Interview 4973 – Caption Index: 76
Yes. Read More
Yes. Read More
To a private zoo?… Read More
Yes, I came from a zoo that was operated by the city, Lincoln Park Public Zoo, and went into a private org- It was a totally different life experience. Tell me about those differences. Well, the differences of a working in a public zoo, we had departments, we had maintenance… Read More
I think to make me an effective zoo director, I had a passion for my charges and the animal collection was paramount and always has been, and always will be. I had an eye for detail and I knew what I wanted. I had management skill, I knew how to… Read More
The zoo was publicly or privately run at the time?… Read More
The Cincinnati Zoo, when I took it over, we received very little capital money from the city. We received free water and sometimes slight cap- When they were plush and had some capital monies, they would give us a small amount of capital money, but it was a privately run… Read More
There were a number of people- Fred Z. Hanalar. The person that ran the zoo before Bill Hoff was a gentleman by the name of Jack Huser and Fred Z. Hanalar had a lot to do with Jack Huser. And Jack apparently was driven by- The board was, it was… Read More
And I don’t think there was anybody other than- Oh, I’m going back and getting back on myself. Other than Fred Z. Hanalar. Fred Z. Hanalar said the zoo, when Jack Huser ran it, the zoo is run by 22 idiots telling one idiot what to do. So apparently he… Read More
Well, what qualities did you have that you felt would make you an effective zoo director?… Read More
When I was offered the position, I didn’t think twice, I accepted it. It was something that had been driving me ever since I was a child. Somehow I knew someday this is what I was going to do. It was just destiny as far as I was concerned and… Read More
Did Bill Hoff give you any advice?… Read More
No Bill Hoff wasn’t in favor of me getting the job. He thought they should seek somebody from the outside. They never even had a search committee put together. I was the interim and the choice. Read More
Did you seek any advice from anybody else or did they volunteer any advice for you on this new endeavor?… Read More
Well, we had a- I had a distinct advantage in obtaining the directorship in Cincinnati, because the number of board members knew and had observed my operating of the zoo in the curatorial sense for a long time. We had a couple of board members that used to frequent the… Read More
So Howard and I didn’t get along, and he left and I hired our first horticulturist, a professional horticulturist by the name of Dave Ehrlinger and Dave transformed that zoo. It was amazing what he could do with the landscaping. Often we would spend more for landscaping and exhibit than… Read More
For this job, as director, did you jump at it or did you say, hmm, you know, what am I getting into here?… Read More
Why was it possible for you, one of the youngest people that might aspire to that position to be hired at Cincinnati?… Read More
Was it political?… Read More
Did they see something in you?… Read More
What was the process?… Read More