Carl Garner (born William Garner circa 1916) served as resident engineer of Greers Ferry Lake since its construction in 1959, and in that capacity, he organized a citizen cleanup of the area which expanded to Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day.
The attention the program has received has also made people more aware of the problem of litter and preservation of the environment during the entire year.
Garner was born and raised on a farm near Sulphur Rock, Arkansas. His second wife, Jean, also worked for the Corps of Engineers.
Garner received the Department of the Army Exceptional Civilian Service Award, the highest civilian award the service can bestow, as well as being named Employee of the Year in the Little Rock District and Employee of the Year in Federal Service in Arkansas.
Garner has served on the boards of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission and Keep America Beautiful.
During Carl Garner's over 57 years of public service working for the Corps of Engineers in Arkansas, he headed preparations for the dedication of Greers Ferry Dam by President John F. Kennedy and introduced innumerable families to the outdoors.
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