Smokey Bear Turns 70

Plus interesting Smokey Bear facts:

"Smokey is much more recognized by adults, but little children love him too," [his "caretaker" Loren] Walker said. "At state fairs, I've never seen children cower and run away from Smokey Bear like they do Santa Claus."

A highlight of my boyhood was wearing the Smokey suit on the Forest Service float in some parade in Rapid City, S.D. (I had to wear a puffy boating life vest to fill it out.) I was never prouder.