Well, I think that they have more skills now, if you wanna consider education levels than in my earlier years, but I’m afraid they lack that ability to get out and see what’s happening with regard to the visitors. I prefer, for example, to see a zoo director who comes… Read More
These are some questions now, they are pretty broad based in general. Read More
At which zoo did you feel you accomplished the most?… Read More
Well, no question in my mind, the most accomplishment for me has been San Antonio Zoo because of the number of years that I was there and the capability of me doing it as a result of having a very cooperative board of directors and in a nonprofit organization that… Read More
During your time in any of these zoos, is there one animal species that stands above the others that you considered to be maybe the most significant that you acquired?… Read More
How involved were you in the day-to-day activities and hands-on when you became director, did you do the rounds?… Read More
Oh yes. Many times a day. (laughs) I have one time someone said to me, “You don’t spend more than an hour at any given time in your office.” And I didn’t, because my business was out there on the zoo grounds, not in my office so much. I had… Read More
They might wanna have that break and I wanted them to, but not excessive breaks and the people don’t know that it’s three o’clock and it’s time for their break, they’re just wondering, why aren’t they out there feeding the animals and us watching them instead of sitting doing nothing?… Read More
Well, tell me the question again so I can make sure I don’t let it go by too quickly. That every zoo is a reflection of the zoo director. Okay. Read More
What did you mean?… Read More
What I mean by that is, and it should be this way, the zoo director has to put forth the idea and from that idea then comes the finished product based on whatever else the zoo board, the city government, or county government whatever the governing body is and the… Read More
What did you mean?… Read More
What did the San Antonio Zoo say about you as director?… Read More
Well, I hope they said some good things because I tried to do good things for San Antonio. And I expect that every zoo director hopes the same thing when they are in that position. Read More
What else can I say about that?… Read More
Still to this day?… Read More
No, not today. You once said that every zoo is a reflection of the zoo director. Read More
Well, I don’t know how it came about, how they picked me, but I’m glad they did because I learned a lot. I spent five and a half years going to Washington and visiting museums all over the country. As a part of that organization, my job was to keep… Read More
Did the president personally call you for this appointment or?… Read More
No, no, he didn’t personally call me, but I have a very nice appointment, framed appointment certificate on my wall that I’ve always been very fond of. And I got a Christmas card every year from the White House. Read More