Most, just as zoo director. But for a lotta different places. Oh yeah. Each place had its own offices, you know, the monies. We spent a lotta time in and out of Texas, California, just making sure that everything was going the way it’s supposed to, taken care of properly,… Read More
But your main headquarters was in Tampa?… Read More
I remember flying out to Houston. Houston?… Read More
Sorry, no, one of the Texases had Okapi. Flying out there and loading it up on an airplane and flying it back. I remember ’cause, at the time, it seemed like so much money. It was $16,000 for one antelope, but Mr. Busch wanted it. Building an exhibit for it… Read More
Started the whole Busch Gardens. So part of your responsibility you’ve mentioned was all of the Busch properties that had animals. Read More
How did it come about?… Read More
Well, we all wanted ’em. I had been involved with the okapi, I guess, in Brookfield. Read More
You wanted ’em? He wanted ’em?… Read More
How’d that come about?… Read More
And did he tell you what animals he wanted to have there at the zoo?… Read More
Yeah, he liked… Well, he more or less approved recommendations. He didn’t necessarily tell us that he wants this or that. Now, when it came to okapi and things like that, when we were spending big bucks, the board of directors even got in on it. Course, they did what… Read More
Were ya hired by Mr. Busch?… Read More
No, we were hired by the personnel staff but approved of. If Busch wanted you, you were… But he wasn’t all that… He was always there on weekends and whatnot to go tooting around in his train. Read More
No, well, yeah, I knew the people there, but also, we were in touch with each and everybody in the zoo business, so we knew when there was something coming available. Most everybody did, and if you had a friend on staff, they’d let you know that something’s coming up. Read More
I guess you might say, at certain times, they were somewhat secondary. They were never abused. They were well taken care of. Read More
Did they call you? Or you were there?… Read More
How’d you hear about the job at Busch Gardens as director?… Read More
What would you say was the difference between what you had experienced before and now this private place?… Read More
Well, you got money when you needed it. (laughs) We spent a lotta money, and basically, it was to promote Bud beer and promote the… We had mostly a, I guess… We developed more and more rides and things that some people liked and some people didn’t. Read More
Would you say the animals were secondary?… Read More