Hall Of Fame Inductees

BIOS

The IAAPA Hall of Fame is an acknowledgement and celebration of outstanding achievement and contributions by individuals to the growth and development of the amusement industry; an industry that, like few others, depends on the imaginations, talents and vision of its dream builders. However, inductees are not chosen by virtue of their personal success alone but rather for significant contribu­tions to the entire industry, their community, and the world.

1990 INDUCTEES

Carl Hughes
The following was noted by an association member in his nomination of Carl Hughes as the first living inductee to the IAAPA Hall of Fame: "Carl O. Hughes, more than any other living individual, is responsible for our organi­zation changing from a club to a sophisticated international organization for the pur­pose of universal communication and the exchange of ideas. He was the first non-owner officer and president and was instrumental in changing the previous 'Sherman House crony' management into today's professional association, capable of managing a 15,000 person convention. He tirelessly championed the role of the international member. He also is still the person each new President comes to for sage advice as do many of his peers. His continuous monitoring of the industry's problems and government regulations evidences his deep concern for the industry and its future. I can't think of one other living human being whose positive influ­ence has affected our association as much as Carl Hughes. His past accomplish­ments, his current involvement in association affairs, and his constant diligence for the good of the association definitely make him deserving to be in our Hall of Fame."

John Allen (Deceased)
John Allen led the way to what man has called the "second golden age of roller coasters." In his book, The Incredible Scream Machine, Robert Cartmell writes the following: "After ventures in the radio and amplification business, [John Allen] started at the bottom with Philadelphia Toboggan during the depression. [After working as a troubleshooter,] Allen became president of Philadelphia Toboggan on January 18, 1954, during the company's fiftieth anniversary. Over the next twenty-five years he designed approxi­mately two dozen coasters. Allen doggedly revived interest in roller coasters, and his Kings Island Racer threw the doors wide open. He continued to build 'mega coasters'... after Kings Island, including The Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags over Georgia, Atlanta."

Walt Disney (Deceased)
Walt Disney's career began in the motion picture industry in 1923 primarily in the business of making cartoons. In that capacity, he earned 32 Oscars. In the late 1930s, he began to think about a place to display motion picture props for public viewing near his Burbank Studios. This evolved into a themed amusement park named Disneyland, which opened on July 15, 1955 in Anaheim, California. Disneyland lifted the amusement park industry to the high caliber that it enjoys today. Disney's next achievement in the amusement park industry was to con­ceive Walt Disney World, but unfortunately he never lived to see it realized.

Robert E. Freed (Deceased)
Robert E. Freed distinguished himself academically, in military service, the theater, politics, civic affairs, the field of human fights, the entertainment industry, and extensive service to IAAPA. In 1946, Robert Freed began his professional life in a small family amusement mark, Lagoon Park that included eight rides and limited attractions.  He served IAAPA for thirty years, and became president of the association in 1963. As president of IAAPA, Freed set a precedent for distinguished leadership and respect for the asso­ciation and its programs. He was active in setting direction for the organization, and in selecting qualified leadership to ensure the viability of the organization.

La Marcus Thompson (Deceased)
It took the inventiveness, determination, and business skills of La Marcus Adna Thompson to build the first true roller coaster in the United States. He succeeded to such a degree that he became known as the “Father of the Gravity Ride.”  According to Robert Cartmell, author of The Incredible Scream Machine, “If the roller coaster was a religion, then Thompson was the zealot-missionary spreading the message over the world.”  Thompson opened his Switchback, America's first coaster, at Coney Island in 1884 and the first scenic railway in 1887 in Atlantic City. Although he never invented a roller coaster as such, he took a great interest in them and developed and patented many of the features of the modern coaster.

Andrew S. McSwigan (Deceased)
Andrew McSwigan was the founding father of IAAPA and served as president for four terms. His park career was focused on what many still believe to be the premier traditional park in the country Kennywood Park, listed on the National Historic Register. There is a stone monument which stands at Kennywood Park which lists his talents: "Andrew Stephen McSwigan—newspaper reporter who won preeminent distinction at the Johnstown flood; Knights of Columbus secretary with the Croix de Guerre in the World War; a devoted servant of his church, city, state, and country; national leader in making the park business respected, and four times president of the IAAPA, which reveres his memory in erecting this tablet."

Angus Wynne (Deceased)
Angus Wynne, Jr. founded and developed the Six Flags regional theme park concept, today one of the largest chains of parks in the world. His first park, Six Flags Over Texas, opened in 1961 in Dallas. Here, Wynne introduced one-price admission as well as Broadway-type musicals into theme parks, ideas that took hold nationwide. Wynne remained directly involved in the Six Flags corporation from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, during which he built Six Flags Over Georgia in 1967 and Six Flags Over Mid-America in 1971. Today, these parks of the Six Flags chain maintain Wynne's commitment to wholesome family entertain­ment in a clean, friendly, and hospitable atmosphere.

1991 INDUCTEES

R. Harold Chance (Deceased)
As an entrepreneur, Harold Chance took a small manufacturing company and made it into one of America's largest producer of amusement rides. As an innovator, Chance introduced more amusement rides into the industry than any other person. The C.P. Huntington train, found in amusement parks throughout the world, is his signature of the industry. As an entertainer, Chance provided thrills and fun for millions of people who have been tossed, tumbled and turned by his inventions. He was recognized many times with awards and testimonials from IAAPA, Outdoor Amusement Business Association, Showmen's League of America, and many other organizations. But Harold Chance should perhaps be most remem­bered for pioneering the concept of self-regulated safety service in the amusement industry. It was primarily through his efforts that the American Recreation Equipment Association safety seminars were formed, providing safety and maintenance instruc­tion for hundreds of park employees and public officials.

Harry Batt, Sr. (Deceased)
While Ponchartrain Park, in New Orleans, LA, was always a source of inspiration to others in the industry. Harry Batt, Sr.’s most impor­tant contribution may have been his leadership in the area of political affairs. Batt served as a member and as chairman of IAAPA’s Government Relations Committee.  He was responsible for obtaining Congressional enactment of the minimum wage exemption for seasonal businesses which unquestionably made it possible for hun­dreds of parks to remain in business. Batt also served as President of IAAPA in 1949 and 1950 and contributed to IAAPA’s many committees and activities.

David E. Bradley (Deceased)
David Bradley perfected the art of making fiberglass molds that preserved intricate details of hand-carved turn-of-the-century antique carousel animal designs. Bradley once operated a two-acre ride park in Hollywood where Walt Disney took his girls and discussed his dreams for Disneyland with Bradley. When that project got underway, Bradley was hired as a consultant. His spe­cial competency also was recognized by the film industry, where he served as tech­nical advisor to Alfred Hitchcock for the carousel sequence in the film Strangers on the Train.

Edward J. Carroll, Sr. (Deceased)
Ed Carroll began his career in the amusement industry in 1940 when he leased the parking lot of the then defunct Riverside Park in Agawam, MA, in order to operate the first drive-in theater in New England. With very little money and no partners, but with a phenomenal combination of determina­tion and skill, he re-built the theater property into the largest park in New England and one of the finest in the country. Carroll served as president of the New England Parks association and IAAPA. He won many awards from the industry including the Andrew McSwigan Award for outstanding service to the industry.

