Crater Lake ranger presented with Exemplary Act Award
National Park Service
Date: December 07, 2002
Contact: Dan Jacobs, (541)594-3053
On December 7, 2002, National Park Service Ranger Randy Benham was presented with the Department of Interior’s Exemplary Act Award in a ceremony at park headquarters. Chief Park Ranger Dave Brennan presented the award on behalf of Superintendent Chuck Lundy, “In recognition of Randy’s courageous actions that resulted in the rescue of a two avalanche victims at Crater Lake National Park.”
On January 21, 2002, park staff initiated a search for two skiers overdue from a trip around the rim of Crater Lake. Ranger Benham, volunteer ski patrol member Bill Bloom and park visitors Richard Ward and Kris Fisher were caught in an avalanche that released on a steep slope approximately 100 feet above their location on East Rim Drive. The searchers were swept 100 feet down a steep hill. When the slide stopped, Benham was on top of the snow, and Ward was buried to his waist. Fisher was buried upside down with only his ski pole tip sticking out of the snow. Bloom was nowhere to be seen.
Ranger Benham took charge of the scene and led Ward in a search for the other two skiers. They located and dug out Fisher, who was buried head down in the avalanche debris. Benham then lead the group in a search for Bloom. He initiated a hasty search, picked up an avalanche beacon signal from Bloom, and using his ski poles to make a probe, quickly located Bloom who was completely buried under six feet of avalanche debris. By the time they dug Bloom out of the snow, he had been buried for almost 40 minutes, and was hypoxic and hypothermic. Benham treated Bloom for his injuries, which allowed him to later ski out under his own power. Ranger Benham’s timely, accurate and professional response undoubtedly saved the lives of both Bloom and Fisher.
Randy Benham began work as a Ranger with the National Park Service in 1993 at Crater Lake National Park. Since that time, the 43-year-old self-employed businessman has also worked as a Ranger for Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and has volunteered as a member of the Crater Lake Ski Patrol. When not working for the National Park Service, Randy designs and manufactures rescue evacuation equipment and technical outerwear clothing. Randy, his wife Sharrol and his three children Sheana, Sean and Seth make there home in Merlin, Oregon.
Honor Awards are the most prestigious recognition that can be granted by the National Park Service or the Department of Interior for career accomplishments, exceptional support of the Department’s mission, or heroism. They are designed to give official recognition of singular or career achievements. The Exemplary Act Award was established in 1982 to honor an employee or private citizen who exhibits bravery in attempting to save the life of another. This award is based on the nature of the act and given individually or to a group. Superintendent Lundy expressed sincere appreciation for Randy and his accomplishments. “His training, experience and leadership under these extreme circumstances were directly responsible for preventing a difficult situation from becoming a tragic one. Randy’s actions continued the long history of selfless dedication by National Park Service rangers in saving the lives of others.”
Other pages in this section
- Park ranger recognized for rescue efforts – December 15, 2002
- Obituaries – James Robert Read – November 24, 2002
- Plan: Relocate rim parking: Rim Village parking may leave Crater Lake’s edge – November 22, 2002
- Snow closes Crater Lake’s Rim Drive – November 13, 2002
- Crater Lake symposium broad as well as deep – October 07, 2002
- Renowned oceanographer featured speaker at Crater Lake symposium – September 18, 2002
- Rex Lee Trulove – September 08, 2002
- Crater Lake Fascinations: Diller’s pin, clear water, fish stories keep lake and park a place of wonder forever fascinating – August 31, 2002
- Navy pilot drops in to Crater Lake, again – August 27, 2002
- Crater Lake centennial party: Celebration amid the smoke – August 26, 2002
- Celebration day: Crater Lake National Park transformed for festivities – August 25, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate available in Oregon – August 25, 2002
- Happy 100th to the gem of Klamath – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake learning center dedicated – August 23, 2002
- Long lines expected for new license plates – August 23, 2002
- National Park Service leader pays return visit to Crater Lake – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake events listed – August 22, 2002
- Larson honored for Crater Lake work – August 18, 2002
- Obituary: Howard ‘Bud’ Hittenrauch – August 15, 2002
- Speakers set for Crater Lake – August 15, 2002
- Stunning revelations at high elevations: Runners experience life – August 11, 2002
- Lindgren makes memorable win – August 11, 2002
- Marathon has world, local flavor – August 11, 2002
- Runner takes ‘stroll in park’ – August 11, 2002
- Bush to visit Oregon, not Crater Lake – August 06, 2002
- Keep Rim Drive open – all of the way – July 31, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate unveiled – July 31, 2002
- Dedication of Future Science & Learning Center – August 22, 2002
- The fight for Crater Lake/Winning National Park Status Wasn’t Easy – July 28, 2002
- Centennial Award goes to Crater Lake researcher – July 22, 2002
- The Crater Lake murders and the 9-fingered man – July 21, 2002
- The party is ‘on’ at Crater Lake – July 18, 2002
- Park plan looks at snipping Rim Road – July 05, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 16, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 15, 2002
- Crater Lake’s north entrance open – June 05, 2002
- Crater Lake looking at trail relocation, rehabilitation – June 05, 2002
- Lake retains beauty after 100 years – May 22, 2002
- Crater Lake National Park Centennial ‘Let the celebration begin’ 1902-2002 – May 21, 2002
- The jewel turns 100: a century after it was dedicated, Crater Lake National Park inspires wonder for millions – May 19, 2002
- Old stories about W. F. Arant and Steel come back again and again for family – May 13, 2002
- W.F. Arant – Crater Lake’s first superintendent – May 13, 2002
- Quilting Crater Lake: Rocky Point will raffle quilt to raise funds – May 12, 2002
- Crater Lake alumni sought – May 09, 2002
- Cafe at Crater Lake to reopen – April 26, 2002
- Park Service names new concession official – April 13, 2002
- National park’s father returns: Will Steele on stage at Crater Lake – April 9, 2002
- Xanterra Parks & Resorts Receives Contract to Manage Concessions – April 5, 2002
- Crater Lake to be subject of museum lectures – March 30, 2002
- Crater Lake employee reunion part of Centennial celebration – March 25, 2002
- ‘How Crater Lake came to be’: A Klamath Indian legend Special for the Herald and News – February 25, 2002
- Making tracks at Crater Lake: guide shares insights with snowshoers; his knowledge of the lake is legendary – February 24, 2002
- Crater Lake Centennial Cookbook to be a part of this year’s celebration – February 22, 2002
- Crater Lake Ski Patrol crucial to park operations – February 21, 2002
- Crater Lake concession awarded to Amfac – January 30, 2002
- Lost skiers find searchers – January 24, 2002
- Search for overdue skiers – January 21, 2002
- Going postal for Crater Lake – January 13, 2002
