“One Thing is True”
Words and music by Leonard Running
with Mrs. Goebel’s 5th Grade Class
©2018 Leonard Running
Bill Schreier inspires anyone who inquires, how to have a happy life:
He found enjoyment in his employment, and he found a lovely wife;
And he gets through life OK by learning something new each day
And that’s why we hear him say…..today….today
One thing I can tell you, one thing is true,
One earth to take care of, like the earth cares for you.
Each drop of water, each breath of fresh air,
All things in nature, needs our care.
Bill Schreier was hired, worked awhile and retired: Ranger for the National Parks.
Jewel Cave to Yellowstone-places that he called home, paradise from dawn till dark.
And he got through life Ok, by learning something new each day
And that’s why we hear him say-….today….. today
One thing I can tell you, one thing is true,
One earth to take care of, like the earth cares for you.
Each drop of water, each breath of fresh air,
All things in nature, need our care.
Bill Schreier’s life’s fire and his deepest desire: To be in the great outdoors.
He says it’s our duty to protect its beauty; something that we can’t ignore.
And we’ll get through life each day, by learning something new each day
And that’s why you hear us say…..Today…. Today….
One thing I can tell you, one thing is true;
One earth to take care of, like the earth cares for you.
Each drop of water, each breath of fresh air;
All things in nature, need our care.
Bill Schreier, grew up in Winnett, Montana. He attended high school at the Senior High in Billings. His childhood included many opportunities to play, investigate, and discover as much as possible about the Montana prairie where he roamed and spent his free time.
Bill attended college at the University of Montana, in Missoula. He has a younger brother whose name is Carl, who lives in San Francisco and Jackson Hole. Bill’s family took vacations at nearby Yellowstone National Park and his love for the outdoors and nature were developed.
The first job that Bill had as an adult was working in Seattle, Washington at the Boeing Company. He worked there and figured out that it was not the job for him, so he quit! Then, he became a manager of a variety store, Bonanza – 88 Cents, but he did not fall in love with that occupation either, so he quit! He took some time off and thought about his childhood memories. Bill’s “thinking time” lead him to a discipline that he was passionate about- he attended college and earned a degree in Parks and Recreation.
Bill applied for a job in the National Park Service and accepted a position at Jewel Cave in Custer, South Dakota. Bill gave cave tours and educated visitors about the unique and beautiful nature of Jewel Cave. Bill worked in many different National Parks: Death Valley, Yellowstone, The Everglades, Jewel Cave, and Bryce Canyon. Yellowstone was his favorite national park. He loved the wildlife- grizzlies, wolves, bison, elk, and all the beautiful scenery.
Some of Bill’s favorites include; filled long Johns, the color: sky blue, chicken casserole, Latin music, the book: The Biography of a Grizzly, hiking, birding, border collies, chocolate ice cream, and bison. Bill told us stories of his adventures as a National Park Ranger, including a tale about catching a very large grizzly bear and he even brought a cast print of it to show us.
Our class was delighted and honored to interview, and get to know Bill. He is friendly. He loves his wife, Cheryl, and he was able to achieve his dream job- working at Yellowstone National Park. Bill had some great advice for our class: Science is Real! Nature and wildlife and wild spaces are dwindling. It is important for our generation to learn to appreciate and protect nature in all her splendor!