Walter Knott (Deceased)
Walter Knott had a strong desire to preserve the her­itage of the past and bring to new generations some of its color and excitement. Instead of telling these stories in a book, he built a town in which the past would come alive. Having already established a successful roadside berry farm and chick­en dinner restaurant during the 1920s and 1930s, Walter set forth and built GhostTown, a living monument to the pioneering spirit of the Old West. That town was the foundation of what is known today as Knott's Berry Farm.  His dream was to create a permanent monument where families could come and appreciate America's hard won freedom—the freedom that enabled a poverty-stricken farmer to create one of the nation's premier theme parks.

Leonard Thompson (Deceased)
Leonard Thompson has been regarded as the father figure of the amusement park industry of England. The combination of literary and financial skills not only created Blackpool Pleasure Beach against which all other England parks are measured, but those skills have been shared over the years with others around the world. Leonard Thompson conceived the first ice show in England. In addition, throughout the Second World War he operated his park without interruption for the benefit of armed forces from several countries. He also cre­ated the British park association and was a founder and director of IAAPA.

1992 INDUCTEES

Truman Woodworth (Deceased)
Truman Woodworth was once known as "The Dean of the Amusement Park Industry." Another of the many industry giants who came under the sway of Walt Disney, "Woody" began his career as a messenger at Disney Studios in 1933. He rose to the position of Director of General Services and then Assistant to Disneyland Vice President Joe Fowler. Woody left Disneyland to head Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH in 1969. From there he moved to Santa Clara where he became General Manager of Marriott's Great America. A member of IAAPA from his earliest days at Disney, and a two-time winner of the McSwigan Award, Woody became IAAPA President in 1980.

George Washington Gale Ferris (Deceased)
Among his peers, G.W.G. Ferris stands unique as the only designer whose ride bears his name. Born on Valentine's Day in 1859 in Galesburg, Ill., Ferris left the Midwest to pursue a civil engineering career with the railroads of the mid-Atlantic region.  The use of structural steel in bridge building caught his attention, prompting him to form the G.W.G. Ferris Co., headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa.  When the chief of construction for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition challenged U.S. engineers to create a rival to the Eiffel Tower, Ferris plunged into designing a giant wheel against the advice of friends and busi­ness associates. During the severe financial depression of 1892, financing was hard to come by. As a result, the wheel wasn't actually completed until after the Expo opened in Chicago. At 264 feet tall, the massive wheel towered above the midway and supported 36 cars and up to 2,160 passengers. The ride lasted two rounds with each stately revolution taking 20 minutes. Few enjoyed the privilege, but no one missed the sight. Although few wheels have ever been built on such a massive scale since, the ride has proved its enduring value in countless parks the world over.

Frederick Ingersol (Deceased)
Frederick Ingersol was the man most responsible for the spread of amusement parks across the world. Starting with his Luna Park in Pittsburgh in 1905, he worked westward until the name Luna Park became part of America's vocabulary. He designed, built, and patented many devices, including 277 roller coasters. Lloyd Jeffries, in a 1929 eulogy said, "Ingersol was the tree from which the amusement limbs branched forth, as many of the leading park men of today came from that tree in one way or another."

William F. Mangels (Deceased)
Credited with many ride inventions, William F. Mangels left a legacy that included the introduction of kiddie rides. From his shop on West Fifth Street in New York City, where he turned out shooting galleries and strik­ing machines, Mangels eventually produced such classics as The Whip (1914), one of the safest and most popular flat rides ever engineered. He also invented the Tickler which Frederic Thompson installed at Luna Park on Coney Island, a third-rail coaster called the Rough Riders, and the Ziz coaster which surged back and forth through the trees at another Coney Island park belonging to Charles Feltman. Of all his inventions, Mangels' Galloping Horse Carousel was clearly a favorite. Its over­head transmission with direct gear connection gave the horses a more realistic glid­ing motion far superior to the slight rocking motion available at the time of its intro­duction.

George Roose (Deceased)
Although a latecomer to the amusement industry, George Adams Roose is widely given credit for rescuing one of the best-known parks in the United States. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, began to experience financial trouble in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and Roose helped head an investment group to acquire the park in 1957. To protect the group's investment, Roose decided to begin managing the park in 1959 when he was already in his six­ties. It took ten years to improve the park and build it to a $12.5-million per year enterprise, but Roose didn't stop there. His inspired management and guided the park's development until he retired at age 87. Today, Cedar Point is recognized as one of the finest amusement parks in the world.

Harry G. Traver (Deceased)
Born 50 miles south of Chicago, Harry G. Traver went from teacher to mechanical engineer to inspired creator of amusement rides and devices. "He was a designer, a philosopher, a historian, but he never had a head for business," his daughter June Traver-Schetterer states in Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror, a book by Richard Munch in commemoration of Traver's achieve­ments. After the Great Depression, Traver was forced out of business, his troubles due in part to economic hard times. However, his financial woes resulted more from his noted generosity to employees and their families. His first ride was the Circle-Swing, introduced in 1903. The Tumble Bug, Caterpillar, and Auto Ride soon fol­lowed. In his lifetime, Traver secured hundreds of patents for all sorts of inventions, from farm machinery to amusement rides. But what the Traver Engineering Co. of Beaver Falls, Pa., became best known for was its roller coasters. At least 16 coast­ers were built in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and West Coast, among them Playland's Aero-Coaster, and Rocky Glen Park's steel Jazz Railway. From his first coaster, the Crystal Beach Cyclone in Ontario, built of redwood and steel in 1926, Traver went on to introduce the first steel coaster.

Charles R. Wood (Deceased)
Innocently enough, his venture into amusement began after reading a 1937 article in Reader's Digest about a $500,000-a-year business. Wood went to California and discovered destiny at Knott's Berry Farm, where the mix of fun and family was near perfection. In 1944, the Lockport, N.Y. native arrived at Lake George driving a Model "A" Ford with $5,000 in his pocket. "I fell in love and never left," he says. He opened Storytown, USA as a "Mother Goose" fairy tale park. In later years, as amusement parks became more thrill-oriented, Wood added many rides and changed the name to The Great Escape Fun Park. Wood sees his devo­tion to amusement as a combination of work and prayer, and didn't hesitate to ascribe divine guidance to certain turning points in his life.  

1993 INDUCTEES

James F. "Patty" Conklin (Deceased)
Born Joe Renker, Patty Conklin spent his teenage years working at Coney Island.  In his twenties, he joined the Conklin carnival and so charmed the owner, James W. Conklin Sr., that Patty and his brother were adopted.  Those years were spent running concessions, working on rides and learning about show business.  Later Conklin primarily became the carnival owner and operator of Conklin Shows, Patty Conklin was associated with such notable amusement parks as Ponchartrain Beach in New Orleans, Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, Belmont Park in Montreal, Palisades Park in New Jersey, The Riverside parks in Chicago and Agawam, Massachusetts and Crystal Beach in Ontario. Conklin worked tirelessly throughout his career to forge fraternal relationships with IAAPA, the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, and the Showman's League of America. 

Randall Duell (Deceased)
A leading planner and designer of theme parks in the world, Randall Duell was responsible for the design of more than twenty-five existing major parks and has worked on the re-planning and expansion of an additional twelve parks. No one else in the industry came close to Randall’s experience with the design of completed major successful theme parks and attractions. After Walt Disney, Duell was unquestionably the preeminent designer of theme parks in the world. In the opinion of many leaders of our industry, no one came close to possessing the qualifications or personal character of Randy Duell.

