Adrian Dargan

Adrian was an adventurous youngster who loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing with his father and many family vacations to National Parks across the country. Early on Adrian chose to pursue a career that would feed his passion for the outdoors. Many of his friends and classmates questioned his field of study, but he was not deterred. With steadfast determination, he enrolled at Oklahoma State University where he fulfilled his dream by earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, School of Forestry, breaking barriers for young African American men and women who share the same passion for conserving our national resources. While in college, he met his one and only, Brunell Manning, a student at a nearby college, Langston University. They were married on December 30, 1961. From this union, three amazing children were born, Monique, Adrian Jr., and Theodore Dargan. The family tree later grew to include five grandchildren, Aram, Jordan, and Matthew Field, Jade and Isaiah Dargan, and a great-granddaughter, Ellyia Storm.

Adrian served our nation as a Specialist 5th Class in the United States Army and Army Reserve before being honorably discharged in 1967. While awaiting a permanent position with the U.S. Forest Service, Adrian worked as an Expeditor at North Star Aviation, an aerospace manufacturing corporation. There he ordered and delivered components that were used by engineers working on the lunar landing module for the Apollo Space Craft.

During the summer of 1967, the dream of becoming a forester became reality for Adrian. He was to report to the Fernan Ranger District on the Coeur d’Alene National Forest in Idaho…making him the first African American professionally educated forester to be hired by the U.S. Forest Service.

In over 30 years as a forester, Adrian planted many a tree, though he would jokingly insist it was closer to an entire forest of trees. Other duties included supervising logging and timber activities, administering forest management plans, building and maintaining roads, bridges, hiking trails, and campgrounds. He also supervised Special Use Permits, recreation, and wildlife initiatives, and fought forest fires each summer across the United States. The family thought of dad’s work as “tending God’s Garden” (Genesis 2:15). Adrian worked on three national forests in Idaho and Montana before transferring to the Pike and San Isabel National Forest in Colorado. He retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1993.

Adrian was not only committed to his family and career, he was also committed to giving back to the community. He was involved in civic activities and chaired many fundraising projects as a member of the Choteau, Montana Chapter of the Jaycees, a leadership training, service and civic organization. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Award for his successful efforts in fundraising to build a new library and for organizing outdoor art shows. “Art on the Green” became an annual event drawing many well-known artists from across the region to display and sell art in the town square.

Adrian embraced a private and personal faith in God. He also sang in community and church choirs and was involved in the ministry. He personified integrity and dependability and was a wonderful provider for his family.

Adrian loved jazz and old westerns on television and often listened to jazz while watching westerns. He was an avid Grill Master with a reputation for mouthwatering smoked ribs and brisket…the “Bar-B-Q-tioner” was his nickname. He also possessed a keen interest in the history of Black people and American Indians and their intersection in the western United States, especially the Buffalo Soldiers and the true stories about the settling of the West. His love for storytelling about his adventures with the U.S. Forest Service often evoked much laughter.

Adrian was an inspiration to all who knew him and left behind a proud legacy of a life well lived. Those left to cherish his memory include, but are not limited to the following:

Brunell Dargan - Spouse of 61 years

Dr. Olita Dargan Harris - Sister (Solomon, husband)

Monique Dargan - Daughter

Adrian Dargan Jr. – Son

Theodore Dargan - Son

Aram Field - Grandson

Jordan Field - Grandson

Matthew Field - Grandson (Autumn, wife)

Isaiah Dargan - Grandson

Jade Dargan - Granddaughter

Ellyia Storm - Great Granddaughter

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Adrian Dargan Memorial Fund that will be used to plant trees at the National Museum of Forest Service History (NMFSH).

Address:

P.O. Box 2772

Missoula, Montana 59806