Sugarloaf’s John Roney recognized on California state senate floor

John Roney, park manager at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, was recognized for his actions during the October 2017 wildflowers not once, but twice this week in Sacramento.

First was a California State Senate resolution, presented at the Capitol on Monday, May 7, by state senators Mike McGuire and Bill Dodd for his heroic response to the October 2017 wildfires. On the night of Sunday, Oct. 8, high winds caused the fires to spread so quickly that campers in the park and residents of nearby Adobe Canyon Road were caught unawares.

Roney and other park staff risked their lives to evacuate the area. Then, as state Sen. McGuire stated from the Senate floor, “Mr. Roney, a former Boy Scout of course, and a retired United States Army colonel, jumped into action. He evacuated 50 to 60 campers scattered throughout a dozen campsites with his team, but he didn’t stop there.”

After that, McGuire continued, Roney helped alert residents of Adobe Canyon of the danger the fast-growing fire posed. He made his way up and down a nearby road, “blaring his horn, pounding on doors, shouting through a bullhorn, all to alert residents of the impending danger,” continued McGuire.

“And as a result of his swift and courageous action, dozens of North Bay residents were able to run for their lives, with the fire literally lapping at their doorsteps.” He added that Roney’s “quick and decisive action ... has been credited with saving the lives of dozens of residents.”

Roney was on his way to Sacramento on Monday morning when he was asked to show up at the Capitol building by 1 p.m. – and asked if he had a suit and tie. He had heard there was a resolution but had no idea it would be presented live.

He managed to line up a jacket from the state parks office, and borrowed a tie from the sergeant-at-arms at the senate. “It was a little bit surreal,” he said.

The next day, May 8, Roney was again honored in the state capital when the California State Parks Foundation presented him with its Grassroots Champion Award. Roney, a Sonoma Ecology Center employee, has managed Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for six years in his role with Team Sugarloaf, which took over park operations amid a State Parks fiscal crisis.

“They gave it to me as an individual, but it reflects all the work that Team Sugarloaf and the Sonoma Ecology Center have done at the park,” said Roney, specifically mentioning Melissa Roberts and all the volunteers at the park. “Everyone has made a huge effort up there. It’s not quite fair there’s only one name on it.

The foundation awarded Sonoma Ecology Center with a $25,000 grant to support its fire recovery efforts.