News

New park chief on board at Sandburg home

H. Tyrone Brandyburg

By Bill Moss, Published: October 29, 2012

FLAT ROCK — H. Tyrone Brandyburg has begun work as the new superintendent of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.

Brandyburg, who had been the superintendent of Moores Creek National Battlefield in near Wilmington, reported to his new assignment at Carl Sandburg Home NHS last week.

"We are delighted to have Tyrone move to Carl Sandburg Home," National Park Service Southeast Regional Director David Vela said in a news release. "He has done a superb job for the last five years at Moores Creek. He is an energetic leader with a solid Park Service background. We know he will be a great asset to his new park and to the neighboring community."

A 25-year National Park Service (NPS) veteran, Brandyburg was born in Orangeburg, S.C., graduated from Branchville High School in Branchville, S.C., and earned a bachelor's degree from South Carolina State College in Orangeburg. While attending South Carolina State Brandyburg began his NPS career as a co-op student at Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston.

After graduating from college, Brandyburg transferred to Tuskegee Institute NHS, where he became the lead interpretive park ranger and museum specialist. While at Tuskegee, he attended Alabama State University and received a masters degree in American History. After five years, he was promoted to the position of chief ranger at Booker T. Washington National Monument in Hardy, Va. Brandyburg later transferred to Brown v. Board of Education NHS, in Topeka, Kan., as chief of interpretation. He spent two years as district interpretive ranger at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park before returning to Tuskegee where he served as Chief of Resource Education and Interpretation.

Brandyburg is married to the former Mary Williams, who was born in Roanoke, Va., and is a graduate of Roanoke Catholic High School and James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. She was employed by Allstate Insurance Company for seven years and held the position of underwriting supervisor until the birth of their first child. They are now the proud parents of three boys, Jason, 14, Jared, 12, and Jacob, 10, and a girl, Amira, 7.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to become a member of the team at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site," Brandyburg said. "I'm excited for the opportunity to work with the talented staff and park partners to continue our mission of protecting and preserving park resources. Carl Sandburg was a very intriguing man who was a champion for the everyday working person, those who neither had the words nor the power to speak for themselves, and I look forward to learning more about him."