Interview 8364 – Caption Index: 31
Now, did Earl tell you what he expected of you in the sense of how he wanted you to approach the care of the animals?… Read More
Now, did Earl tell you what he expected of you in the sense of how he wanted you to approach the care of the animals?… Read More
Well, I was 23, I guess when I’ve got my first job as a curator and I remained the curator until I was appointed assistant superintendent to Earl Davis. And shortly after that, well, he passed away. Read More
Now, when you started this job as a young man, as a curator, you had already been there, so the staff knew you, were there challenges for you as a young guy, even if they knew you coming in, working with all these people you’ve maybe worked with before, and… Read More
There really wasn’t a problem. Read More
No, I did not. I relished it. I thought this was the greatest thing could happen to me. And as it turned out, it really was. Read More
So how old were you when you became curator?… Read More
Sounds like Earl Davis liked you and was a bit of a mentor. He was not a bit of an mentor, he was the mentor for my life. He knew how to push me beyond what I thought I could do, and he knew I could make it. And in… Read More
Did you find it difficult to handle everything?… Read More
No. Read More
Those roles both at one time?… Read More
And from an animal keeper, how did you rise in the zoo hierarchy?… Read More
What opportunities came about that you were going to be picked for other opportunities?… Read More
Well, at the same time, Korea was happening and I enlisted in the army and I wanted to see how far I could go in the military. I applied for and got the opportunity to go to officer’s candidate school. I also met my sweetheart at the university and all… Read More
I did continue with my education. And in fact, I went to Ohio State University along with Don and his friends who were our age, but things happened in my life that caused me to, my life was turned upside down. My dad died at age 42 and my brother… Read More
Were you the animal keeper?… Read More
I was an animal keeper, yes. Read More
The most menial, if you know what I mean. I cleaned restrooms. I parked cars. However, I also on that same day, popped corn at the concessions stand. Now, thankfully I washed my hands in between these jobs. That may be a good start for all the zoo directors too… Read More
At some point, did you graduate to working with animals?… Read More
Oh, yes, I did. And very quickly because I found myself so taken with this part of my life now that I spent every moment I could at the zoo, day and night, working night shifts or daytime, weekends, summers, trying to get as much time with the zoo and… Read More
Did you continue on with your education or did you then kind of move right into the zoo?… Read More