Because they felt with the influx of money from the Zoo Museum District, they wanted to make sure that the public funds were managed properly. So they thought the finance officer would make a good zoo director. Meanwhile, some of the members of the commission would call me aside and say, “Charlie, you’re gonna be next. You’re gonna be the next director. Prepare yourself, be ready because when Dick Schultz retires, you’re gonna be the director. Make sure you’re ready.” So I learned all I could. I never really thought it was ever gonna happen, but I learned about budgeting and managing the budget. And then when he retired, then I was promoted in 1982 as zoo director.
