Milton E. Reinke
(1922- )
Inducted November 3, 2000
Plaque Engraving:
A professional forester whose career with the Department of Natural Resources spawned a period from 1949 to 1986.
His career started as Forester in Chippewa County. He assumed greater leadership in the DNR forestry program and in 1976 was appointed Director of the Bureau of Forestry and Chief Forester, a position he fielded until retirement.
As Bureau Director, he strengthened county forest program legislation to assure its permanence, reorganized fire control and management programs into the Bureau of Forestry, developed the nation’s largest Private Non-industrial forestry program, revised forest tax laws, directed the first Wisconsin Strategic Forestry Plan and recognized the importance of urban forestry through the “Tree City USA” program.
His voice, experience and wisdom has had a profound impact on the future of Wisconsin forestry.
More about Milton E. Reinke:
Milt Reinke is the retired director & chief state forester of the Bureau of Forestry, Dept. of Natural Resources.
He obtained his degree in forestry from the University of Michigan in 1948. After working for a year in Michigan, he came to Wisconsin where he served in various positions in forestry and state parks.
During his career Milt served as a field forester, northwest district forestry supervisor, assistant bureau director & director of the former bureau of forest management, director of state parks and recreation for three years and, finally, director & chief state forester for ten years prior to his retirement in 1986 after a 38 year career with the DNR.
As director of the Bureau of Forestry, Milt’s leadership had a great impact on fire control, state forests, county forest cooperation, private forestry assistance, wild rivers, forest tax laws, insect & disease control, forest nurseries, and forest inventory.
Milt was known to the other state foresters throughout the nation as the most widely traveled among his associates. All on his own time and expense, he has travelled to and studied forestry in Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Scotland, England, Austria and West Germany. He has twice participated in the international U.S. – Germany forester exchange under the Marshall Plan, leading the U.S. delegation of 30 foresters in 1980.
