In a series of articles, we share our history as an organization; remembering leaders and events that were instrumental to our founding, development and growth.
We begin celebrating AAPRA’s forty years of success as noted in the initial ten-year history prepared by Bob Toalson, charter member and Executive Secretary/Treasurer at the time (1990), “from its inception the Academy has been very successful because of the hard work and efforts of some very dedicated people.” Much of our early history was prepared by Charlie Hartsoe, also a charter member and AAPRA President 1984-85.
Happy 40th Anniversary AAPRA!
History of the Externship Program
Legends of Parks and Recreation
Looking Back
Video Memories From Presidents
History 1980-1990 Excerpts
Historical Benchmarks 1980-2020
AAPRA History of Presidents
1986-87 Ken Smithee, MI
1987-88 Charles Odegaard, WA
1988-89 Ford Hughes, MO
1989-90 Ralph Cryder, CA
1990-91 Charles Pezoldt, FL
1991-92 James Truncer, NJ
1992-93 Ron Dodd, TX
1993-94 Ray Kisiah, NC
1994-95 Dr. John Crompton, TX
1995-96 Jim Colley, AZ
1996-97 Dr. Doug Sessoms, NC
1997-98 Robert Hall, MO
1998-99 Jane H. Adams, CA
1999-2000 Vern Hartenburg, OH
2000-01 Sandra Whitmore, IL
2001-02 Terry Trueblood, IA
2002-03 Terry Trueblood, IA; (David Clark, OR, deceased)
2003-04 Dr. Peter Witt, TX
2004-05 Michelle Park, OH
2005-06 Dale Larsen, AZ
2006-07 Joseph Wynns, IN
2007-08 Chuck Witt, IN
2008-09 Steven Messerli, IL
2009-10 Jim Garges, OH
2010-11 Tony Cisneros, TX
2011-12 Lori Daniel, CO
2012-13 Tom Lovell, MO
2013-14 John McGovern, IL
2014-15 William Scalzo, AZ
2015-16 Becky Benná, OH
2016-17 Chris Nunes, TX
2017-18 Mark McHenry, MO
2018-19 Carolyn McKnight Fredd, LA
2019-20 Dianne Hoover, CA
2020-21 Michael McCarty, IL
2021-22 Bill Foelsch, NJ
2022-23 Janet Bartnik, CO
2023-24 Tracey Crawford, IL
2024-25 Cynthia Sullivan, OH