Milton Hershey (Deceased)
Milton Hershey, known throughout the world for his famous candies, also made a significant mark as a philanthropist and proponent of family entertainment. He started Hershey Park as a stroll through area and gradual­ly added rides and other amusements. The park became quickly known as the sum­mer playground of Pennsylvania. He also developed the Hershey Zoo. His greatest contribution to the community was probably the Hershey School, which, after the death of his wife, received virtually his entire estate. The school, a live-in facility, provides education to hundreds of students who have lost their parents. He also made other major civic contributions such as the Hershey Medical Center and the M.S. Hershey foundation funding theater and other cultural endeavors.

John A. Miller (Deceased)
Born in 1874, Miller was the Thomas Edison of amusement parks.  At age 19 Miller started work with LaMarcus Thompson and became his chief engineer.  Later he worked with Frederick Ingersoll and Josiah and Fred Pearce.  Miller was a consultant to the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1911.  He designed more than a dozen coasters for PTC, including the mammoth Giant Coaster at Paragon Park in Massachusetts.  Miller worked with other industry pioneers Harry C. Baker and Norman Bartlett.   He was a pioneer in design, manufacturing and construction and park layouts; his safety devices opened the way to the great rides of today. Miller was one of the most inno­vative and influential figures in the history of amusement parks.

Aurel Vaszin (Deceased)
Aurel Vaszin was born in Romania in 1885.  Trained as a cabinetmaker, Vaszin worked for an amusement park development company and then went into business on his own.  Vaszin’s firm, National Amusement Device Company, designed and built roller coast­ers during the great depression and helped save the industry during this bleak time. In 1964, Vaszin designed and developed the world’s largest roller coast called Russian Mountain for Chapultepec Park in Mexico City, Mexico.  Vaszin was a leading influence on the industry until his death in 1979.

Anton Schwarzkopf (Deceased)
Anton Schwarzkopf designed a diverse inventory of ride systems for the amusement industry. His origi­nality of design, incorporating the highest safety standards with high volume passen­ger handling capabilities, continues to produce world-class amusement rides, which have been fabricated throughout the world. In addition to being a significant designer of custom-built tubular steel-track roller coasters, he was at the cutting edge of transportable steel coaster design. The small ground footprint of these coasters featured tracks of great height and length, many with high-speed trains and multiple inversions. These transportable coasters rank as world-class rides, a fact supported by the
large number of parks, which have acquired Schwarzkopf coasters and bill them as a main attraction.

1994 INDUCTEES

George Millay (Deceased)
George Millay began as a restaurateur. With two part­ners, he developed and managed twelve very successful restaurants. He then turned his interest and talents to the development of three marine life parks which would become known as Sea World of San Diego, Aurora, Ohio and Orlando and would set the standard for the operation of such facilities. His Sea World Company then joined with Newhall Land and Development Company to build and manage Magic Mountain, now a Six Flags Park in Valencia, California. Obviously, fascinated with water and its potential for entertainment and fun, Millay turned his vision, in the 1970s, to the development of a water park in Orlando—a concept that would become a mega industry. His idea has been shamelessly borrowed until water parks have become immensely popular as stand-alone amusement facilities and as part of many of the amusement parks all over the world. George Millay died in 2006 at the age of 76,

Pat Collins (Deceased)
Pat Collins was born in Chester, England in 1859.  He was the son of a traveling showman and was destined to become the most successful showman of his generation both on an away from the fairground.  By the age of 21, Pat owned his own hand-turned roundabout and horse, having bought the ride from his father in a bid for independence.  It would be difficult to find anyone in the amusement busi­ness in any country that had a more distinguished career in both business and pub­lic life—and whose entire family has been so identified with the industry than Britain’s Pat Collins. In his time, which spanned the period 1859-1940, Mr. Collins was known throughout the United Kingdom as the King of Showmen. His traveling show, which still exists today, was known throughout the country. 
George Hamid (Deceased)
George Hamid, born in Lebanon, came to the United States as a boy and almost immediately entered the amusement business by joining the Buffalo Bill Cody show as part of a tumbling and acrobatic team. Eventually he started his own circus and talent agency, providing entertainers for fairs in the East Coast area.  Mr. Hamid eventually owned and operated the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, one of the most renowned parks of its time. This man, who served as IAAPA President in 1953 made an indelible mark on our industry for some 67 years. Newsweek Magazine in 1965 referred to him as "one of America’s top entrepreneurs of outdoor entertain­ment.”

Theodore Harton (Deceased)
During his life, 1863-1919, T.M. Harton ranked among the very top of his craft as a builder of amusement rides and devices. His work was known through America, Canada, England and the European continent. The T.M. Harton Company also owned and built rides in West View Park in Pittsburgh. Some of the other parks in which his rides were prominent and popu­lar included Cedar Point, Conneaut Lake, Glen Island, Waldameer, Celeron, Idora, Oakford, Olympia, and Idlewild parks. At the time of his death, his empire had grown to controlling interest in twenty corporations and fourteen individual carousels, fun houses and coasters.

Allan Herschell (Deceased)
Allan Herschell built his first carousel in 1883. It was an event that would eventually make him the undisputed king of carousel makers—a man whose name is still heard almost daily somewhere in the world where people are talking about parks and carousels. More Allan Herschell antique carousel is still operating today than any other type. He personally sold more than 2,300 carousels in almost every country in the world. Following his death in 1927, his company branched out. During the period of the Second World War it was the largest amuse­ment ride manufacturer in the world, making everything from roller coasters to kiddie rides. The company was sold in 1970 to Chance Manufacturing.

C. V. Wood, Jr. (Deceased)
C.V. Wood began his career in the amusement park business as the first employee of Disneyland, Inc. He soon became its Vice President and General Manager. In that position he developed many of the con­cepts of service, which characterize Disney operations and the industry in general today. He later joined Marco Engineering and was engaged in the building of the first Six Flags Park in Texas, as well as Pleasure Island in Boston and Freedomland in New York. Mr. Wood introduced America to the famous London Bridge, which relocated to Lake Havasu City. Later in life, he became involved with Lorimar Telepictures and Warner Brothers where he was responsible for building and open­ing Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast of Australia in 1991.

1995 INDUCTEES

Harrison Price (Deceased)
Harrison "Buzz" Price has a long history working in the theme park industry. He has worked on over 6,000 feasibility studies. He also advised Walt Disney on where to build both Disneyland and Disneyworld. He has participated in the economic analysis of numerous world’s fairs, theme parks, entertainment cen­ters, recreational, sports and cultural projects. He has done much for our industry by setting high goals of quality while at the same time telling it "like it is." He does not always encourage development of a project, especially when his sense of num­bers tells him the project has limited chances of success.

Fred Fried (Deceased)
Fred Fried was the father and founder of carousel history. The publication of his book "A Pictorial History of the Carousel" in 1994 generated the movement to save and restore old carousels and inspired many individuals and companies to begin producing carousel horses as an art form. He purchased the Mangels collection and publicized it in his book. A significant part of that collection remains today because of Mr. Fried. He worked as publicity director for both Steeplechase and Astroland parks in New York. For his work and contributions to a number of institutions such as the Smithsonian, Colonial Williamsburg and others he was awarded a fellowship by the Smithsonian. He was a co-founder of the National Carousel Association.

Anton Pieck (Deceased)
His extraordinary talent as an artist made Anton Pieck’s a household name in the Netherlands. His work as the design genius at Efteling Park brought worldwide fame to both the park and himself. Efteling, an award-winning park, is more than any single thing a grand canvass on which Pieck’s brilliant work was done. He was asked in the early 1950s to help set up a fairy tale park and playground in Kaatsheuvel. Already famous as an illustrator of fairy tales, his fantas­tic illustrations brought the park to life. His creative spirit is widely conceded to be responsible for the overwhelming success of the park. Walt Disney spent a great deal of time studying Pieck’s work at Efteling before beginning his own parks. For his part, Pieck said that his 20 years at Efteling was the "most precious adventure" of his life.

