Today's Featured Biography

 
Billy Yemma

In 1980 I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. While there, I was smitten by the Piney Woods and a beautiful Southern Belle from east of the Sabine River. Concurrently while in college, I served on a USDA Forest Service Hotshot Crew fighting fire for 18 months in the mountains of Southern California. In 1982 I married my wonderful wife, and we have three lovely daughters who are now in their twenties.

Over my career, I have been fortunate to work for some excellent outfits in several parts of the country: 1977-1980 ~ Angeles National Forest, California; 1980-1982 ~ SFASU, Nacogoches, Texas; 1982-1991 ~ Texas Utilities Company, Killeen & Dallas, Texas; 1991-1995 ~ USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, Yakama Indian Reservation, Washington; 1995-2000 ~ Champion International Corporation, Huntsville, Texas; 2000-2001 ~ International Paper Company, Shreveport, Louisiana. In 2001, I returned to work for the USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs in Denver, Colorado, where I am employed as a professional forester.

Most of my time is spent analyzing data and supporting information systems which help us provide management services for BIA forestry and wildland fire programs on about 60 million acres of federal land held in trust by the United States Department of the Interior for 564 federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives. My job is a lot of fun, and has led to many longstanding friendships with forestry, wildland fire and information technology professionals working on Indian Reservations from Anadarko to Zuni. A few years ago I was given an Indian name by some of my Navajo buddies. Roughly translated, it means "The guy from Denver who brings the donuts to our meetings". 2010 is the Centennial Year for the National Indian Forestry and Wildland Fire Management Program, which began as the Indian Forest Service in 1910. It is an honor and privilege to be a part of such a great program that serves both the client Indian Tribes and the US Taxpayers.

However, the most important vocation of my life is striving, but often falling short, to lovingly serve our Lord as a devoted husband and father, even though paying for three college educations has increased my retirement age to 99, and blood pressure to 199/299. We have had a wonderful marriage and much fun raising three daughters. There are also a number of important activities that occupy my time: Society of American Foresters, Lions International, That Man is You, Knights of Columbus, and a number of other joyful obligations as an active Catholic in the Archdiocese of Denver.

The four years spent at William B. Travis High School are among the best memories of my life, thanks to so many wonderful classmates who I count among my very best of friends. I have always carried you deep in my heart, which will always call Texas home, no matter where we live. I am humbled and honored to serve as your class vice-president, and I enjoyed seeing many of you at our recent 35-year reunion. I hope to see all of you at our 40-year reunion on Saturday, June 13, 2015.

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