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Imperial Sand Dunes

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 Herman Schneider Memorial

Herman Schneider would often say that he was a man with three loves:  His family, his sand dunes, and his God.  He served in the U.S. Navy, was a survivor of the Invasion of Normandy, held a degree in engineering, a degree in philosophy and was an ordained minister.

He devoted his life to the task of keeping the Imperial Sand Dunes open, accessible and safe for off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation.  He created the volunteer Dunes Patrol and spent his weekends patrolling the dunes while Virginia, his wife, would monitor a two way radio in their trailer that served as the portable ranger station at Gordon´s Well.  As a team they rescued lost children, assisted BLM Rangers, and provided medical assistance.

For the last 20 years of his life, Herman Schneider was a friend to all dune visitors.  In the 1980´s he participated in the development of the management plan for the Imperial San Dunes.  He also assisted the BLM with grant applications and then traveled to Sacramento to support the BLM before the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission.  He was a visionary who insisted that the future development would include the ranger station at Glamis, portable restrooms, and a bridge at Gordon´s Well.

Herman conceived the idea of of an OHV bridge while observing families crossing from Gordon´s Well to Buttercup over a dangerous and busy interstate.  He lobbied the OHMVR commission for the needed funds to provide safe access for dunes visitors between Gordon´s Well and Buttercup open areas.  He then facilitated the Memorandum of Understanding with CalTrans to allow OHV use on the existing overpass across Interstate 8 after the bridge over the All American Canal was constructed.

Sadly, Herman Schneider passed away on Sunday, February 21 1999, following a long battle with cancer and never saw the bridge to completion.  With his passing we lost a true champion of off highway vehicle recreation.  Herman's radio call sign, "DP1," has since been retired.

In his memory, and in honor of his dedication to the family sport of OHV recreation, the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation commission and the BLM, El Centro Field Office, dedicate the new bridge over the All American Canal, as the:

Herman Schneider Memorial Bridge