< PreviousFunworld | www.IAAPA.org/Funworld 1927 1928 1929 1927 | A session by Westchester County on the development of Playland ended in a spirited debate when Fred Ponty, the former owner of Paradise Park, told of the challenges he had getting fair compensation from the county when forced to sell his park (Paradise Park was acquired by Westchester County after residents became concerned by reports of unruly crowds, who gained a less than respectable reputation). The meeting also featured a broad session on swimming pools. 1929 | The American Association of Pools and Beaches was formed as a separate organization, serving the growing industry devoted to swimming. Dues were based on the size of each operator’s locker room. Meanwhile, the NAAP museum obtained 500 items, started a library, and began a membership program to build an endowment. The city of New York offered a site for a perma- nent museum. At the December meeting, discus- sion focused on providing travel rebates to encourage members to attend the convention from farther- flung locales, while sessions reflected the growing scope of the association, including pools, automobiles, avia- tion, golf, and aquariums. Andrew S. McSwigan IAAPA Founding Father In 1918, the National Outdoor Show- men’s Association (NOSA) formed a Parks Division within its organiza- tion to bring in amusement park representatives. It was the first national group in the United States for amusement park operators and is credited as the foun- dation of what we now know as IAAPA. By 1920, general membership in NOSA had decreased, and it became evident the amusement park segment was carrying most of the responsibility, financially and otherwise. Two months prior to the NOSA annual meeting in 1920, Kennywood’s president, Andrew S. McSwigan, called several of the top amusement park officials in the country to Pitts- burgh to discuss the creation of a new organization devoted completely to protecting and advancing the best interests of America’s 1,500 amusement parks. Two months later in Chicago, this same group of men, along with others, convened for the NOSA meeting and voted to merge NOSA with the larger amusement park delegation to create a more park-oriented association. It was named the National Association of Amusement Parks (NAAP), and following several different names, that group became IAAPA in 1973. McSwigan was elected president and subsequently served four terms. He was the epitome of what the NAAP stood for and worked tirelessly to gain public respect for all parks. McSwigan promoted that all parks should be run in a clean and moral manner. He and his initial board built the new association on five basics: to monitor and influence all legislation; help the industry with insurance problems and other related challenges; encourage and cultivate relationships with other outdoor entertainment businesses and promote mutual concerns; promote safety within parks; and to provide a platform for the presenta- tion of papers on various topics, including advertising and promotional ideas, group business protocol, and insurance issues. The association made an immediate impact. Within a year, the dominant journalistic voice of the industry, The Billboard magazine, wrote NAAP had “developed into quite a healthy organization, a factor to be reckoned with. Much has been accomplished in this short space of time and greater things can be expected of the organization as the years roll by.” After praising McSwigan and the other board members, the magazine noted that as NAAP carries out its purposes, “parkdom will have much to be thankful for.” McSwigan died suddenly in 1923 while still dedicat- ing much of his time for the association that he helped create. He founded a practical business association for the amusement park industry, dedicated to cooperation, mutual welfare, educational objectives, and protection against unjust taxes and legislation. These goals remain paramount during the association’s 100th year. 1928 | An industry museum committee was formed in spring 1928, and a building erected at the W.F. Mangels factory at Coney Island. More than 100 objects had been collected, including artifacts from the Dentzel Carousel factory as it was being dismantled. In August, a meeting was held at Kennywood to dedicate a memorial to NAAP founder Andrew S. McSwigan. As a result of the gathering, it was voted to hold a summer meeting each year. 8 Chapter 3 LEADERS OF DISTINCTION The Golden Age (cont.)Funworld | www.IAAPA.org/Funworld 10 Chapter 4 1930 193119321934 The Great Depression Brings Clouds of War The Great Depression pressured the industry, and hundreds of amusement parks closed worldwide as discretionary income dried up. By 1939, Billboard reported fewer than 400 parks remained in operation in the U.S.—about half the number that existed three decades earlier. To survive, parks turned away from adding new rides and focused on promotions and live entertainment, particularly big band dances. 1930 | The mayor of Chicago addresses the NAAP annual meeting, speaking about crime in the city and calling Al Capone “a crime wave unto himself.” Meanwhile, legendary ride designer Harry Traver spoke of the impact the miniature-golf craze had on the park business and how most in the industry thought it would be a “short-lived trend.” While memberships were holding up, there were 30 unrented booths at the trade show, primarily due to a reduction in space by exhibitors, not attrition. 