resource and conservation policy.
Charles Lathrop Pack
Charles Lathrop Pack , a third-generation timberman, was "one of the five wealthiest men in America prior to World War I". He owed his good start in life to the success of his father, George Willis Pack, and grandfather, George Pack in the forestry sector. Growing up on Lake Huron in Michigan's...
, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, at the turn of the century. He attended the college preparatory Ransom School, followed by stints at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
(class of 1913) and Penn State, the latter in a forestry program.
Early career
Under his father's tutelage, Randolph began preparing for a career in forestry. While a student at Penn State, he spent one summer working "as a Montana logger". Not long afterward, in 1912, at "a mere twenty-two years old, he became vice president of ... the Tall Tree Lumber Company", just established in southern ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
by William Buchanan in partnership with Charles Lathrop Pack. Two years later, Randolph returned to Cleveland long enough to marry Georgia Fuller; the newlyweds set up residence in Good Pine, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. After a bout with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, in 1916 Randolph and his wife returned to Cleveland, where, for the next seven years, he was "vice president in charge of engineering" with the American Multigraph Company, owned by Harry C. Osborne, a friend of his father's.
Pack Forestry Foundation
Randolph was an officer of the Charles Lathrop Pack Forestry Foundation from 1931-56, serving as president from 1937, upon his father's death. According to his father's biographer, Alexandra Eyle, Randolph "had developed a deep interest in world politics and economics. Through the foundation, he could launch forestry management programs in Asia, [Central] and South America."Through the Pack Foundation, Randolph "became a founder of the Mexican Institute of Renewable Natural Resources" (Instituto Mexicano de Recursos Naturales Renovables, or IMERNAR), headed by Enrique Beltrán
Enrique Beltrán
Enrique Beltrán Castillo was one of Mexico's first conservationists. A student of Alfonso Herrera at the UNAM in the 1920s, Beltrán was appointed by Herrera "to head two marine commissions , that were established to study and improve the use of Mexico's coastal fisheries."In 1932, Beltrán received...
, who received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1932 for his conservation efforts. IMERNAR was one of the first environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) in Mexico.
Eyle suggests, as well, that Randolph Greene Pack "helped create the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
."
A further arena of Pack's contributions to international forestry was in helping rebuild the forest resources of Japan and Taiwan, following World War II. Through the Pack Foundation, he helped the US Department of Defense formulate a new forestry law for Japan
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing form the primary sector of industry of the Japanese economy, together with the Japanese mining industry, but together they account for only 1.3% of gross national product...
, to encourage rebuilding of that country's devastated forestry sector; and the US Department of State in strengthening forest policy in Taiwan.
Pack worked closely in the Foundation with Tom Gill
Thomas Gill
Thomas Ponce Gill , was a Hawaii politician. A member of the Democratic party, he served in the United States Congress from 1963 to 1965 and was the third Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii from 1966 to 1970...
, secretary of the Foundation, and international forester. Together, they contributed to the establishment of forest education and forest policy also in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
..
Offices
- President, American Tree Association
- Vice President, American Nature AssociationAmerican Nature AssociationAmerican Nature Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C., was the publisher of Nature Magazine from 1923 to 1959; and a discount reseller of natural science books for its members. It was founded by Arthur Newton Pack and his father, Charles...
- Executive vice president and director, American Forestry AssociationAmerican Forestry AssociationThe American Forestry Association was formed in Chicago, Illinois in September 1875 by John Aston Warder. The current headquarters are in Washington, D.C.. The organization acts as a clearinghouse for environmental organizations working to preserve world tree growth. The "National Register of...
- Director, Northeastern Forestry Foundation
Service
- Member, United States Citizens Committee, United Nations Scientific Conference on Conservation and Utilization of Resources, Lake Success, New York, August 17, 1949 -- appointed by Julius A. Krug, U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The gathering was "the first UN body to address the depletion of [natural] resources and their use".
- Member, Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of AmericaThe Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
conservation committee
Honors
- Honorary member, Mexican Society of Nature Protection
- Honorary member, Society of American ForestersSociety of American ForestersThe Society of American Foresters is a scientific and educational 501 non-profit organization, representing the forestry profession in the United States of America...
, 1945 - Honorary Doctor of Science degree, University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, 1953, "in recognition of his conservation and land management work"
End of Life
Randolph Greene Pack "died in 1956, at the age of sixty-six, after suffering for several months of a brain tumor".Legacy
The Randolph G. Pack Environmental Institute was established at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestryState University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry is an American specialized doctoral-granting institution located in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, immediately adjacent to Syracuse University...
in 1995, through a bequest of Pack's daughter, Virginia Pack Townsend. Honoring Pack and his efforts in international forest policy and conservation, the Institute aims to support and strengthen scholarship and collaboration in international environmental, natural resource and conservation policy.