Ron Black, Protector of Shell Mound, Retires

Ron at the headquarters building

Parting is such sweet sorrow, particularly when it involves Ron Black, a person that has given selflessly to the Refuges for over 10 years. He may disagree and say his contributions were somewhat selfish because of his love of nature, the Refuges and especially, Shell Mound.

Ron retired from the Refuge this past September. 

Ron’s career started in the Navy right out of high school. Next stop was college, graduating in natural resources. First job out of college in 1964 was with the U.S. Forest Service. He spent 30 years in government service before retiring and moving with his wife, Christine, to Cedar Key. 

​Apparently, retirement wasn’t for him. As a Friends volunteer, he agreed to a 10-year commitment in 2009 to undertake the maintenance of the Refuge’s Shell Mound archaeology and recreational site which was not staffed at the time.

Ron, second from right at top, when he was on Friends' board of directors

Ron is on the right, working with the rest of the refuge staff to build a board walk at Shell Mound

His responsibilities at Shell Mound varied from maintaining trails, trimming vegetation, and facilities management, to giving impromptu guided tours to visitors of the archaeological site when his maintenance schedule allowed. He and other Friends’ volunteers worked with UF Archaeologist Ken Sassaman providing input as it related to the culture and history of the people who constructed Shell Mound. 

When he completed his 10-year volunteering promise a few years ago, Refuge Manager Andrew Gude quickly hired him as a part-time Shell Mound Unit Manager to continue the important work he had been doing. Ron put it this way, “When l exchanged the blue volunteer clothing for the brown uniform, I felt that I had come full circle, because my first job out of college was essentially the same as the Ranger position at Shell Mound Archaeology site.” 

Ron at Summer Solstice 2021

Andrew Gude related that, “Ron will be sorely missed. He was a highly dedicated staff member who always interacted with the public, guiding them around the Shell Mound area and interpreting the history of the unit. We wish Ron the best in his full retirement (it might be his third).”

View from the Mound overlooking the fishing pier

The ceremonial plaza in the center of the Shell Mound

Sunset at Shell Mound

Sunrise at Shell Mound

“What a gift Ron has been to the Refuges," said Friends' president Peg Hall. "He has provided thirteen years of dedicated service, personal friendship, and protection of the area's precious natural resources. He’s irreplaceable and we’re so grateful.”