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Funworld January 2012
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IAAPA Remembers Industry Leaders  Ron Toomer, IAAPA Hall of Famer (2000) and legendary ride designer and engineer, died Sept. 26, 2011. He was 81.Toomer came to the industry accidentally. The aerospace company he was working for as a mechanical engineer went bust, and a professional connection landed him a position as ride manufacturer at Arrow Development Company, a job change that put Toomer on the path of designing industry staples such as Runaway Mine Train and the Corkscrew, along with 200-plus-foot-tall coasters like Cedar Fair's "Magnum XL-200" and Kennywood's "Steel Phantom." "Ron really had a humble start at Arrow but proved himself quite quickly," said Tim O'Brien of Ripley Entertainment and author of "Legends—Pioneers of the Amusement Park Industry." "His first job was to wade knee deep in the canals of Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride calculating water flow. His second was to design a roller coaster, an amusement ride he had never ridden. The first coaster he ever rode was the first one he designed and helped build." His circuitous route to the industry started out with a stint as an auto mechanic at a Ford dealership. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army, during which time he skied competitively while stationed in Germany. He ultimately decided it go back to school for a degree in mechanical engineering, leading him to several jobs in the aerospace field. It was in 1965 when Arrow hired him as its first mechanical engineer. In O'Brien's "Legends" book, Toomer is described as someone who always accepted the challenge of making something bigger, more exciting. In the book, he says, "Given enough time, space, and money, I can design and we can build just about anything the park can dream up. Pushing it to the limits is what a thrill ride is all about."  But Toomer rarely if ever got on those rides. "It was not too far into his career that he realized that he would get motion sickness every time he rode one of his rides, and when the media got wind of that, they never let go," said O'Brien. "His response to questions about him not riding his own rides was brushed off with a single response: 'The inventor of the electric chair didn't try out his creation either.'"In his 33 years in the industry, he designed more than 80 coasters, many of them record breakers and park mainstays to this day. Even during his presidency of Arrow Dynamics (the restructured company of Arrow Development), he was at the helm of the design team, putting his stamp on each project. Toomer's community contributions included service on the IAAPA Board of Directors and as a participant in engineering organizations. Ron Gustafson, chair of the IAAPA Hall of Fame Committee and director of marketing/industry historian at Quassy Amusement Park, said: "I recall riding the first Arrow Corkscrew back in the '70s just after it opened at Knott's Berry Farm in California—realizing then that a new wave of coasters would be sweeping the industry. In 1989, I stood in line at Cedar Point to be among the first to ride the 'Magnum XL-200,' feeling very intimidated by its towering framework. To this day, one of my favorite steel coasters is the 'Loch Ness Monster' at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It's as much fun to ride as it is to watch after more than 30 years in operation. Thanks for the memories, Ron Toomer; your legacy will live on forever in our industry."  Harry J. Batt Jr., attractions industry veteran and former president of IAAPA, died Sept. 18, 2011. He was 85. Batt started his career in the industry while he was an architectural student at the Chicago Institute of Design. His father enlisted his help running Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park, located on a lakefront in New Orleans, Batt's hometown. He held various jobs at Ponchartrain such as merchandise clerk, ultimately securing the position of president of Playland Amusements Incorporated, Ponchartrain's operating company. He and his brother, John, managed the park until its closing in 1983. He and John also started Storyland amusement park, which still operates today. Batt was active in local and national business groups, including IAAPA, boards of directors for local banks, the Hermes Carnival Organization, and the Rotary Club. He also consulted with the Seattle World's Fair and Disney. After retiring from the industry, Batt began painting and attending classes through local art schools. Frank O'Connell, group general manager for attractions and entertainment at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts in Hershey, Pennsylvania, died on Oct. 18, 2011. He was 48. O'Connell began working at Hersheypark at the age of 15 and spent his career there, moving through the ranks of leadership to eventually become the general manager of the Hersheypark Entertainment Complex, then ultimately as group general manager of attractions and entertainment for the company. Thanks to O'Connell, Hersheypark has emerged as one of the leading family destinations in the industry, setting standards for shows, rides, and operations. The full property now includes the park, Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, The Spa at Hotel Hershey, numerous restaurants, Hersheypark Arena, Hersheypark Stadium, Hersheypark Star Pavilion, ZooAmerica, Giant Center, Hershey Theatre, and Hershey Gardens. As an industry volunteer, O'Connell has been generous with his expertise and guidance, having served two terms with the IAAPA Board of Directors (2005-2010), during which time he was a member of the executive and compensation committees. He also chaired the audit committee and served as treasurer. Warner Cleveland Smith Jr. was there on Six Flags Over Texas' first day. He was a ride operator, a job that would lead him to several positions in the Six Flags family and the upper echelons of the attractions industry. Smith died Sept. 4, 2011. He was 70. "He had that childhood love of amusement parks and was able to establish an illustrious career doing what he really loved," said his daughter, Amber Suriani of Manlius, New York, in an article from The Dallas Morning News. "He lived life the way it should be lived. He had a blast." His career in the industry covered several attractions and included many title changes, including ride manager at Six Flags, ride manager at the World's Fair in New York in 1964, operations manager for Six Flags Over Georgia, then general manager for the same park. He returned to Six Flags Over Texas in 1969 and served as executive vice president and as a member of the board of directors. Smith then transferred his vast knowledge of the industry to a consulting business, Fun Corporation of America. He also served as vice president and board member with Wynne Enterprises Inc., which was started by Angus Wynne Jr., the founder of Six Flags, and he worked alongside George Millay during his time as vice president of overseas development for Wet 'n Wild. New Hires The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is pleased to announce two new hires.
IAAPA Foundation Announces $65,000 in Donations The IAAPA Foundation recently announced two gifts totaling $65,000. The donations were $10,000 from SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and $55,000 from members of the IAAPA Latin American Advisory Committee.
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Brian George Skepton has joined the association as advertising and sponsorship sales executive for Funworld magazine, IAAPA's digital and online products, and publications related to the associations Expos around the world.
Jessica Yan joins IAAPA Asia Pacific as its new exhibit and membership sales executive. Based in Hong Kong, Yan will promote and sell exhibit space for IAAPA's three trade shows to the Asia-Pacific market. She will also recruit and retain members for IAAPA in the region. Yan previously worked for Ocean Park in Hong Kong and several private membership clubs in Hong Kong and Singapore. Armed with a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, Yan is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
IAAPA Institute for Executive Education
IAAPA Leadership Conference 2012
IAAPA Safety Institute