Herb Ryman (Deceased)
Ryman began his career in the Art Development of Cedric Gibbons at MGM in 1933. There, as an illustrator, he worked on screen styling for such classics as David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Anna Karenina, Mutiny on the Bounty, and many others from the Golden Age of Hollywood. In 1938, he joined Disney where he worked on the story development of Pinocchio, Dumbo, Saludos Amigos, and Fantasia. In 1953, after a brief working relationship with the Ringling Brothers Circus, Ryman went back to Disney to pro­duce a rendering of what was to become Disneyland. Ryman continued with the Disney organization contributing to the parks in Florida, Tokyo, and Paris until his death in 1989.

George Tilyou (Deceased)
George Tilyou developed the first theme park in Coney Island, NY. His Steeplechase Park and the facilities that followed were the most elaborate and advanced amusement areas in the world at the turn of the century. Tilyou foresaw the Ferris Wheel's popularity and ordered one made after seeing Ferris' invention in Chicago. He encouraged and welcomed the park developers who followed him. In addition, he created original rides and types of interactive entertain­ment that continue to provide great pleasure today.

1996 INDUCTEES

Bo Kinntorph
Bo Kinntorph has been a great and widely acclaimed con­tributor to the entertainment industry in Sweden through his work as a TV producer and show host, manager of major record company, developer of the Swedish "folks parks" and as president of Liseberg Park for 20 years. Probably his single greatest contribution to the industry has been his energetic and determined effort to "global­ize" IAAPA making it a truly international organization. He served as IAAPA’s first international president.

Dr. Salvador Andreu Y Grau (Deceased)
Dr. Grau was a visionary, who at the turn of the century was the driving force behind the foundation of Tibidabo Amusement Park. One of his principal motives was to do something for the well being of the city, because there was little or no possibility for the man in street to find amusement, apart from getting drunk or into a fight. In the very beginning, he installed revolutionary attractions and people movers such as an Electric Tramway, the ATALAYA, the SKY TRAIN and a replica of the first Spanish mail plane, complete with the original engine which actually moved it.

John Norman Bartlett (Deceased)
John Norman Bartlett was born in England in 1892.  During World War I, he was an aviator attached to a flying squadron. After the war, Bartlett came to North America where he developed his idea for a new thrill ride, the Flying Turns.  Bartlett was one of the most prolific ride designers in industry history. Over the course of five decades, he filed for 22 amusement ride patents, a number matched by few individuals in the industry. Among the rides he invented were the Looper, the Aerial Joy Ride, the Hurricane, the Flying Coaster, and two popular kiddie rides—the Jolly Caterpillar and the Rodeo.

Frederick Church (Deceased)
Frederick Church built some of the best amusement park rides ever and was responsible for many of the great "bobs" and “cyclone” type of rides of the 1920s. He patented and designed many of the great inventions that have influenced the rides in today’s parks.  Church also designed the derby-carousel.  One can be found at Cedar Point.  He built well over one hundred coasters in his lifetime.  Church worked many years at the entrance to one of his rides, “Race through the Clouds,” at Venice Amusement Park in California now known as Six Flags Magic Mountain.

1997 INDUCTEES

Eric McMillan
Eric McMillan was born in England where he began his career of designing play areas and elements that participatory, using the energy of children and were made of materials that were plentiful and inexpensive. Many have called him the "Father of Soft Play.” There is not an amusement park, waterpark, or large fast food restaurant that does not have a play area incorporating McMillan’s inventions. In 1960 he move to Toronto and designed the Children’s Village at Ontario lace, introducing concepts of ball crawl, tube crawls, net climbs, birdie glides, and many others. He designed and constructed the play area for Sea World of Ohio, the first such area in the U.S. His successful projects include the Whale of a Time park in San Vallejo, Sesame Place, Parc de la Villette in Paris, Space Center in Huntsville, and many water park play areas. He was involved in the Expos of 1976 and 1986. Time magazine once called him the "next Walt Disney. “

George Boeckling (Deceased)
Boeckling was a promotional genius, flamboyant showman, and shrewd businessman who transformed Cedar Point from a local picnic ground to a nationally prominent resort in the early 1900s. A master at spotting lifestyle changes, he quickly capitalized on trends such as automobiles, motion pic­tures, and roller coasters. His exciting promotions helped create a national hunger for amusement places. In 1922 he was proclaimed one of the top half-dozen amusement business executives in the country.  George Boeckling may be the reason Cedar Point is still around today. In 1897 he visited the small park, located on a peninsula in Lake Erie. He fell in love with it and put together an investor group to buy it. They added a movie theater, amusement rides, several hotels, a major ballroom and its own power plant. His changes gave the small park its direction to survive into the 20th century. For 30 years, Boeckling was CEO of the park. He died in 1931.

Paul Boyton (Deceased)
Captain Paul Boyton planted the seeds for what became the modern amusement park. Born in Ireland in 1848, he led a life of adventure, from swimming the English Channel to being sentenced to face the firing squad in Chile, only to escape and flee to America. He secured the rights to the Shoot-the-Chute ride in 1893 and founded Paul Boyton's Water Chute park in 1894, which laid the groundwork for the golden age of parks in Chicago. He later created Sea Lion Park on Coney Island in 1895. He died in 1924. Boyton’s parks thus marked the beginning of the modern park industry in America.

William E. Sullivan (Deceased)
William E. Sullivan founded the Eli Bridge Co., which has become famous for the design, construction, and operation of Ferris wheels. The company became the first to mass-produce smaller versions and mak­ing them available to traveling showmen and smaller amusement parks. He was established as a well-known bridge builder in 1893 when he visited the World's Fair in Chicago and was captivated by the presence of the first-ever Ferris wheel. He started building them in 1900, and died in 1932. Largely through his efforts, the Ferris Wheel today stands as the very symbol of American amusement and has thrilled and delighted billions of people over the last century.

1998 INDUCTEES

Ed Morgan and
Karl Bacon (Deceased)
The Arrow Development Corporation is to ride creation and evolution what Disney is to theme parks, and the two companies are closely linked in their histories. And behind Arrow Development are Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon. In these men, Arrow Development found two highly resourceful men willing to do whatever it would take to make an idea work. It became a very suc­cessful relationship that brought to life many of Disney’s classic attractions. Arrow’s Disney credits for design and/or construction include: Mad Tea Party, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White’s Adventures, and It’s a Small World. Over and above their memorable work for Disney, Arrow Development, under the direction of Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon, developed the log flume ride that is so pop­ular in parks around the world. They also provided a new center-guide rail auto-ride that proved much safer than its predecessor. Perhaps most significantly, the boom in steel coasters began with Arrow’s creation of the tubular steel track and trains with polyurethane wheels. Starting with Disney’s Matterhorn and later The Corkscrew at Knott’s Berry Farm, this revolutionized what coasters could do and the innovations continue today in the work begun by Morgan and Bacon. Karl Bacon died in 2008 at the age of 98.

Frank Woolson Darling (Deceased)
Our industry has many icons that immediate­ly create a picture of historical significance. Rye Playland evokes a warm image in our collective consciousness, as does Colonial Williamsburg and Rockefeller Center. These grand traditions have something in common: Frank W. Darling was involved in creating all three. In 1920, Darling was one of the founding members of NAAP, the National Association of Amusement Parks. He served as president in 1926, 1927 and in 1934. His prominence in the industry led him to one of his more famous accomplishments: leading the planning, building, and operations of Rye Playland from 1926-1934.

