Maryland Park Ranger Ruszin Receives Edmund Prince Award

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PASADENA, MD— Maryland Park Ranger Rusty Ruszin, who also serves as Assistant Superintendent of the Maryland Park Service (MPS), was recently honored as the latest recipient of the Service’s Edmund Prince Award, presented by Colonel Rick Barton, Superintendent of the MPS. Ruszin received this award for his contributions during his 30 years of service with the Maryland Park Service, as well as his educational, personal and professional experience as an advocate for resource-based recreation, parks and open spaces in Maryland. He is one of only a few Maryland Park Rangers to receive this award honoring his many years of public service, during which he personified the culture, heritage and proud tradition of the Maryland Park Service, a division of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Ruszin is a native of Dundalk, MD, where he was born and raised. His interest in parks and recreation began during his part time work experience at Kurtz’s Pleasure Beach in Pasadena. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and his graduate degrees at Morgan State University and Indiana University. Ruszin’s professional career began with Baltimore County Parks and Recreation working in the Southeast area, which includes Dundalk. Before leaving Baltimore County Parks and Recreation, he was assigned to the Assistant Director for countywide operations.

During his long career with the MPS, Ranger Ruszin has been a lead advocate for improving DNR’s efforts in the area of search and rescue, providing critical incident stress management support to employees, and for consistent review and expansion of parks and recreational services. Most recently, Ruszin has been instrumental in highlighting the role Maryland’s 49 state parks play in the state’s tourism industry and the contributions they make to the state’s economic development, quality of life and the health of the state’s citizens.

As a long-time member of the Maryland Recreational and Parks Association (MRPA), Ranger Ruszin has represented the causes for resource-based recreation, natural and cultural resources, parks and open spaces in our state. During this time, he has received numerous awards and served as the MRPA president. He has represented the MPS locally, regionally and nationally. Ruszin also serves as an adjunct professor at Frostburg State University and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) in a continuing effort to advocate and create awareness for the economic, social, environmental, educational and health-related benefits of our natural and cultural resources.

A husband and father, Ruszin resides in Pasadena with his son, Glenn, and wife, Pamela Sue. He enjoys hunting, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking.

Colonel Barton created the Edmund Prince award as a tribute to the first Ranger in the state of Maryland. Prince, whose legacy dates back 100 years, truly epitomized the role of a Ranger in Maryland’s state parks and is held in the highest regard in this field of work.

Colonel Barton presented the award to Ranger Ruszin during a staff meeting at Patapsco Valley State Park in Baltimore County. “It is truly an honor to present this award to a true friend of the Maryland Park Service, who’s dedicated his professional career to the goals and objectives of the Maryland Park Service,” said Colonel Barton.

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March 22, 2007

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov