Charles “Chuck” H. Odegaard died on July 9 in Seattle, Wash., after complications from a stroke. He was 79.

Odegaard spent more than 40 years encouraging youth, families, bureaucrats, and politicians to get out and enjoy their public lands, according to former National Park colleague Bill Walters.

“Chuck had a winning way,” Walters said in describing Odegaard’s 18 years with the National Park Service. “He pushed the Service to look beyond the islands of the iconic national park areas to see contributions made by cities, counties, and state partnerships. It was a renaissance thought that is practiced today.”

Odegaard retired in 1997 as regional director in the Service’s Pacific Northwest headquarters in Seattle. Prior to this post, he served as the regional director in the Service’s Midwest Region. These leadership positions shaped the direction and management of the national park system and focused on the most important issues affecting the Service.

His state legacy is the leadership of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for which he was director from 1963 through 1979. During this period he administered a diverse system of 170 properties including day-use and camping parks, swim beaches, heritage sites, environmental learning centers, ski areas, golf courses, scenic highways, safe boating and winter recreation programs, and a youth conservation program.

The current director of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Rex Derr, worked with Odegaard during some of his state park years. “He was a dynamic individual with vision, and he was at the helm of the state parks system during a tremendous time of growth,” Derr said. “I have good memories of those times and great feelings of respect for him. It was a short but very rewarding mentorship for me.”

“He deeply cared about parks and the visitor,” Yosemite National Park Superintendent Michael Tollefson said. “He provided insight and wisdom to many of today’s managers. The parks are better because of his stewardship.”

Recognized around the world for his experience in partnering and park management, he lectured extensively — from the Far East to Europe — even co-authoring with Grant and Wenonah Sharpe, the seminal textbook, “A Comprehensive Introduction to Park Management,” still referred to today in many colleges. Odegaard taught management classes at the University of Washington and Oregon State University.

He was past president of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of State Park Directors, the National Society for Park Resources, and the American Youth Hostel. He was a district representative for the National Recreation and Park Association for the five western states as well as the three western provinces of Canada from 1958 to 1963.

In 1985 and 2006, the National Recreation and Park Association recognized his lifelong interest in parks and outdoor recreation when they presented him with their Distinguished Professional Award. Some of the highlights of his career include winning the sought-after Gold Medal Award, which the NRPA gives to the best state parks and recreation agencies, and receiving the prestigious Pugsley State Medal Award from the Academy of State Parks and Recreation while he was the director of State Parks.

A man of boundless energy and vision, he had a wall and desk full of notable achievements and awards. Still, he remembered with fondness starting out in 1952 as director of the Parks and Recreation Department for Marinette, Wis., fresh from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse and his bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation. He later received a master’s of science in urban studies from the University of Nebraska.

He was a veteran of World War II. He was a member of the West Precinct Police Advisory Committee, Tillicum Village at Blake Island State Park advisory board, and various organizations involved in keeping downtown Seattle clean and safe.

“The love and time given to his family was known by all who knew him,” said Evelyn, Odegaard’s wife of 31 years. “We shared many years of joy. Being around him was just plain fun. He was a gentle man and his goodness, infectious smile, and sense of humor will always be remembered. Charles’ good manners, character, and strength never left him.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one brother, Richard; three sons, David, John, and Bill; four Odegaard grandchildren; three stepchildren, Steven Masley, Brooke McWhorter, and Susan Thomas; and six Masley grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions for the Washington Parks and Recreation Association Endowment Committee be made in memory of Charles H. Odegaard. They can be sent to 4405-7th Avenue SE, Suite 202, Lacey, WA 98503.