Roy O. Disney (Deceased)
The phrase "the wonderful world of Disney" is more than a marketing line. It represents the very essence of greatness and heart, and a standard and philosophy that this industry aspires to reach. The uninitiated may not be aware of how much of Walt’s success and the success of what was to become the Walt Disney Company are due to the financial, organizational, and business skills of Roy Disney. He was a committed and talented leader, with exceptional business knowledge and prowess. He was articulate and passionate about the vision his brother had created. Roy Disney is a critical part of turning this story into a legend. It is a story that began in the back of a store in the Hollywood of 1923, a time when anything could happen. Their own story being the stuff of fairytales and legends, Walter and Roy Disney proved that dreams could indeed come true.

Charles T. Thompson (Deceased)
There are many quiet giants in this industry’s past who planted seeds for our success today. Charlie Thompson was a man who influenced the creation and operation of some of our greatest parks, as well as nur­tured some of our finest philosophies. More than a builder of parks, his creative contributions to park development was complemented by superb operational and management skills. He was a true pioneer in our field and a leader in the creation of Six Flags as a national chain. With each project, Thompson’s warmth, discipline, and passion influenced another team of future park leaders. For millions of guests over the years, he was the unseen guardian of quality, safety, and integrity in his parks. For thousands of employees over the years, he was a mentor, teacher, and guiding influence.

1999 INDUCTEES

Jay Stein
It’s the most explosive area of growth in the theme park busi­ness and he pioneered it. Jay Stein took an industrial studio tour drawing 40,000 people yearly and transformed Universal Studios Florida into one of the world’s premier attractions.

A. J. Florizoone (Deceased)
Alberic J. (A.J.) Florizoone was born in a little Belgian coastal village in 1907. His eighty-five years were spent living and working in this same beautiful country, where he found everything that he was looking for in life. He trained as professional beekeeper and this became his first career. Over time, his bees became more than just a source for honey, however. In them he found the inspiration for a unique center of education, enlightenment, beauty, and entertainment in what was to ultimately become Meli-Park. Expansion in the 1950s and 1960s was constant and included Florizoone’s creation and operation of a beehive pavilion and dancing waters theatre at the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels. The full realization of his beloved Meli-Park came into being in 1960 and has been an eclec­tic offering of entertainment for families and children for decades, continuing to thrive with its unique variety of attractions.

Dick Pope, Sr. (Deceased)
In 1932 Dick Pope began carving a beautiful tropical garden out of a swamp. After the park opened in 1936, he spent all his time and energy promoting it. He sent out more than 40,000 pictures a year to publications. The press named him "Mr. Florida" and many considered him the father of Florida tourism. He was the first president and founding father of the Florida Attraction Association. He tirelessly promoted all of the state of Florida and when Walt Disney announced he was building Walt Disney World in Orlando, Pope bought full-page ads to welcome them to the state.

Herb Schmeck (Deceased)
Herb Schmeck began his career as a ride foreman at Paragon Park in 1916. He subsequently met and worked with John Miller on the construction of the giant coaster at Paragon. He continued with the Philadelphia Toboggan in building other coasters and then designed his first coaster—the Hershey Park Wildcat. He would go on to design a remarkable 84 coasters. He was responsible for the design of the two top-10 rated coasters in the world—the Great Escapes Comet and the Knoebel’s Phoenix. As president of Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Schmeck led the company through the Great Depression successfully.

Giovanni Zanoletti (Deceased)
Giovanni Zanoletti was a pioneer in the Latin American ride manufacturing and FEC industry. For 37 years he was a strong sup­porter and unifier of the Brazilian and Latin American industry. He actively served in the founding of the Brazilian (ADIBRA) and Latin American (ALAP) associations. Giovanni found and managed the most important and modern kiddie ride plant in South America. He did so at a time when it was virtually impossible to import rides into Brazil because of strict trade laws. He also had the vision to start the FEC busi­ness in Brazil and was recognized by the Brazilian Shopping Center Association. He was very active in charities involving children, particularly the Foundation for Children with Downs Syndrome. He was an entrepreneur, mentor, a philanthropist, and an innovator.

2000 INDUCTEES

Ron Toomer
The roller coaster has become the icon that represents the success and growth of the amusement industry. There is no better illustration of a pioneer in the roller coaster field than Ron Toomer. Ron’s creativity and his innova­tion, as exhibited in the development and introduction of breakthrough coasters such as the Corkscrew and suspended coasters led to a renaissance in the field of coast­er development, unprecedented since the early part of the 20th century. When you think of coasters in the United States, Ron’s name is the first that comes to mind. His dedication to the field has contributed to the growth of the entire amusement industry and resulted in memorable thrills for millions of park guests.

Jack Ray (Deceased)
Jack Ray was the first designer to specialize in amusement park work. He was involved in the design of Palisades Park, New Jersey, Belmont Park, New York, and Ponchartrain, New Orleans, and the Riverside parks in Agawam, Massachusetts and Chicago and Crystal Beach Park in Ontario, Canada. He was also a consummate artist and worked in both carnivals and worlds fairs. Ray also owned his own park, Belmont Park, in California. 

Frederick Savage (Deceased)
Mr. Savage was a man of vision and dedication that answered the call of the industrial revolution with steam powered machinery and who also brought his skills to bear on the fantasy world of the fairground. He also was one of the first rid builders to do so in an organized and industrial manufactur­ing businesses and holder of various patents. He was the inventor of the Velocipede roundabout in the early 1860s and the steam-yachts (today’s pirates) in addition to the Razzle Dazzle in about 1880. He surely was a true pioneer in the development and applica­tion of modern technology in carousel building and the amusement industry.

2001 INDUCTEES

John Graff
For more than twenty years, John Graff served as presi­dent and CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) retiring at the end of 2001, he left behind a legacy of an association that has grown from being a U.S.-based group with nine foreign associates, to an international organization with more then 5,000 members in almost one hundred nations. Today, IAAPA represents every facet of the amusement industry, and encompassing every aspect of the serious business of fun.

J. Henk Bemboom
"Give people value for their money, and they’ll come back."  This is the principle Henk Bemboom has lived by since the age of 13. In 1958, Henk started a traveling pony show. Business grew, and Henk soon introduced a revolutionary concept: the Pony Park Slagharen, a holiday park of bungalows for rent, each including a pony and cart. Today, there are 1,000 bungalows with more than 100 rides in 2 amuse­ment parks. Over the years, Henk has expanded his amusement facilities into Germany and the United Kingdom, where the pay-one-price system was welcomed with open arms. In 1980, Henk was knighted by the Queen of Holland. After 65 years in the industry, Henk is still an active member of the amusement industry, always giving his guests value and smiles for their money.

Bill Koch, Sr. (Deceased)
William A. Koch became involved in the amusement industry after returning home from serving the United States in WWII. What began as helping his father’s "retirement project" became his life’s work, and one of America’s most treasured amusement parks. The project was Santa Claus Land in Santa Claus, Indiana, becoming the state’s first theme park on August 3, 1946. Over the year’s, Bill’s park grew into Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari and the entire town grew with it! Today, Santa Claus is the fastest growing community in Indiana. Always an active leader with IAAPA, Bill helped develop the association’s continuing education pro­grams, seminars, and workshops. He also worked tirelessly with state tourism asso­ciations, community and civic organizations, and state and national politics. Bill’s legacy is vividly apparent in his five children and six grandchildren, many who con­tinue to work at the park he was so proud of. His family and all who knew him will remember him much like the namesake of the town he created: jolly, loving, gener­ous, and always full of good cheer.

