A consummate scientist throughout his career, John Good recognized the threat of over-fishing in the Everglades and laid the groundwork for the commercial fishing ban that led to a resurgence of sea life around the park.
John M. Good began his Park Service career as a tour leader at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. He later served as a naturalist at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Dinosaur National Monument, and Yellowstone National Park, and he also worked for two years in Washington, D.C., as the Park Service’s chief geologist. After five years as chief naturalist at Yellowstone, in 1968 Good became superintendent of Acadia National Park. Three years later he was transferred to Yosemite National Park as assistant superintendent. He left Yosemite in 1976 to become superintendent of Everglades National Park. His vast experience as a naturalist proved to be very valuable as he worked to preserve the rich natural environment of south Florida. While at Everglades, Good personally led the fight to eliminate commercial fishing in that park. He also looked beyond national boundaries traveling at one point to Tanzania, East Africa, as part of a two-year team teaching project at the College of African Wildlife Management. He and other NPS employees shared their knowledge and experience with park and resource managers from 14 English-speaking African nations. Good remained at Everglades until his retirement in January 1980.
John died at home in Meridian, Idaho, on Dec. 5, 2019. He was 95 years old.
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