List of CAVE Superintendents, Acting Superintendents, and Custodians (1924-2010)

CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK, NEW MEXICO—Established 10/25/1923 as a National Monument; Established 5/14/1930 as a National Park
 

A huge thanks to Susan McCombs for providing me the dates for Acting Superintendent Charles "Chaz" Cartwright who I forgot had served briefly in early 2000. When I verify his service dates, I will include him.

Thanks again, Susan.
Bob Hoff


Notes:

1. Custodian was a named used for the "site manager" before term Superintendent was more widely applied. When Tom Boles arrived in 1927, he was a Custodian and soon became a Superintendent.


Note: "Permanent" superintendents are listed in chronological order of assignment here in brackets


Willis T. Lee, Custodian. 3/21/1924 - 9/07/1924
Frank McIlvain, Custodian. 9/08/1924 - 5/14/1927
(1) Thomas Boles, Superintendent. 5/15/1927 - 6/07/1946
(2) Donald S. Libbey, Superintendent. 6/08/1946 - 3/31/1951
(3) R. Taylor Hoskins, Superintendent. 4/01/1951 - 9/06/1958
(4) Oscar W. Carlson, Superintendent. 9/06/1958 - 10/15/1962
(5) Henry R. During, Superintendent. 11/25/1962 - 4/10/1965
(6) Paul L. Webb, Superintendent. 5/23/1965 - 8/03/1966
(7) Luther T. Peterson, Jr., Superintendent. 2 9/25/1966 - 7/01/1967
(8) Neal G. Guse, Superintendent. 7/16/1967 - 10/03/1970
(9) Donald A. Dayton, Superintendent. 12/13/1970 - 11/01/1980
Bobby L. Crisman, Acting Superintendent 10/27/1980 - 2/8/1981
(10) William W. Dunmire, Superintendent. 2/08/1981 - 8/31/1985
Bobby L. Crisman, Acting. Superintendent. 9/01/1985 - 3/29/1986
(11) Richard B. Smith, Superintendent. 3/30/1986 - 5/07/1988
Bobby L. Crisman, Acting Superintendent. 5/08/1988 - 9/24/1988
Donald A. Dayton, Acting Superintendent. 9/25/1988 - 11/30/1988
Bobby L. Crisman, Acting Superintendent. 12/01/1988 - 4/16/1989
Robert Belous, Acting Superintendent. 4/17/1989 - 6/03/1989
(12) Wallace B. Elms, Superintendent. 6/04/1989 - 5/1992
Bobby L. Crisman, Acting Superintendent. 2/18/1991 - 4/11/1991
Dennis Ditmanson (from White Sands National Monument), Anne Hitchcock** (NPS Curator) (30 days), Ed Greene (CAVE Interp Chief) (24 days) and Bobby L. Crisman (CAVE Mgt. Asst) (55days) served as Acting Superintendents from time Superintendent Elms left in May 1992 and Superintendent Deckert arrived in Sept 1992
(13) Frank Deckert 9/6/1992 - 1/29/2000
(14) Mick Holm 8/27/2000 - 7/29/2002
(15) Mary Gibson-Scott 7/28/2002 - 5/24/2004
(16) John Benjamin 10/2004 - Present
**First CAVE Woman Superintendent(Acting); Second was Mary Gibson Scott (Permanent), beginning 2/28/2002


Updated (9/17/10)
Bob Hoff
Retired CAVE Park Historian