Wilbert Morey (Deceased)
Wilbert Morey grew up in Wildwood, New Jersey, and followed in his father’s footsteps as a carpenter, and would later be credited with building dozens of Wildwood’s classic motels. By the 1970s, Will’s company, the Morey Development Company had built many of the area’s favorite hotels. During that time, he and his brother bought a failing seaside restaurant and opened Surfside Pier. They added a giant fiberglass slide called the Wipe Out, and it was an instant success. By the early 1980s, Will added two more amusement piers and two water parks to the area, along with the Sea Serpent, an inverted roller coaster, the largest attraction ever installed on the boardwalk. He never stopped investing in Wildwood, adding a third pier and a luxury resort. Today, Morey’s Pier is a tourism favorite, and Will Morey is remembered as a pioneer whose legacy and vision continue to inspire for many years to come.

2002 INDUCTEES

Marty Sklar
Walt Disney guided the creative philosophy of the Disney theme parks from 1952 to 1966 – a 14-year period during which time he opened only one park. For 34 years that followed, Marty Sklar guided the creative philoso­phy of WDI more then any single individual. He began as Walt’s speechwriter and became a real-life and successful version of the sorcerer’s apprentice, providing cre­ative leadership and statesmanship to WDI through the creation of eight of the sub­sequent nine Disney parks, plus dozens of innovative attractions outside the parks. During his tenure, WDI has grown from 2000 to 4000 employees and is the largest architectural company in America, despite being exclusively devoted to the amuse­ment business. Along the way, he has mentored two generations of future themed attractions leaders. Today his influence can be seen in the careers and creative phi­losophy of an entire generation of young designers and showmen and, by imitation, in non-Disney parks throughout the world.

Rudyard Uzzell (Deceased)
Rudyard Uzzell was one of the early manufacturers in the amusement park business. He was noted as a ride and amusement park designer and builder, credited with installations in Brazil, Germany, England, Spain, and Belgium. With Harry Traver and J.W. Ely, he installed hundreds of Circle Swings and later built rides like the Frolic and Scoota Boats. For twenty-six years, he wrote a column titled "Around the Parks" for Billboard. He was a primary founder of the NAAP and its historian from its founding until 1951. He was also a founder of AREA and served as its historian and executive secretary. He operated rides as a conces­sionaire at Luna Park at Coney Island and Belmont Park in Canada.

Leon Cassidy (Deceased)
Cassidy was a professional musician who made a career change in the late 1920s by becoming manager of Tumbling Run Park in Bridgetown, NJ. Inspired by an Old Mill Ride, Cassidy modified some old amuse­ment cars and placed them in an old building where they were attached to a rail. The result was the Fire Fly, the first non-water-based dark ride. The ride was wildly popular and within two years he had sold 60 of them. During his era, over 1,000 Pretzel dark rides were sold throughout the world.

2003 INDUCTEES

Werner Stengel
Stengel has been active in the amusement industry for more than 36 years.  He began designing in 1964 with the Anton Schwarzkopf Company of Germany.  Stengel’s designs were not only used for roller coasters but for many other Schwarzkopf rides as well.  The ride designs were comprised of spinning and dark rides and some popular names as Alpenblitz, Bayernkurve, Polyp, Enterprise, and Big Wheels.  Mr. Stengel also designed transportation systems and Dodgem tracks.  In summary Werner was responsible for more than 180 designs located at 700 attractions world wide in addition to his coaster projects.  His most familiar ride concept was the Heart line Loop which was put in use with the Shockwave at Six Flags over Texas in 1978.  This design allowed a coaster to loop at greater speeds without an exorbitant G-force initiated on the riders.

Dr. Roberto Ortiz (Deceased)
Founder of Parque de Diversiones in San Jose, Costa Rica, Dr. Roberto Ortiz was a world‑renowned children's physician who created and directed this innovative and successful amusement park, the proceeds of which are contributed to the funding of the country’s National Children's Hospital.  Ortiz saw the park as an important repository for the country’s history and traditions.   He was successful in raising the funds necessary to create a themed area called Pueblo Antiguo, that features the life and culture of the country during the late 19th Century.  In Ortiz’s view, this project would enrich the country by celebrating its history and culture. 

2004 INDUCTEES

Jack and Peter Herschend
Jack Herschend, co-founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment (formerly Silver Dollar City, Inc.) is a creative visionary and an operational expert who has been instrumental in everything from the conceptualization of attractions to creating the atmosphere and theme for each property.

Jack is also an environmental advocate who in 1992 began a program to reforest the Ozark hills to counter the deforestation of the past several decades. His Gift of Green project has donated and volunteers have planted nearly 200,000 trees, part of a lifelong family commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the Ozarks. His environmental efforts were recognized with an award from the National Arbor Day Foundation in 1999.

Jack has a commitment and passion for youth and serves on the boards of numerous youth organizations and ministries, including the Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch; the Young Life Foundation; Big Brothers, Big Sisters; and the I’m Third Foundation.  He previously served as chairman, president, and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) and remains chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the company.

Peter Herschend, co-founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment, is a master of genuine public relations and marketing. He serves as vice-chairman of the HFE board of directors and served as executive vice president of the company for 20 years.

Peter is an avid fund raiser on behalf of those with multiple sclerosis. Annually, he participates in the local MS 150 Bike Tour and is the nation’s top individual fundraiser of those events, raising over $800,000. He also works to promote Camp Barnabas, a Christian summer camp for children who suffer from terminal illnesses or other serious conditions.

Peter has worked to improve tourism, develop roads, and improve water quality and education in Missouri, including serving 13 years on the state board of education and on the Missouri Partnership for Outstanding Schools.

In support of the tour and travel industry, Peter has served as president of the Missouri Attractions Association, board member of the Travel Industry Association of America, and past president of the Ozark Marketing Council, an organization he helped create.

Richard J. “Dick” Coulter (Deceased)
Richard J. Coulter was the first safety and loss prevention professional employed full time in the amusement industry. He worked at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. After Leaving Cedar Point, Dick formed a consulting company that became the largest in the world, focusing on issues of safety, loss prevention, facility audits, and ride inspections, as well as education and employee training programs.

Dick was actively involved in advising in the formation of the industry’s safety committees, including those of IAAPA, OABA, and ASTM. He served for several years as the executive director of A.R.E.A, the precursor to AIMS. He was also instrumental in the formation of safety standards and practices throughout Europe, Australia, and North and South America.

Dick was a recognized leader in representing the industry’s safety record and commitment to safe practices. He appeared on popular television programs and wrote articles in industry and consumer publications.

Geoffrey Thompson, OBE (Deceased)
Geoffrey Thompson, OBE was managing director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach for 28 years. He was the grandson of the founder of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, William George Bean and the only son of Lillian Doris Thompson, OBE and Leonard Thompson.

He followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps to become managing director of Britain’s favorite tourist attraction in 1976, after an education at Cambridge and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and 13 years as a manager at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

As director, Thompson introduced a new generation of thrill rides to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. In 1977, his first achievement was to commission the Arrow Development Company to design the exciting and innovative Steeplechase. The innovation followed with the Water Chute, The Revolution, and the Pepsi Max Big One—at one time the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world.  In 2000, Valhalla—the world’s largest dark ride—opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

A true visionary, Thompson served as founding chairman of Europarks, chairman of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, a board member of the English Tourist Board, president of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and a life member of the National Amusement Park Historical Association. He was also active in the arts, and served in leadership positions on many charitable, arts, and educational organizations.

