Press Releases

Jack and Peter Herschend, Geoffrey Thompson, and Dick Coulter Inducted Into IAAPA Hall of Fame

 

ORLANDO, Fla., USA (Nov. 17, 2004) – The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions ( IAAPA) announced today that Jack Herschend, Peter Herschend, Richard J. Coulter, and Geoffrey Thompson are the 2004 IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees. The announcement was made during IAAPA Orlando 2004, the association’s 86 th annual convention and trade show at the Orange County Convention Center.

“Jack and Peter Herschend created a successful family company that is enviable in its business acumen and dedication to the community and the families of its guests and employees,” said Clark Robinson, IAAPA president. “We are pleased to honor them as Hall of Fame inductees.”

“Dick Coulter’s passion in life was safety, a vitally important aspect of our industry,” said Robinson. “He will always be remembered as someone who vigorously worked to ensure the safest possible rides for the enjoyment of millions of guests worldwide.”

“With his smile and his vision, Geoffrey Thompson taught us all to realize even the most impossible dreams,” said Robinson. “We will miss Geoffrey’s enthusiasm and leadership, but his commitment to excellence and his love of his family and community will live on, as will the amazing Blackpool Pleasure Beach.”

Jack Herschend
Jack Herschend, co-founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment- HFE (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 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
Peter Herschend, co-founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment- HFE, is a master of 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 more than $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, improve water quality and strengthen 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.

IAAPA also posthumously honored:

Richard J. “Dick” Coulter
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 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
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 Lilian 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 Comnpany to design the exciting and innovative Steepechase. 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 (BALPPA), 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 Toursism 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.

# # #

IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities worldwide. The organization represents over 4,500 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 90 countries. IAAPA strives to help members improve their efficiency, marketing, safety, and profitability while maintaining the highest possible professional standards in the industry. www.iaapa.org