Interview 8364 – Caption Index: 92
Did you ever mention to people that, hey, I’d lik to be the zoo director?… Read More
Did you ever mention to people that, hey, I’d lik to be the zoo director?… Read More
Did you realize that you were gonna be appointed the director or was there a search for a director or were they just saying Lou, if anything happens, you’re our guy or how were you approached?… Read More
I was never really approached to say, would you like this position?… Read More
I was just appointed a zoo superintendent upon the death of Earl Davis. Read More
He comes back to the zoo or he doesn’t?… Read More
He came back to the zoo, but really couldn’t really spend a lot of time. So, he– He does develop cancer and it was kind of a lingering situation, but he did remain the zoo director until his passing away. Read More
So they were looking kind of to fill the position or get someone in the wings ready to go in case anything happened to Earl?… Read More
Yes, but they knew they had me to fill that position until they decided what they wanted to do. Read More
Well, he was just a very dedicated man, very dedicated to the zoo business, known nationwide, certainly, especially in the Midwest, because he started the midwinter meeting of the zoo directors of Ohio, for example, that so many people wanted to come because they were having that meeting to join… Read More
Was that an automatic because you were next to the line or did Earl say I’m going in and you’re taking over while I’m out of the picture for a while?… Read More
No, it was certainly not automatic that I would be put into that slot. In fact, when I was told that I should go ahead and take the reins of the zoo prior to being formally made a zoo superintendent, I said, “No, Earl Davis is and will be as… Read More
What kind of specific lessons was he imparting to you and did those lessons help ultimately when you became director?… Read More
I can’t really tell that there were lessons. I just know I learned from them. I learned from everything that he mentioned, and one of the things about having a mentor like Earl Davis was he allowed me to make mistakes. He allowed me to make mistakes or give an… Read More
What kind of qualities would you say made him this good or excellent zoo director?… Read More
Oh yes. International press, zoo directors from all over the world wanted to come and see this first gorilla. So Earl must have been thrilled and happy as you probably were for this first birth. He was– Earl was, well, he was always famous because he was one of the… Read More
Now you mentioned that Earl was your mentor. Read More
How old?… Read More
56, I believe. I hope that’s right, because my son is the same age. Read More
International press on this?… Read More
I happened to become a father in 1956 as well. And my wife and I had a pediatrician and I immediately called the pediatrician and said, “Look, this baby gorilla is born. No one knows what baby gorillas should be fed. What do you think?” He came out and he… Read More