Thompson was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to English Tourism Award at the English Tourist Board’s 1997 England for Excellence ceremony. In 1998, he received the award of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his outstanding contribution to tourism.

2005 INDUCTEES

Franz Mack (Deceased)
Born in 1921, Franz Mack was the fourth son of Heinrich and Theresia Mack.  After eight years of elementary school and three years of vocational school, Mr. Mack finished his apprenticeship as a carriage and bodymaker. In 1958, together with his brothers Hermann and Willi, Mr. Mack took over his father’s carriage and carousel factory which was founded in 1780.  Today, Mack Rides is one of the international market leaders in the development and construction of amusement park attractions.  In 1975, Franz Mack founded Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, a world-class leisure park visited by more than 3 million people annually.  Europa-Park has been recognized nationally and internationally for its excellence and received the prestigious Applause Award in 1990.       

Antonio Zamperla (Deceased)
Born into a family of traveling showmen, Antonio Zamperla sought to expand the family business by designing amusement rides.   In 1939, at age 16, Antonio and his father Giuseppe decided to build a new attraction to add to their show – an amusement ride with cars that ran over a hilly track.  This was just the beginning of what was to become a lifelong pursuit for Antonio Zamperla – designing and building amusement rides.  In the early 1960s, he sold one of his first designs, a motorized go-kart to Bertazzon.  Antonio continued developing new ideas and by the late 1960s Zamperla had built his own manufacturing facility to produce the classic Mini Avio (Mini Jet) and Mini Scooter, and the very popular strength machines El Toro and Punch Ball.  Over the next 25 years, Zamperla continued to foster new ride development and worked to introduce new rides year after year.  He was a pioneer in designing rides for children and families, including the award-winning Crazy Bus, Samba Balloon, Rio Grande Train, and Lolli Swing rides.  Antonio Zamperla S.p.A. boasts over 60 rides in its active product line with offices and manufacturing facilities around the world.   Antonio Zamperla died in 1994 at the age of 71.

2006 INDUCTEES

Harry C. Baker (Deceased)
Harry Charles Baker’s body of work, which included thirty years in the amusement park and attractions field, is marked by several successful ventures leaving a legacy that includes the Coney Island “Cyclone.”  Baker was fascinated by the process of building wooden coasters when he first entered the amusement industry in 1908 as a construction worker at Riverview Park in Chicago. In 1918, he formed a business partnership with designer John A. Miller that lasted until 1923. During this time, the duo built almost 80 roller coasters and more than 20 full-scale amusement parks. He was the principal of Harry C. Baker Inc., which was responsible for the famous “Whippet” and “Cyclone” designs. Additionally, Baker was an innovative leader in the industry and served four terms as president of the National Association of Amusement Parks, Pools, and Beaches from 1934 to 1938. Throughout his tenure, Baker helped lower the liability insurance for members, increased membership within the organization, and even increased business for members during the Great Depression.  Harry Baker died in 1939 at the age of 52 but his legacy clearly lives on today, and his rides will continue to create memories for generations to come.

Richard L. Kinzel
There are many successful amusement park operators who have climbed their way to the top with hard work, determination, and dedication. One of those men is Richard L. “Dick” Kinzel, who began his career in the amusement parks and attractions industry in 1972 as a food service manager at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.  Promoted to director of park operations in 1975 at Cedar Point, three years later he became the president and general manager of Valley Fair. In 1986, he was named the president and CEO of Cedar Fair, the parent company of the parks which was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987.  In 2003 he was named chairman of the board of Cedar Fair.  Under his leadership, Cedar Fair has grown from two parks generating $96 million in revenue in 1986 to 12 parks generating $1 billion in revenue in 2006.  At Cedar Point, he introduced the first 200 ft., 300 ft., and 400 ft. roller coasters in the world.  In 2006, he shepherded the purchase of the Paramount Parks chain. He has supported IAAPA throughout his career serving on the board of directors for two terms and on many committees including the Executive Committee and Strategic Planning Committee.  Dick Kinzel has been described as a man of his word and a man of honor; an excellent role model for his employees and the industry. 

2007 INDUCTEE

Richard Nunis
Dick Nunis always focused on the people; the employees and the guests.  That focus, and his vision, guided the growth of Disney’s outdoor attractions from a single park into a worldwide resort.  Born on May 30, 1932 in Cedartown, Georgia, Dick received a football scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC).  His ambition to be a professional football player was cut short, however, when he suffered a broken neck playing the game he loved.  In 1954, he graduated from USC with a degree in education.  Dick came to Disneyland on the advice of his classmate who happened to be Walt Disney’s son-in-law.  On a lark, he decided to apply for a summer job at the new theme park.  In May, 1955, just prior to the park’s July 17 grand opening, he was hired to train Disneyland employees.  Among members of his first training class was Walt himself and his executives.  Dick soon became attractions supervisor and in 1961 became director of park operations and helped develop Walt Disney World.  In 1971, the same year the Magic Kingdom opened in Walt Disney World, he was named executive vice president of Walt Disney World and Disneyland.  In 1980, Dick was named president of the Outdoor Recreation Division, overseeing Walt Disney World, EPCOT Center, and later Disney MGM Studios.  He consulted on plans for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland while serving on the Walt Disney Productions board of directors.   Dick’s forty-four year career with Disney ended in 1999 when he retired as chairman of Walt Disney Attraction.  After retiring from Disney, Dick started his own consulting company, New Business Solutions, Inc. and has continued his interest in community affairs, youth, education, and the free enterprise system through his association with various boards and organizations. 

2008 INDUCTEES

Larry Cochran
Larry B. Cochran is a tall Texan who was actually born in rural Mississippi in June, 1940. He moved to Texas in 1961, shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart, Pat. Larry began working at Six Flags Over Texas that year for park founder and visionary, Angus Wynne. Larry had no idea that his “summer job” would last nearly four decades. By 1982, after operating most of the Six Flags parks as president and general manager, Larry was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In 1985, he was named president and CEO and, in 1987, chairman. Larry retired from Six Flags in 2000. In 1998, he served as IAAPA chairman of the board, bringing a wealth of insight, creativity, and experience to the position. Larry has long admired famed football coach Vince Lombardi, especially his quote that inspired Larry throughout his career: “I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious.” Larry shared his wisdom and knowledge with so many who now operate successful theme parks all over the world. He is respected and beloved by those who’ve worked with him. 

Edgard Meeus (Deceased)
Edgard Meeus was the brilliant theme park entrepreneur who launched Walibi World in Wavre, Belgium, and with it, a series of innovations that still influence the industry today. Under the direction of Meeus, Walibi parks were the first in Europe to offer the all-inclusive entrance ticket. This was also the first series of European parks to carry the same name, developing a strong brand and image. At the peak of its growth, the Walibi brand consisted of nine parks spread across Belgium, France, and Holland. Meeus was an innovator of rides and new concepts, including the first flume ride in Belgium. He also introduced the first corkscrew ride and the first inverted coaster in Europe. A true pioneer with a natural talent for creating unexpected delights for his guests, Edgard Meeus was committed to the continued improvement of the theme park experience.

Arto Monaco (Deceased)
Arto Monaco is one of the founding fathers of the theme park industry. He was a gifted artist who achieved success working in Hollywood for MGM and Walt Disney Studios. Returning to his home in the Adirondack Mountains, Arto began making real magic. Designing and constructing the first Santa’s Workshop in Wilmington, New York, and then in his own backyard of Upper Jay, New York, The Land of Makebelieve, he built America’s first theme parks. Arto’s legacy is an inspiration; a reminder that our business gives us the opportunity to make children happy.

