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Ralph Small. (laughs) Did your father work hard to get this panda?… Read More

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Wasn’t anything hidden. I know there’s a fella that was the gatekeeper at the south gate who’s only has two arms, ’cause the panda had bit one of his (chuckles) arms off. That was Ralph Small. Read More

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Did it just come to him?… Read More

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Did your uncle George or did your father tell you stories about the panda when it came?… Read More

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Musta been a big deal. Oh yeah, it was a big deal, but that was a big deal and written up. Read More

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Everybody knew what the deal was, you know?… Read More

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Were they married when he was at Brookfield?… Read More

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Or when they went to Milwaukee. Yeah, I’m assuming. Yeah, because I know… Well, I’ll say yes, far as I know. I don’t know all the facts. Read More

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Did you hear stories about the panda when that was a big deal, when it came to Brookfield Zoo?… Read More

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Your sister married a gentleman named George Speidel. George Speidel. But he wasn’t a zoo guy at the time she married him. No, he was a guard at this Brookfield Zoo, security or whatever. And then, later, he decided he liked animals. He wanted to be a keeper. Read More

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Okay, and then, he started as a keeper at Brookfield Zoo?… Read More

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Right. And then, ultimately, your aunt and he got married. Read More

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Well, could you give us a little history there?… Read More

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No, not really. He didn’t. Probably heard more of my father and whatnot through his sister, Sister Mary, who was the wife of the director of Milwaukee at the time. Read More

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Or he kept his distance?… Read More

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Did he ever tell you stories about your grandfather?… Read More

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No, any project that was being worked on that I had anything to do with, he would always stop by and have a look at it and see it was going properly. And everything seemed to work out. Read More

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And what did the other keepers think of the son of the director?… Read More

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Well, I was treated very well. I think, maybe, they felt sorry (laughs) for me. Look after me. Read More

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Would your dad stop in to see you often?… Read More