The zoo staff was involved. (coughs) The society was partially involved financially and the city government the other part of the financial situation to hire a planning firm to come in. That was our first big step, you know, can you imagine, finally, we had someone who wanted to dedicate… Read More
When you became director, did you have any vision that you said, you know, I think I’d like to take it slightly or radically in a different direction or what was going on, were you happy about the direction that had been planned?… Read More
At the time you took over, was the zoo still riding the popularity wasn’t that long afterwards of the first gorilla birth?… Read More
Yes, the popularity was there. The visitors were coming in and things had to change pretty quickly because we were getting large numbers in attendance and that continued. And of course, that’s exactly what we needed and wanted for the zoo start expanding. And that’s when we began to do… Read More
Who was involved in that master plan?… Read More
There wasn’t a zoo commission. There was a zoological society and they were active depending upon the political situation in the mayor’s office. The zoo society was politically on one side. And if their party was in, everything went well. And when it wasn’t, then things slowed down. Read More
Were they active when you were zoo director?… Read More
The zoological society was active through the chairman of the zoological society. Read More
What did I find as a difference?… Read More
I don’t think I found that there was a difference. I just knew that I had to pick up and go with it. And that’s what I did. It was not a difficult transition because I was doing so many different jobs anyway, that it was just another step forward… Read More
Was there a zoo commission at all or it was strictly through the city?… Read More
You know, I can’t remember– Did they kinda know you wanted that position even though if they didn’t ask you?… Read More
I suppose they must have known it, but I don’t remember ever saying to them, I would like to apply for this position. You become zoo director, and I have been told that you can be an assistant zoo director or a curator, that being zoo director is way different… Read More
What did you find when you now were zoo superintendent?… Read More
So, no one came to you and said, would you like this job?… Read More
No they didn’t say, would you like this job?… Read More
They knew that I would continue on because that was my hometown and it was Earl Davis’s zoo and I wanted to be the very best even after his passing. Read More
Did you ever mention to people that, hey, I’d lik to be the zoo director?… Read More
Did you realize that you were gonna be appointed the director or was there a search for a director or were they just saying Lou, if anything happens, you’re our guy or how were you approached?… Read More
I was never really approached to say, would you like this position?… Read More