Parks & Recreation

Cassius Cash

1987
A 1991 graduate of UAPB, Cassius Cash made history when he was named the first African-American Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in North America.
Before his appointment to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cash served as superintendent of Boston, MA parks and in his role opened oversaw the opening of a new visitor center in historic Faneuil Hall. That facility now welcomes more than 5 million visitors a year. Cash also worked with several park partners to secure $4 million to reopen the African Meeting House, the oldest black church still in its original location in the country.
Cash began his federal career in 1991 with the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State. He went on to work with that agency for 18 years in various leadership positions.


Ulysses Grant, III
1971
Grant, a pioneering alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), holds the distinction of being the first Cooperative Education student admitted to the program. He completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Parks and Recreation at UAPB, becoming the first African-American Park Ranger employed by the Corps of Engineers in Pine Bluff.
Grant's impact on public parks in Arkansas is profound, as he played a pivotal role in the planning, implementation, and design of many of them. Notably, his design imprint is evident at Sainte Marie Park near Pine Bluff, showcasing his enduring contributions to the community's recreational spaces.