On February 5, 1929, Dr. W.S. Benedict wrote to Stephen Mather to express his feelings upon
learning that Stephen had resigned from his position with the National Park Service.
In a one-page typed letter, Dr. Benedict wrote:
“I am extremely sorry to hear of your recent illness, and also your resignation from the National Park Service. Your very valuable services and cooperation will be missed by that body, I know, as your efforts during the last twelve years have done more to build it up than that of any other man, heretofore in its history…I shall always deem it a great privilege to have been your friend and dentist, and shall very much miss your frequent visits to my office…”
He then added this postscript:
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fef92_ad6d5243ef4f4454ab4cac96c20e4802~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_55,h_10,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/1fef92_ad6d5243ef4f4454ab4cac96c20e4802~mv2.png)
Did Dr. Benedict get his photograph? Unanswered. But the letter certainly had to make Stephen Mather smile.