1931 | Secretary Hodge stated the number of cancellations and resignations made it difficult to get an accurate current count of members. 1932 | The association and industry started to feel the effects of the Depression. The Summer Meeting was canceled and would not resume until 1949. The convention was moved out of Chicago for the first time, relocating to New York City; NAAP lost money for the second consecutive year. 1934 | As the tough times continued, NAAP worked hard to ensure the organization continued to grow and be relevant to its members. Spurred by a U.S. government National Recovery Act ruling, the NAAP merged with the American Association of Pools and Beaches (AAPB), expanding its constituency to the pool and beach industry, providing an important way of growing the association at a time when the membership base was dwindling. The merger was formalized at a meeting in November in Toronto. By this time, what was now the National Association of Amusement Parks, Pools, and Beaches (NAAPPB) had grown to the scope that Alfred Hodge, the publicity and advertising chief at Chicago’s Riverview Park, left his position of eight years, to devote his full- time attention to the association, thus becoming its first full-time employee. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS11 www.IAAPA.org/Funworld | Funworld 1935 1936 1935 | The Manufacturers Section voted to separate from the NAAPPB and form the American Recreational Equipment Association (AREA), which exists today as AIMS International. 1936 | In addition to broadening the membership base, NAAPPB also found it important to increase services to the members. In 1936, it launched a liability insurance plan for the industry that by 1942 was considered the best offered by any trade association in the country. Alfred R. Hodge First IAAPA Employee IAAPA as it is today is certainly attributable to many people who have touched the association in many different ways during the past 100 years. Alfred Hodge is a name most members don’t know, but he is one of the most important park executives in our history. He got us going in the right direction, right from the beginning. Hodge was appointed secretary of the NAAP, the forerunner of IAAPA, at its organizational meeting on Feb. 17, 1920, making him the first staff member of what was to become the world’s largest attractions industry association. He served the association for 26 years until his death in July 1946, making him also the longest tenured secretary/executive director/president in the organization’s history. During his years, his innovative and creative style was put to the test many times as he worked tirelessly to build the association. Hodge oversaw the tentative early years, guided it through a transformational merger (with the American Association of Pools and Beaches), and successfully managed through two of the most difficult periods in industry history—the Great Depression and World War II. Hodge came to the association after serving as the publicity and advertising chief at Chicago’s Riverview Park for eight years. He organized the association’s first trade show held at the annual meeting in Chicago in 1921, with 45 exhibitors. He was one of the first, if not the first, to see the true value of membership in the association, and his hope was to see every park join as a member, uniting the strength of many to the benefit of all. Hodge worked to create a viable association that non-members felt was essential to join, for their own betterment. He campaigned for better fire and liability insurance plans, more constructive programs, and more intense educational sessions at the conventions. He strove to make the amusement industry a symbol for recreation of the highest order. Despite the challenges of having no roadmap to follow during those early years, Hodge used his instincts and talents to grow membership and increase services, laying the groundwork for what we enjoy today as members of IAAPA. Leonard Thompson Leading IAAPA Advocate from Europe Leonard Thompson found himself running one of the world’s great seaside amusement parks at age 25 and went on to gain the reputation of father figure of the attractions industry in England. The son-in-law of Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s founding father, W.G. Bean, Thompson took over the park when Bean died in 1929. From across the Atlantic Ocean, Thompson saw the advantages of an IAAPA membership and joined the organization as the first non-North American park. One year later, he helped start the British park association, BALPPA; he later served as that group’s president in 1974. With degrees from the University of Oxford (where he was a Rhodes Scholar), Thompson brought a wealth of expertise to the attractions industry, in both financial and economic areas. He brought contemporary methods of advertising, engineering, and architecture to Blackpool Pleasure Beach over the course of 50 years, creating a model for other facilities to follow. During WWII, when many forms of British entertainment were severely restricted, Thompson worked to keep the park open as a safe place of amusement, away from the ravages and realities of war. Blackpool Pleasure Beach became a beacon of hope, serving as a destination for military personnel, including