FOREST SUPER RETIRES KOVALICKY LEAVES NEZ PERCE FOREST
----GRANGEVILLE Thomas J. Kovalicky, the innovative and often controversial supervisor of the Nez Perce National Forest, will retire from his position here Dec. 31.
Kovalicky announced his sudden departure to his staff Friday. He said Sunday evening that no successor has been appointed and the position will be advertised for about three months before one is chosen. In the meantime an acting supervisor will most likely be named, Kovalicky said.
The supervisor expressed a desire to change directions in his life.
''I'm eligible for full retirement and I wanted to do other things in life, so it's time for me to get out,'' Kovalicky said Sunday.
He expects to stay in the Grangeville area at least until spring, but may relocate later.
''I'm pretty excited about it. I try to leave a policy that all resources are going to win, not just the ... trees going to a sawmill,'' he said.
Kovalicky gained national prominence as a maverick forester for putting fish and wildlife on par with timber. He was one of the first who went public with the need to change the Forest Service and was generally praised by fish and wildlife groups who saw him as a model forester.
Ironically, Kovalicky's retirement will coincide with the retirement of one of his greatest critics, U.S. Senator James McClure. The two often sparred over policy, including the time McClure ordered Kovalicky to put the 10-year Forest plan on hold and to reopen the Shearer air strip that had been closed because of suspected sabotage.
Kovalicky's defenders, however, included former U.S. Forest Chief F. Dale Robertson. Two years ago Kovalicky won recognition from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and brought dollars into the Forest from private groups to enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
He has led the way in improving relations between the public and the Nez Perce Indian tribe and under his auspices the Forest has initiated an annual Native American week in which Indian culture, customs and current issues are discussed.
