Arthur E. Demary (1887-1958) received the Pugsley Silver Medal in 1942 and the Gold Medal in 1951. The Gold MEdal award citation stated ' for more than a third of a century with the NPS, he has displayed leadership, wisdom and devotion to the public interest so distinguished as to earn the gratitiude of the nation and recognition of the extraordinary quality of his service." He was born in Washingotn D.C, where his father was a secretary to a Minnesota senator. The family home was in stil water, Minnesota. Demaray dropped out of McKinley High School in D.C at the age of 16 to help support the family when his parents seperated. He finished high school at night.
In 1924, Demaray read American Commonwealth, a book which Lord Bryce, the noted British observer of the U.S had published in which he lamented the lack of any important national park areas in the eastern U.S Demaray was insprired as a result to recommend to Mather and Albright that some be acquired. As a result Congress formed a commission to study the possibility of creating one or more national parks. When Drury resigned in 1951,Secretary of Interior Oscar Chapman decided to recognize Demaray's long exemplary service and outstanding record by making him director as a ceremonial farewell. In 1927, he was decorated by the king of Sweden with the Order of Knight of Vasa.