American service- men. Thompson traveled to the United States often to visit American parks and meet with ride manufacturers. Annual IAAPA conventions provided ideas for new at- tractions that helped fortify his facility as a dominant purveyor of fun in Northwest England. Thompson’s ability to know what the public wanted next, along with a keen eye on finances, helped him modernize his park. He conceived the first ice show in Great Britain at Blackpool, entertainment which is still featured today as the longest-running ice show in the country. Thompson stayed involved with IAAPA by serving on committees until a few years prior to his death in 1976. He was inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in 1991. LEADERS OF DISTINCTION LEADERS OF DISTINCTIONFunworld | www.IAAPA.org/Funworld 12 Chapter 5 1941 19421943 The Effects of War As the strains of the Great Depression eased, a new challenge to the amusement industry reared its head in the form of World War II. In Europe, many parks, including the Prater in Vienna, Austria, and Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, suffered extensive damage, while facilities in North America experienced a mixed impact. The booming wartime economy benefited the industry in many areas as guests flocked to amusement parks to escape the troubled times. However, travel restrictions prompted many facilities in remote locations to shutter for the duration—in some cases, they never reopened. Once the hostilities ended, however, the industry rebounded strongly. Two decades of pent-up demand led to record levels of business and investment. New manufacturers entered the industry, while others expanded their offerings. 1941 | As America was being drawn into the war, the industry was already showing strains with at- tendance dropping at the 1941 NAAPPB convention. The trade show withered as many manufacturers were already focusing production on wartime efforts. 1942 | In a Billboard article, NAAPPB’s Alfred Hodge described the value the industry could provide in wartime: “It has long since been proved that perhaps the finest antidote for fear is fun, and that is our business … Fun is a gloom chaser; fun drives out discourage- ment and despair; fun pushes aside pessimism.” But the association also knew it was important to remain vigilant and advance industry interests in the face of travel restrictions, fuel rationing, and potentially punitive tax policies. In June, the NAAPPB surveyed members and found business was holding up despite travel restrictions (although personnel shortages were hampering operations). The board adopted a resolution imploring the government to ease gas restrictions. The annual convention went on as planned with the educational sessions focusing on “Victory Clinics,” emphasiz- ing how facilities could best address the challenges of the war. However, the trade show was suspended since manu- facturers were focused on producing products for the war effort, rather than amusement devices. To help offset the lack of spare parts and new equipment, NAAPPB positioned itself as a clearing- house, taking stock among its members of surplus rides, parts, and equipment—deeming participa- tion the “patriotic duty” of every operator. 1943 | NAAPPB worked closely with bureaus in Washington, D.C., to prove the industry’s value to morale and limit restrictions in pay levels and transportation. The NAAPPB launched its “Guide and Manual.” Published in honor of the association’s 25th anniversary, it was a way to keep members in touch with each other, informed about the goings on in the industry, and promote its suppliers. This was the launch of what later became the “Directory and Buyer’s Guide,” an important membership benefit for 60 years that today exists in digital form on IAAPA’s website. In commenting on the success of the as- sociation on the advent of its 25th anniversary, President Leonard Schloss of Glen Echo Park, outside Washington, shared a sentiment that is just as relevant today: “To me, it is the bond of personal friendship and mutual confidence which has developed through the industry through the association. In the early days, men would attend the conven- tion and look upon each other with suspicion as desperate competitors even though their parks or beaches might lie 1,000 miles apart. Soon after, however, men began to divulge their secrets of success- ful operations and to extend a willing hand of helpfulness on all sides. Thus, each convention became not only a period of good fellowship but, what is more important, an intensive training period for the latest and best practices in park, pool, and beach operation.” 1944 1945194619471949 1944 | Industry veteran Henry Ackley was appointed to the Office of Civilian Requirements in Washington, D.C., to advocate the industry’s importance to the war effort and work to address the problems wartime restrictions were causing the industry, such as the shortages of chlorine for swimming pools and ammunition for shooting galleries. The second edition of the “Guide and Manual” contained the “Post War Planning Guide,” featuring numerous articles on what parks should do once the war ended and covering topics such as painting, lighting, insurance, and arcade equipment. 