Milton C. Shedd, SeaWorld Founder, 79
DGH
SeaWorld cofounder Milton C. Shedd, known as the "Walt Disney of the
sea," died of cancer at his home in the Newport Beach, California, area,
at the age of 79.
Mr. Shedd died Friday, said Don Kent, president of the Hubbs-SeaWorld
Research Institute, an organization Mr. Shedd founded to finance marine
research.
Mr. Shedd was active in marine conservation during much of his life, but
his most famous contribution was SeaWorld, the San Diego, California,
aquarium that is home to Shamu [star of the Sprint Cell Phone
commercials], the killer whale.
The project began as a plan by four fraternity brothers to open a
restaurant with a marine show. But once the four - Mr. Shedd, Ken
Norris, David DeMott, and George Millay - got into the project, they
found it expensive and difficult. They decided to build an aquarium
instead. With an initial investment of $1.5 million, SeaWorld opened in
1964.
Mr. Shedd, originally an investment banker, was SeaWorld's chairman for
two decades and oversaw new SeaWorld park openings in Ohio and Florida.
He founded the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in 1963.
"He was just a real giver to the environment," Kent said. "He loved
being out, loved being a fisherman, but always felt you needed to go a
step beyond, to put fish back into the ocean and not always be a taker."
Mr. Shedd was born in 1922 in El Paso, Texas. He served in World War II
and received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.
Kathi
wrote:
>SeaWorld co-founder Milton C. Shedd, known as the "Walt Disney of the
>sea," died of cancer at his home in the Newport Beach, California, area,
>at the age of 79.
>
>Mr. Shedd died Friday, said Don Kent, president of the Hubbs-SeaWorld
>Research Institute, an organization Mr. Shedd founded to finance marine
>research.
>
>Mr. Shedd was active in marine conservation during much of his life, but
>his most famous contribution was SeaWorld, the San Diego, California,
>aquarium that is home to Shamu [star of the Sprint Cell Phone
>commercials], the killer whale.
>
>The project began as a plan by four fraternity brothers to open a
>restaurant with a marine show. But once the four - Mr. Shedd, Ken
>Norris, David DeMott, and George Millay - got into the project, they
>found it expensive and difficult. They decided to build an aquarium
>instead. With an initial investment of $1.5 million, SeaWorld opened in
>1964.
Any relation to John G. Shedd (1850-1926), of Chicago's Shedd
Aquarium?
Harry Krause
Good question...I was wondering the same.
BTW, SeaWorld in Orlando has a free beer bar. Well, you do have to pay
to get into the park, but once there...
Cameron Kaiser
>BTW, SeaWorld in Orlando has a free beer bar. Well, you do have to pay
>to get into the park, but once there...
SeaWorld is owned by Anheuser-Busch, so that makes sense.
--
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Harry Krause
> Harry Krause <hkr...@mindspring.com> writes:
>
>>BTW, SeaWorld in Orlando has a free beer bar. Well, you do have to pay
>>to get into the park, but once there...
>
> SeaWorld is owned by Anheuser-Busch, so that makes sense.
Indeed. I'm in favor of beer company ownership of theme parks in hot
climates...
Bill Schenley
> Any relation to John G. Shedd (1850-1926), of Chicago's Shedd
> Aquarium?
I don't know. My first thought ... Is he any relation to Lillian
McMurry (nee Shedd). She had a brother named Milton.
Lillian McMurry produced a record or two ... or hundred.
The first "Dust My Broom" by Elmore James and also
produced the first Sonny Boy Williamson tracks. She wrote
"Red Hot Kisses" for Williamson.
She also produced B.B. King, Little Milton and Arthur Crudup.