Interview 5420 – Caption Index: 627
In the United States, what would you say is the largest professional problem facing zoos today?… Read More
In the United States, what would you say is the largest professional problem facing zoos today?… Read More
And if you can identify a problem, what would might be your solution to it?… Read More
The only problem I can think of is getting minority participation in the zoo. And I think you have to identify in your particular area what you can do to enhance that, whether it’s career fairs and the minority communities. But hopefully work study programs, education programs would not only… Read More
Enthusiasm, curiosity, willing to do whatever had to be done without getting recognition or pay. I mean I was always doin’ something that needed to be done, whether they gave me the pay for it or not. But if I felt it was a learning experience, I did it. I… Read More
But what skillset qualities does a zoo director need today as compared to when you started as a zoo director?… Read More
We have a lotta women on the AZA board and I think that’ll continue in the future. I need some questions about your opinion on things. Read More
What made you a good zoo director?… Read More
What made me a good zoo director?… Read More
Yes, I do. In fact, my experience visiting zoo conferences, national conferences where we have couple thousand people there. There really are very, very few people of color. I can only think of one zoo director that’s Black and that’s Morris Amos who originally came outta St. Louis. There are… Read More
One of the things that Marilyn and I have done we hope in St. Louis is that the Harris Teachers College which is predominantly African-American students, about 80% is African American and 96% are first generation ever to attend school. We’ve endowed a internship program with the St. Louis Zoo… Read More
But when I came in the zoo business in 1963, the keeper force was 100% male. There weren’t any ladies in it. And the men said, “A woman can’t do this job. They don’t have the strength.” Well the women are doing this job. They’re doing an outstanding job. And… Read More
When I retired- I spent so much of my time in my career from starting reptile keeper, meeting kids at the door with a snake, going to the fundraiser parties, black tie affairs, greeting people with a snake. That was my trademark. There’s pictures of me in a lotta newspapers… Read More
All the money for the statue was contributed before the statue was ever built. Charlie, in the zoo profession, there are not a lot of minorities whether they be women or African-American or different people. Read More
How can a zoo or the zoo association think about doing this and bringing more people into the profession?… Read More
Do you have any opinion on it?… Read More
So you mentioned to the zoo board you made a decision of when you wanted to retire?… Read More
Well actually I thought I was gonna retire at 65. They came and asked me to stay on three more years twice. And when I left, I left. They knew I was gonna leave ’cause I was 71 years old. That was time for me to leave. That was time… Read More
And there’s a statue at the zoo in your honor, is that correct?… Read More
They were put together. Now it’s a university with 12 degrees. Marilyn and I both benefited from that school. We benefited from the zoo. We wanted to give somethin’ back. So with the zoo’s Endowment Program, we made a contribution. We made a tax transfer from IRA, from my IRA… Read More
It serves underserved people. It serves inner city kids. It serves kids from the outer suburbs that don’t have the money, can’t afford St. Louis U or Washington U. But we wanna make it easy for students of livin’ means to get a work study program at the zoo. So… Read More