2009 INDUCTEES

Ricardo Castillo Sinibaldi
In 1958, while on his honeymoon in California, Guatemalan businessman, Don Ricardo Castillo Sinibaldi, visited Disneyland. The trip made such an impression, that he returned to Guatemala with the dream of bringing amusement parks to the people of his home country. More than 50 years later, millions of Guatemalans have enjoyed the fruits of Mr. Castillo Sinibaldi’s dream. After returning home, he was instrumental in the formation of IRTRA, The Institute for the Recreation of the Workers of the Guatemalan Private Sector. Under the terms of IRTRA, private sector businesses voluntarily contribute a small fraction of the wages and salaries paid to their workers. Mr. Castillo Sinibaldi’s vision was that those funds would be used to build parks and recreation for the citizens of Guatemala. Through the years, that vision has given birth to numerous projects including the Petapa Urban Park, Xocomil Water Park, and the award-winning Xetulul. Don Ricardo Castillo Sinibaldi has dedicated his life to the dream of bringing joy and smiling faces to the people of Guatemala. By leading with honesty, passion, and sincerity, he has caused others to take up his dream, as well. The parks and resorts of IRTRA are the result of many, many people, but they are the vision of one man. For sharing his vision, we welcome Don Ricardo Castillo Sinibaldi to the IAAPA Hall of Fame!

Elmer “Skip” Dundy and Frederic Thompson (Deceased)
When Frederic Thompson and Elmer Dundy unveiled the legendary Luna Park at New York’s Coney Island, visitors were speechless … overwhelmed. The year was 1903.With no other park like it on earth and with no previous park experience, Thompson and Dundy created a spectacular and stunning theme park on their first try.They were naturals!Park designers have been following their lead ever since. Neither man had a theme park background. But Thompson, an architect, and Dundy, a businessman, shared a sense of playfulness and creativity that allowed them to build one of the most famous parks of all time. Imagine a nighttime visit to Luna Park, its buildings illuminated by thousands of lights when electricity was still a novelty. A breathtaking mixture of whimsy and technology, Luna Park laid the groundwork for the modern day theme park experience. For their unbridled enthusiasm and pioneer vision, we proudly add the names Frederic Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy to the IAAPA Hall of Fame.

2010 INDUCTEES

Bob Rogers
This inductee into the  IAAPA Hall of Fame was kicked out of the sixth grade band because he could not keep time on the bass drum.  Today, marching to the beat of his own drum is exactly why Bob Rogers is a success. Bob began his career in 1968, working as a magician in the Magic Shop of Disneyland, California.  Though an enthusiastic employee, Bob had his own ideas about how things should be done.  Disney invited Bob to explore those ideas somewhere else…twice.  He was fired, rehired…fired again…and then hired a third time. During his third stint at Disney, Bob created a show for EPCOT called “Impressions of France,” a show that is still running, nearly 30 years later. After Bob’s third and final exit from Disney, he formed BRC Imagination Arts and began creating programs that combine illusion, special effects, technology and, above all, showmanship.  Bob Rogers is still a magician, and his shows have been entertaining and thrilling live audiences for over 30 years. Today, BRC Imagination Arts, marching to the beat of Bob’s drum, is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading creators of content-based visitor experiences for museums, cultural centers, and theme parks.  The company’s success is a direct product of Bob’s enthusiasm and creativity. For his ability to create shows and amazing, immersive entertainment experiences that are loaded withhumor, education, magic, and whimsy, we welcome Bob Rogers to the IAAPA Hall of Fame.

Daniel Burnham (Deceased)
Daniel Hudson Burnham was an American architect and urban planner in the later 1800s.  He designed several famous buildings, including the Flatiron Building in New York City and Union Station in Washington, D.C. But Daniel Burnham is best remembered for his creations for  the attractions industry as director of works for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago…better known as the 1983 Chicago World’s Fair. The fairgrounds, as designed by Burnham, were spectacular.  Complete with grand boulevards, classic building facades and lush gardens, it was and still is considered to be one of the most ambitious attractions events ever created. We celebrate Daniel Burnham as a gifted architect and designer who was, at heart, a true showman.  More than 100 years later, the influence of the Chicago World’s Fair can still be felt today. For his passion and inspiration…we are proud to add the name Daniel H. Burnham to the IAAPA Hall of Fame.

Don Clayton (Deceased)
One day in 1954, after playing a frustrating round of miniature golf on a dilapidated course, insurance agent Don Clayton sketched out 18 different holes of golf, leased a vacant lot near his home and built the first Putt-Putt Golf Course. The next year, he began franchising and expanding the concept.  By 1959, the first professional Putt-Putt Tournament was played, and in 1960, Don Clayton saw locations open in South Africa, Australia, and Japan. Don did not invent miniature golf, but he brought to the sport a golfer’s love for the skill of putting, a keen business model, and a desire to provide clean, safe, outdoor family fun. Don Clayton wanted to elevate miniature golf to a competitive game…a real sport with rules and regulations.  He achieved that, but he also had a far-reaching impact on the industry and created an enduring, worldwide brand. For proving that Family Entertainment Centers could be big business  as well as big fun, we welcome Don Clayton into the IAAPA Hall of Fame.

Will Koch (Deceased)
Holiday World, in Santa Claus, Indiana, began in 1946 as a small, family-owned theme park.  Today, Holiday World and its sister park, Splashin’ Safari, are two of the most well-known and beloved parks in North America.  The reason: Will Koch. Will’s talents in the field came as no surprise to anyone.  He grew up at the family park, working there from age nine until his college years.  Will learned the businesses by observing the work of his father, William A. Koch…himself a member of the IAAPA Hall of Fame.  Bill Koch, Sr. was inducted in 2001, the year of his death. Following graduation—and after a brief stint working on the West Coast—young Will Koch returned to Holiday World as president and CEO in 1987, serving in this capacity until his death in 2010. 

Will’s leadership during this time turned a modest, roadside attraction into a world-class, world-famous theme park. A master marketing and PR strategist, Will Koch never underestimated the value of creating loyalty with his customers. Initiating unheard-of programs that offered free inner tubes, free soft drinks and sunscreen, and free parking, Will saw his independent, family-owned park grow and prosper, at a time when it was becoming increasingly difficult for smaller parks to compete.

Though his parks promote traditional family values and togetherness, Will and his team were still at the forefront of the latest marketing strategies.  They were early adopters of emerging technologies such as the Internet and blogging to keep guests and fans directly connected. Will Koch was extremely generous with his time, freely sharing advice and information with other park owners and mangers.  He viewed them as colleagues, not competitors. Throughout Will’s career, IAAPA was the frequent recipient of his team spirit and desire to give back to the industry.  Will Koch served on numerous IAAPA committees and as a member of the IAAPA Board of Directors. 

When he was needed, he was there…always ready with an abundance of advice, time, and support.  Will Koch was one of the greatest friends to the industry and to IAAPA that we have ever known. In a highly competitive economy where every penny matters, Will Koch never lost sight of what our work is all about:  providing fun and lasting memories in a wholesome family environment. His death in 2010 at the young age of 48 was a devastating blow to the industry.  Will’s character and his integrity are a lasting reflection on the entire industry, and we are grateful for having known him. It is with tremendous pride that we add the name Will Koch to the IAAPA Hall of Fame.