Steve Beals says he’s been a volunteer all of his life.

“I enjoy it. It is a feeling of self worth when people thank you. It is giving back to your community and your fellow man,” said Beals, 71, who has lived in Snyder Township since 1990.

“It gives you a sense of pride,” said Connie, his wife of 53 years.

Today, Beals is chairman of the Friends of Prince Gallitzin State Park, a position he has held for 10 years.

Beals grew up in Tyrone and graduated from Tyrone Area High School in 1965. He worked at PPG in Tipton for 44 years before retiring in 2009.

“Back in the day, it was the place to work. They paid good money and benefits,” Beals said. “I was one of the original PPG employees, one of 31 guys hired there in 1966 when the plant opened.”

Beals, who retired as a process technician, spent three years at the PPG Research Center in Harmarville on the team to develop a process called laminated side lites.

Beals has served his community in several roles.

He was chief of the Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Fire Company (Hookies) from 1976-90 and as fire marshal for one year.

He was chief of the Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Fire Company (Hookies) from 1976-90 and as fire marshal for one year.

He also spent time on the boards of Tyrone Hospital and the Northern Blair County Regional Sewer Authority.

“My wife was a living widow,” Beals joked.

He also served as mayor of Tyrone from 1981-85.

“I thought I could change things. We ended up with Home Rule Charter; they still have it today,” Beals said. “Before I became mayor, Tyrone was financially in trouble. We got out of debt. I was proud of that. We had good financial people on council.”

The Friends of Prince Gallitzin State Park was formed in January 2007 as a chapter of the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, a private, non-profit organization that works to develop resources which complement the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Beals and his wife joined the group in 2009. He has been chairman for 10 years, while Connie has been membership chairwoman for eight years.

“We are one of 131 state parks that has a Friends group. We save the state parks about $2 million a year in labor costs,” Beals said. “One of our slogans is ‘we embrace the park.’ We pick up garbage every day.”

The group of about 100 volunteers “makes money the park doesn’t have to do projects in the park.”

“We have built two playgrounds, renovated or built a new amphitheater, benches, picnic tables, horseshoe pits. We assist the boat commission with fish cribs. We do a lot of projects,” Beals said.

Being a member of the Friends group is a natural fit for Beals.

“We like being in the outdoors and doing projects in the park to make a difference. My wife and I love camping. We have camped since 1970. It is a labor of love. Most of us are 60 and older. We have made so many friendships. We come here in April, go home in July for three weeks, and come back up until October,” said Beals, who lives in a fifth-wheel trailer.

Beals said he is most proud of the amphitheater project completed in 2016.

“We donated about $25,000 in materials. It serves as a church and is for park naturalists to do programs. The park did 98 percent of the work. We built the benches,” Beals said.

He also is proud of the Memorial Day service.

“We assist the Patton American Legion with the program. Every veteran gets a flag pin and a flag from Friends,” Beals said.

Friends recently hosted the annual Apple Cider Festival at Muskrat Beach.

“We had about 14,500 people this year, about 18,000 last year. We had to get buses because the larger fields were too muddy” to be used for parking, Beals said.

Beals is given a lot of credit for the growth and success of the Friends organization.

“He is loyal and an organizer. He is one of the reasons our group has thrived,” said vice chairman and one of the founders of the group Joe Trentini, who nominated Beals to be chairman. “Twelve years ago we started this. For two years we were spinning our wheels. When Steve became chairman, it took off like a rocket. We only had a few hundred bucks. Now, we have over $20,000. We have put over $100,000 into different things at the park. He has been a driving force, like hitting the nail on the head.”

“He is a very caring person. He cares deeply about Prince Gallitzin State Park and is a good guy to work with,” said Tim Yeager, assistant park manager. “With any kind of volunteer group it is important to have a good leader. He is a true leader; he definitely is a good fit for that position.”