1946 | Alfred Hodge, the association’s first full-time employee, passed away on July 21. His 26-year tenure is noted as one of the longest of any secretary/executive director/ president in association history. In an emer- gency meeting of the board, Paul Hude- pohl was appointed the new secretary. Hudepohl had recently left his longtime job at Jantzen Beach in Portland, Oregon, and had served as NAAPPB’s president in 1945. The trade show resumed at the convention. Space quickly sold out, and $500,000 in orders were placed despite material shortages still limiting production. Registration totaled 1,868, nearly five times the turnout two years earlier. J.W. Shillian, managing director of the British Motorboat Manufacturing Co. (the show’s only European exhibitor) relayed that the United Kingdom was also experiencing raw materi- als shortages, limiting new attractions. He stated that attractions on the west coast of the United Kingdom escaped damage, while those on the east coast were hard hit and having trouble rebuilding. He also mentioned parks in Holland, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark were operating, but short of money and equipment. 1949 | The Summer Meeting returned with a visit to the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, Canada, already a popular destination for park operators. The Summer Meeting would remain an annual staple until 2007. 1947 | The association added its first members from Scandinavia as Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Liseberg in Gothenberg, Sweden, joined the NAAPPB. In an effort to rein in long-winded speeches, the convention featured a traffic light to warn speakers when their time was up. Registration exceeded 2,200, and trade show sales among the 68 exhibitors were estimated at $5 million. 1945 | With the war ended, a new sense of optimism prevailed in the association. “We are entering a new era, and the same old methods will not suffice,” said Hodge and President Paul Hudepohl in the “Guide and Manual.” “Our industry has grown up. More is to be expected of us, and we will meet and shoulder our responsibilities only through increased unity, greater efficiency, and an ever- increasing search for improvements.” A “Postwar Previews” session at the convention featured manufacturers presenting new attractions that had been in development, but stalled due to wartime materials shortages. A.B. McSwigan Tivoli Gardens 13 www.IAAPA.org/Funworld | FunworldChapter 6 Funworld | www.IAAPA.org/Funworld 14 1950 1951195219531955 From Kiddielands to Castles It was a decade of evolution for the attractions industry as it continued its global recovery from the hard times of the Great Depression and World War II. With the postwar baby boom and growth of suburbia in the United States, kiddielands (the forebear of the modern family entertainment center) began springing up near another postwar phenomenon: the shopping center. Growing from fewer than two dozen in 1950 to more than 150 operating throughout the country by 1960, most kiddielands succumbed to rising property values and changing tastes by the 1970s. Meanwhile, another new type of attraction—theme parks—began their evolution from roadside attractions into global destinations like Disneyland, which opened in 1955. In Europe, the industry rebounded from the war with new levels of sophistication not yet seen in North America. 1950 | At the 1950 convention, NAAPPB adopted a new code of ethics replacing one adopted in 1924 that was considered too long to be effec- tive. A new organiza- tion, the Kiddieland Operators Association, was formed to address the needs of this emerging sector. It failed to reach an affiliation agree- ment with NAAPPB, which responded by creating a new membership classification for kiddielands. The Kiddieland Operators Association was short- lived, however, as NAAPPB soon integrated kiddielands as a constituent group. While trade show attendance was down 20 percent, concerns about the worsening situation with the Korean War led to brisk purchasing on the trade show floor among the 81 exhibitors. 1951 | The NAAPPB Board of Directors voted to discontinue the organi- zation’s representation in Washington, D.C., feeling it could better present its case through individual members rather than a paid lobbyist. 1955 | NAAPPB established a co-op television commercial plan that produced four separate animated television commercials members could purchase and customize for their own facilities. The Servicenter opened at the Sherman House for the convention. Sponsored by Bill- board magazine and the Showmen’s League of America, it featured telephones for free local calls, a paging service, and convention infor- mation, foreshadowing today’s IAAPA Central. The convention also featured a special ses- sion on kiddielands that drew 125 operators. Another session featured C.V. Wood, general manager of Disneyland, reporting on the park’s first season, and hinted future attrac- tions would include a Roto Jet, Dodgem, and mining-car ride. 1952 | NAAPPB sponsors the publication of “The Outdoor Amusement Industry, From Earliest Times to the Present.” Written by organization historian and ride manufacturer William F. Mangels, it is the first published history of the attractions industry. A convention session on the growing impact of television concluded that while it was an excellent advertising medium, it had no place as an attraction at an amusement park. A seven-man legislative committee was formed to lead efforts to repeal the federal 20 percent excise tax on admissions, a longtime goal of the NAAPPB. The effort succeeded in 1954 with the virtual elimination of the levy. As a result of these efforts, the organization saw the need to re-establish a presence in Washington. 