Rep. Kaptur Celebrates Newly-Appointed Superintendent at Perry’s Victory Memorial
Presence of recently-threatened staff position strengthened by selection of experienced leader
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) praised the selection of Barbara Fearon, a 27-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), as the new Superintendent of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorialtoday. Earlier this year Kaptur celebrated a hard-won victory in her fight to retain the full-time superintendent position at Perry’s Memorial.
“The appointment of a new highly-qualified full-time Superintendent at Perry’s Memorial is welcome news, especially after we learned that services could be cut at this increasingly popular and important landmark,” said Rep. Kaptur. “I am pleased that the NationalPark Service has selected someone with experience managing this site and others in Northern Ohio. With a growing numbers of visits and increasing community activity at Perry’s Memorial, I am confident that the Park Service will be well-served by this appointment for years to come.”
Fearon has served as Acting Superintendent at the site for the past six months. Before that, she served as Chief of Business Management at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
In announcing the appointment, National Park Service Midwest Regional Director Cam Sholly said:“I am pleased to welcome Barbara Fearon as the Superintendent of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. Barbara is a great fit to lead this park. She has solid experience in park management, exceptional business acumen, and a proven track record of solving complex problems through collaboration.”
Of her new assignment, Fearon said, “I am truly honored to be selected as the Superintendent of Perry’s Victory as we celebrate the National Park Service Centennial and look toward the future. I am excited to work with the park staff, partners and volunteers, and the residents of Put-in-Bay and South Bass Island, to continue to tell this important story and preserve this special place.”
Earlier this year Rep. Kaptur discovered that NPS was conducting a review that could have led to the elimination of the full-time supervisor at the site. Kaptur spearheaded a joint letter to the National Park Service (NPS) with other members of the Ohio Congressional delegation to oppose any consolidation at Perry’s Memorial. She subsequently secured a commitment from Congressional leaders to work with her to maintain staffing and services at the site. One week later, NPS announced that the site would remain an independent Park Service unit and maintain its full-time superintendent.
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is the second most visited NPS site in the State of Ohio, receiving close to 130,000 visitors each year and reaching more than twice as many individuals through education programs and community outreach.
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