I think Marlin, I learned- Certain areas were- areas of dedication. Marlin was dedicated to his profession. He ran a very clean operation. I learned cleanliness is important. Cleanliness is next to godliness in a zoo operation, a good zoo, because obviously filth and trash can breed disease. He was… Read More
Marlin Perkins was a very- He was a study in- Observing Marlin and the way he operated was very, very important to me in my later life. Marlin was very unpredictable. He was a good animal man. I mean, I remember a day when he walked by, just to cite… Read More
How did he shape your views or did he shape your views a little on zoos and about zoo development?… Read More
Did he help shape any of those that you later had?… Read More
Did people mentor you?… Read More
I was mentored by a number of the head keepers. I had a very good friend. He wound up to be one of my dearest friend, Joel McHale, he was a character. He worked as a senior keeper, but I got a lot of good advice from Joel. Just common,… Read More
How was it working for this director?… Read More
So you meet Marlin, but how did your zoo career actually start?… Read More
Well, I followed in that- My zoo career started by me following an ad in the Chicago Sun-Times. There was an ad in the paper, there was a job open if you were not too choosy, and it was a job opening at the reptile house at the Lincoln Park… Read More
What were the early days like at Lincoln Park Zoo as a young keeper?… Read More
Well, they were fun days. We had a good time, it was a good crew to work with. They weren’t all animal people. In fact, a lot of more political appointees, and obviously the animal people were the people that gathered together, and there was like two sections of the… Read More
Now we’ve talked about education. Read More
You’ve also been given a number of honorary degrees?… Read More
Yes, in Cincinnati, I was given a degree, an honorary degree by the University of Cincinnati and one that I treasure by Xavier University, and they don’t give out very many. I was told that this was indeed a great honor. The Jesuits don’t release those willy-nilly. Read More
I just keep going, huh?… Read More
You’ll edit out, I presume?… Read More
Well, it really started when I had to finish Wright because I was heading for another city, and then this is when I was invited to join another zoo in Cincinnati. But I started my zoo career really in Lincoln Park. My first introduction to Marlin Perkins was as a… Read More
What zoos did you see when you were growing up?… Read More
I really began, my career has almost been a inherited interest in any aspect of natural history. My aunt related a story to me about taking me to the Brookfield Zoo when I was seven years old and she couldn’t get me out of the place. And I remember later… Read More
Well, what was your schooling?… Read More