1953 | Renovations at Chicago’s Sherman House increased total exhibit space by 20 percent to 24,000 square feet. This permitted five amusement devices to be in full operation on the exhibit floor for the first time. 15 www.IAAPA.org/Funworld | Funworld 1956 19581959 1956 | Belle Cohn died in April. She had served as assistant to the secretary since the asso- ciation’s founding; with more than 35 years of service, Cohn remains its longest serving employee. The Summer Meeting trav- eled to Southern California where a record 200 people toured the new Disneyland along with other area attractions. 1958 | Following a yearlong search, John Bowman was hired as the new secretary replacing Paul Hudepohl, who decided to retire. Bowman was executive vice president of the Erie (Pennsylvania) Chamber of Commerce prior to joining NAAPPB. The Summer Meeting traveled to Europe where members toured Tivoli Gardens, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Munich’s Oktoberfest, and the Brussels World’s Fair. The attendees found an industry that was remaking itself following World War II, with intricate flower beds, elaborate landscaping, innova- tive lighting, music, and flashy new rides adorned with thousands of electric lights. “Europe is far ahead of us on ideas for flashing rides and parks … we definitely will have 1959 improvements that are a result of this trip,” said Carl Sinclair of Ohio’s Meyers Lake Park in a Billboard interview. While on the trip, Jimmy Johnson, owner of Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas, ordered the first Calypso ride to be imported into North America. NAAPPB commissioned marketing professor Thomas Lea Davidson of the University of Connecticut to conduct an in-depth study on con- sumer spending patterns in the outdoor entertainment industry. Trade show attendance, meanwhile, reached 7,000. 1959 | Reflecting an in- creasing global profile, the name of the trade show was changed to the “Interna- tional Outdoor Amusement Show.” The expo hit 100 exhibitors with two dozen firms turned away for a lack of space. A report by the Program at Work Committee recommended the convention remain in Chicago “at all costs” in response to suggestions that the event move elsewhere. The board recommended increasing trade show space to another floor in the Sherman House to accommodate 30 more booths and expand space for the banquet. Carl Hughes First ‘Living Legend’ Inducted into IAAPA Hall of Fame The first “Living Legend” inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame, Carl Hughes, was also the first to cross many of the industry’s thresholds. He learned most of what he knew from on-the-job training. Hughes was 23 years old before he stepped into an amusement park for the first time; later, he earned respect in an era where prominence traditionally came from clout based on your family’s position in the industry. Hughes was a sports reporter for the Pittsburgh Press, but following an offer he couldn’t refuse, he joined Kennywood in May 1956. Eventually, he worked his way up to become president of the famed Pennsylvania park, and then worked his way to the top of the association, as well. He was the first non-owner to hold a major office in the association when, in 1974, he was elected IAAPA President (now chairman). Hughes is widely recognized as the catalyst for changing the association into today’s professionally run organization. One of his goals was to bring more “international” participation into IAAPA, as there was not a great deal of involvement outside the United States when Hughes first joined the association. The first IAAPA convention held outside Chicago was in 1974, the year Hughes held the gavel. Moving the show was a huge decision—and a huge risk—for IAAPA at the time. But it proved to be a good move. Attendance was up, thanks to expanded exhibition space and additional conference offerings, such as educational seminars. There has not been a show in Chicago since that time. Membership increased 18 percent during Hughes’ term as president, thanks mostly to the international members he recruited. Hughes’ humor and wit were a big part of his personality. In 1990, as he accepted his IAAPA Hall of Fame Award, his response from the stage, brought the house down with laughter: “Being a living legend is great. It sure beats the other category!” LEADERS OF DISTINCTIONChapter 7 Funworld | www.IAAPA.org/Funworld 16 1960 1961 1962 Regional Parks Rise By the 1960s, the attractions industry was in the throes of a radical change. The opening of Six Flags Over Texas in 1961 proved the viability of the regional theme park, and soon the concept spread throughout the United States. New genres such as marine-life parks, studio tours, and early water parks were added to the mix. While it was a quiet decade among amusement parks outside the United States, the European ride manufacturers were changing the industry. Their colorful, flashy rides— Himalayas, Bayern Kurves, Giant Ferris wheel, and a new generation of portable steel roller coasters— were in great demand and played a critical role in the emerging globalization of the industry as they were sought after by facility operators throughout the world. 