Tree dedicated to Nichols of National Park Service

TREE DEDICATION — On hand for the tree dedication in Stephenville City Park Tuesday were (left to right) Director of Community Services Jeremy Allen, Alisa Terrell-Starbird, Mayor Kenny Weldon, Metta Collier, Cynthia Inman, honoree Kathryn Nichols, Jill Burk, Dennis Jones, Brad Mills, Carey Strohmeyer and Michele Dunkerley. || TheFlashToday.com photo by BRAD KEITH

By BRAD KEITH

TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (January 19, 2016) — Kathryn Nichols came to Stephenville to help with a couple grants and the expansion of a trail through its city park.

Sounds simple enough.

But Nichols doesn’t do anything the simple way, she does it all out.

As she retires from the National Parks Service, Nichols, leaves behind a legacy for generations to adore.

A Bur Oak, said to be the fastest growing shade tree in Texas, was dedicated to Nichols Tuesday afternoon at the mouth of the trail she has helped turn into a Stephenville landmark.

City officials and members of Keep Stephenville Beautiful gathered with Nichols at the tree, located just west of the Graham Street bridge, where the trail once ended due to prior regulations.

“To have Kathryn Nichols come was just the perfect match for our community,” said Stephenville Mayor Kenny Weldon, who ten addressed Nichols personally. “I hope as your career ends with the National Parks Service, you can look back at this as something rewarding. Theodore Roosevelt said ‘The greatest prize life has to offer is to work hard at work worth doing,’ and we hope you see this effort in Stephenville as work worth doing.”

Metta Collier of Keep Stephenville Beautiful expounded on the service provided by Nichols.

“This trail is a big deal, and it wouldn’t have happened without [Nichols],” said Collier. “She came in and did a community plan to prioritize the next phases and helped us build community support. She helped us get a lot of participation from people who appreciate the river and a chance to be closer to it.”

Collier oversaw a strategic plan and helped bring together all of the surrounding community to include the city, Erath County and Tarleton State University.”

“Kathryn is the best at her job in the National Forrest Service, but she’s even better at life,” Collier continued. “We hate that her time in Stephenville is over.”

Rest assured, the women of Keep Stephenville Beautiful are already beseeching Nichols to return “five times a year” to visit her tree.

A ribbon cutting is planned for the trail in August, according to Jeremy Allen, director of community services. The ultimate plan, according to Collier, is to see the trail connect Jaycee Park to Lingleville Highway.