Ralph S. Space, former Clearwater National Forest Supervisor, was born April 13, 1901 at Quenemo, Kan., to Christian and Ida Wildin Space. The family moved to Idaho 1902 and he was raised on the family ranch between Weippe and Pierce. He attended the Space grade school, which was founded by his father. He graduated from Weippe High School in 1918 and the University of Idaho in 1925 with honors and a bachelor's degree in forestry.

After graduation, he accepted a job with the US Forest Service and worked as a ranger on the Blackfoot Forest in Idaho. In 1936, he was assigned to the Northern Region headquarters in Missoula, Mont.

In 1937, married Myrtle Lake in Kalispell, Mont.

He was appointed the supervisor of the Clearwater National Forest in 1954 and retired in 1963. His wife died in 1975.

Ralph was a former president of the Orofino Kiwanis Club and active in Boy Scouts in both Idaho and Montana. He was also two-time master of the Orofino Masonic Lodge, two-time District Deputy Grand Master of Masons, Masons Grand Historian for two years and past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.

He was a 32nd degree Knight of Commander of the court of Honor in the Scottish Rite and a member of the Clearwater Historical Society. He numerous articles on local history for which he was given a Meritorious Achievement Award from the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation.

He was a past president of the group that established the Nezperce National Historical Park and a member of the Orofino United Methodist Church and Society of American Foresters. He published three books including the Clearwater Story that chronicled the history of the Clearwater National Forest.

He died June 16, 1993 and is buried in Normal Hill Cemetery in Lewiston.

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