1960 | Admiral Joe Fowler of Disneyland was added to the NAAPPB Board of Directors. Fowler’s addition marked the first full-time theme park repre- sentation added to the board. Fowler joined IAAPA a year after President Truman appointed him to reduce wasteful military spending. Fowler would go on to chair the safety committee for several years. A new feature at the convention was an Under 40 Brunch. Programming focused on younger employees in the industry was a fixture for the next several years and foreshadowed today’s Young Professionals network within the association. 1961 | NAAPPB immediate past president Bob Plarr attended the Congress des Forains in Paris, an attractions industry trade show sponsored by industry associations from France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Holland, Portugal, and Denmark. NAAPPB launched a nationwide public relations campaign budgeted at $50,000. Members were asked to contribute one 10th of 1 percent of their gross revenues to finance the campaign. A total of $45,000 was raised. The strategy involved increasing exposure of amusement parks and elevating the perception of the industry via two themes: “Family Fun For Everyone” and “100 Days of Fun.” With increasing demand for exhibit space, a lower-level hall at the Sherman House was used for the first time, making room for 30 additional booths. Kiddieland operators opened a hospitality center at the event—Kiddie Korner. 1962 | During the annual convention, the name of the association was changed to International Association of Amusement Parks (IAAP).17 www.IAAPA.org/Funworld | Funworld 1964 1965 1964 | Bob Blundred was hired as the new executive secretary for the association. A career trade association executive, Blundred came to IAAP from the Music Operators of America and replaced John Bowman, who resigned in 1963 to take a job at a New York- based public relations firm. At an April meeting in Cincinnati, the separate kiddieland group decided to disband and let IAAP assume its duties. The group felt it had long outgrown the kiddieland designation and that its focus was more on smaller operators. It vowed to work with IAAP to ensure relevant programming was added to the convention. IAAP’s board began to reflect changes in the industry. Joining Truman Woodworth of Disneyland, who took Joe Fowler’s spot on the board, were Charles Thompson of Six Flags Over Texas and E.R. (Doc) Lemmon of Cedar Point. Some attendees began to think that Chicago was no longer an optimal location for a convention. In a letter to Amusement Business, Kenneth Wynne of Casino Pier in New Jersey cited the weather and the ability for manufacturers to demonstrate their products in operating conditions in a warmer climate as primary reasons to move to a warmer climate. 1965 | Amusement Business reported $4 million in ride orders during the trade show. More than $1 million was booked by Chance Rides, as its new Skydiver and Trabant proved popular. Bob Blundred Executive Secretary, 1964-1983 A chance meeting changed the direction of Bob Blundred’s life—and IAAPA history. Blundred enjoyed his role as CEO of the Screen Process Printing Association in Chicago, where he organized the group’s annual convention at the Sherman House. That is, until he met the “amusement park guys” who also met at the fabled hotel. The group was searching for a new leader, and it didn’t take long for Blundred to join what he called “the handshake industry, a happy industry.” Blundred served IAAPA as executive secretary from 1964 to 1983, a period in which the amusement park industry saw some of the biggest changes during the 20th century. His job was to make sure the association adapted to all those changes. As a longtime association executive, Blundred knew a fresh perspective was needed, and he wasted no time setting up an office that could do two things for IAAPA members: help them make more money and show them how to save more money. Blundred said in all his years, those two things were paramount in virtually everything he and his staff did from a service perspective. Blundred felt responsible for moving the industry forward through the association. His first goal was to evolve the conventions from a fun “good-old- boys” party to more of a business convention, with an emphasis on professional development and education. He expanded the small trade show, which mostly consisted of ride manufacturers, to include all products needed by parks. The trade show also moved out of Chicago, providing more exhibit space and a whole new world of opportunities for all attendees. Blundred’s guiding hand also brought safety to the forefront of discussions, planning, and operations. Advertising and marketing, food products, recreational priorities, and household incomes were all major societal changes that affected day-to-day operation of both parks and the association during the 19 years he served as executive secretary. With foresight, good judgment, and a strong staff and board members, Blundred set the standard for association leadership and established a solid path for IAAPA to follow. LEADERS OF DISTINCTION Blundred’s first goal was to evolve the conventions from a fun “good- old-boys” party to more of a business convention, with an emphasis on professional development and education. Next >