ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995              TAG: 9512290082
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: NEWS OBIT 
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON

FOREST WARDEN DEAD AT 61

The chief forest warden for Botetourt County, Paul Jerry Spickard, died of a heart attack Wednesday at age 61.

Spickard, of Blue Ridge, served with the Virginia Department of Forestry as chief forest warden for more than 25 years.

In 1991, he ran a Republican campaign for Botetourt County Sheriff.

Spickard, who lost the three-way race to Reed Kelly, campaigned for the position with an emphasis on community relations.

As chief forest warden, Spickard's primary responsibility was fire prevention and control.

He also assisted in Craig and Roanoke counties.

During the Craig County forest fires last year, Spickard led a crew from Botetourt County to help control the blazes, said Todd Groh, area forester and Spickard's supervisor.

Groh said Spickard was well-known among schoolchildren for his promotionals of Smokey Bear.

Before becoming a forest warden, Spickard operated a general store, service station, and gun and tackle supply store.

Spickard was a graduate of Colonial High School and attended Virginia Western Community College.

Funeral services will be held at Glade Creek Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Saturday.

LENGTH: Short :   35 lines