Well because of my relationship with AZA and working with the Captive Breeding Survival Group, research became very important to me. And so I did make sure that all of my curatorial staff were involved in some research program. But with emphasis out of the veterinary hospital, we added a… Read More
Okay, and how was Howard Baer a help?… Read More
Well Howard Baer was a civic leader that was very powerful in the Republican circles and he had the dream about the Zoo Museum District and was always confidant of mine and a mentor. Had a good feel for all the public institutions in St. Louis. And the judge was… Read More
But you never got in trouble. Not serious trouble, no. Read More
(chuckles) Were there ever any challenges working with a group of those people?… Read More
There were at times. But if three or four were good strong supporters, they usually convinced the others. Read More
I answered to the chairman of the board. It was a board of 10 members. Five from the city, five from the county that were nominated by the committee. The city members had to have the mayor approval. The county had to have the county executives’ approval, but they nominated… Read More
So the chairman was part of that?… Read More
They then elected the chairman and so I reported to the chairman. But all decisions of the chairman had to be ratified by the board of 10. So you had to have a real good relationship with the chairman. I had to have a good relationship with him, hopefully all… Read More
Did you feel it was important to get those people to the zoo?… Read More
I think the behind-the-scenes tour is what got us interested in the zoo, absolutely. In fact, our travel program, we started out taking members on safari. Many of the people that went on safari in the early days were upcoming executives and civic leaders. And today, they’re among our major… Read More
And the board, you had to answer to a board?… Read More
“So did we qualify as a recipient?… Read More
We had the benefit of his gifts in the past.” And he said, “Yes, why don’t you prepare a proposal and make it substantial, couple several million dollars?… Read More
Because we have that capability. The weight of your proposal depends on the merit of the proposal.” So we wrote up a proposal and we were awarded 2 1/2 million which we were really surprised to get. But the trust has consistently supported the zoo to large-numbered gifts. But that’s… Read More
Once in a while, I did. It was someone that I had influence with. Read More
Were there any big surprises to you that you walked into a meeting and you were asking for 500,000 and they gave 7 million?… Read More
No, I wouldn’t say surprise. But there was a gentleman in St. Louis named Dana Brown who owned Dana Brown Coffee company later called Tiger Brand Coffee. And I got to meet him at a dinner once and I invited him out for a behind-the-scenes tour. And he came out… Read More
So I got our development director together and we called the foundation and we reminded them that Dana Brown had sent several checks to the zoo. Read More
Were they making you the point guy?… Read More