Outlaw Run charges into Silver Dollar City - Amusement Today

30 AMUSEMENT TODAY April 2013PAPAContinued from page 25ing to post Labor Day schoolstart along with the interpretationof the new AffordableHealth Care Act and how itimpacts their staffing.The Association alsoawarded four, one thousanddollar scholarships this year todeserving students throughoutthe Commonwealth.The morning session alsofeatured a talk on EmergencyPreparedness by Rocco DiPietrowith Cocciardi & Associatesof Mechanicsburg andScranton, Pa.Reflecting on his twoyears of leadership, out-goingPresident Crider was askedabout what he accomplished.“I chose to center my focusaround our mission statementand based upon its premiseof: promoting the industry bygathering and disseminatinginformation among members,upholding a good public image,and actively participatingin legislative issues whichpromotes the best interestof our industry, I believe Ihelped to advance those corevalues of our organization.”He continued, “I thank thePAPA Board of Directors andall the members for their supportover the past two years.It is an exceptional group ofindividuals in an exceptionalindustry.”When asked about the directionthe PAPA is heading,Crider replied, “The organizationhas been strong for 78years and I do not forsee anydeviation in its core mission.As long as there are parks andattractions in the state, therewill always be the need for agroup to gather and promotethe industry.”This was the 78th SpringMeeting of the PennsylvaniaAmusement Parks Association.It was formed in 1935with R.L. Plarr from DorneyPark serving as the first president.In 1946, roller coasterdesigner Herbert P. Schmeckfrom Philadelphia Tobogganwas president. The 2013 SummerMeeting will be held atIdlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier,Pa. on July 15 and 16.OBITUARIESFormer N.J. Steel Pier owner George Hamid dies at 94George HamidSOMERS POINT, N.J. —George A. Hamid Jr., a formerowner of the Steel Pier inAtlantic City, died of pulmonaryfailure Feb. 23, at ShoreMemorial Hospital in SomersPoint, N.J. He was 94.Born in Jersey City,Hamid attended the Kew-Forest School in Forest Hills,N.Y., and earned a bachelor’sdegree in economicsat Princeton University.He studied at the WhartonSchool of the University ofPennsylvania but droppedout to enlist in the Navy.He served as a lieutenantcommander in the SouthPacific. When the war ended,he returned to New Jersey,married Patricia ReillyMonahan, and joined thefamily business.Hamid’s father, GeorgeSr., was a former circusperformer who bought theSteel Pier in 1945. The familyoperated the Steel Pierfor 30 years, building a family-entertainmentvenue thatblended circus acts, amusement-parkrides, and concerts.The younger Hamidmade his mark by bookingacts that appealed to youngergenerations.Hamid booked numerousvocalists including DianaRoss, and unusual acts like thehigh-diving horse that helpedtransform the Steel Pier thepier into a main attractionfor Atlantic City vacationers.He booked Ricky Nelson inthe late 1950s, bringing in athen-record crowd of morethan 44,000 in one day. Hewent on to book other teensensations such Bobby Rydelland Frankie Avalon. In 1964,Hamid brought the Beatles towhat is now Boardwalk Hall.Hamid’s father died in1971, and the family sold theSteel Pier to a group of businessmen,but Hamid continuedmanaging the venueuntil 1975.Anthony Catanoso, presidentof Steel Pier Associates,recalls Hamid with fondness:“George Hamid, Jr. andhis father, George Sr., hada profound impact on makingAtlantic City what it ultimatelybecame: ‘America’sFavorite Playground.’ Thevision and showmanshipdemonstrated by the Hamidsare unparalleled still tothis day. I met George Jr.on several occasions and herecalled some incredible storiesof the ‘old’ Steel Pier. Hewas delighted that its currentowners – my family, theCatanosos – were keepingit an amusement venue andthat we were the torchbearersof a such a great Americanicon. George Jr. was with usin 1998 to celebrate the centennialof the pier. He sharedseveral photographs of hisdays at Steel Pier that illustratedwhat a truly amazingtime it was in the city, as wellas the country. The spirit ofthe Hamids lives on -- and wewill always have cherishedmemories, thanks to them.”Hamid is survived bysons, James, George andTimothy and by a daughter,Elizabeth as well as sevengrandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.Memorial donationsmay be made to the ShrinersHospitals for Children (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org or to the John Davis, IIIMemorial Scholarship Fundin care of Jeffries & KeatesFuneral Home, Tilton Roadand Infield Ave, Northfield,N.J. 08225. To share memoryof Hamid, visit www.lifecelebration.com.Bill Dawson, longtime industry veteran, dies at 74LONG BEACH, Calif.— Bill Dawson, who waspicked from a nationwidepool of candidates in the1970’s to manage Long Beach,California’s gleaming newConvention Center and associatedattractions, includingthe Queen Mary, died March2, 2013 at his Long Beachhome. The cause of death waspancreatic cancer. He was 74.Born Sept. 7, 1938, inKansas City, Kan., WilliamFlemming Dawson graduatedfrom the Universityof Kansas with a degree injournalism. While at college,Dawson postponed graduationto work for the internationalPeople-to-PeopleProgram started by PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower. Helater worked for Six FlagsEntertainment Corp. inAtlanta. After his time headingthe Promotion andServices Corp., Dawsonbought Resort ParksInternational, a campgroundnetwork, where he was presidentand chief executive officeruntil several years ago.Bob Minick of MinickAssociates recalls his initialBill Dawsonencounter with Dawson: “Ifirst met Dawson soon afterCharlie T. Thompson (thefirst VP/GM at Six FlagsOver Texas and then Georgia)hired him to be the Directorof Marketing for Six FlagsOver Georgia while the parkwas under construction,”said Minick. “At that time Iwas designing and buildingPirates World in Florida andI asked Charlie T. for someideas to help me with marketingand he told me he hadhired Bill Dawson, who wasa red hot young marketingguy that had worked withBobby Kennedy’s “People toPeople” program. Bill and Iwere first introduced over thephone by Errol McKoy andbecame fast friends. He notonly set up the Six Flags OverGeorgia marketing program,including some of Six Flagsfirst 2-4-1 promotions, butalso sold most of their sponsorshipdeals with nationaladvertisers. Bill providedme marketing and sales programsfor Pirates World,which really helped its firstyear.”Before being drawn toLong Beach, Dawson hadtaken a failing Jackson, N.J.,amusement park, GreatAdventure, and turned it intoone of the most popular in thecountry, with 2.7million visitorsannually. The hope wasthat Dawson’s theme parkacumen could bring pizzazzto Long Beach’s new downtownentertainment and conventionspace, built near thesite of the razed, 1930s-eraMunicipal Auditorium.He was described by familyand friends as gregarious,ever-smiling and willing tohelp others.“Bill was very close tomany amusement parkpeople including MelindaAshcraft, Mike Bandera,Gary Benson, Eddie Carrol,John (Buster) Cherry, LewisChessler, Vic Donovan, LarsIverson, Errol McKoy, LottieMinick, Jim Palmer, TomParrish, Dennis Speigel, EdStone, Bill Sullivan, SpurgeRichardson, and Ira West -to name only a few,” addedMinick. “He was also acreative genius and couldalways devise a unique programto reach out and attractthe audience targeted for theproject. Whether it was a traditionalamusement park, atheme park, a Neal Simontribute, or a million dollarmotor coach resort, Dawsoncould make them all work.He will be missed as a greatfriend.”Along with his wife,Vickie, Dawson is survivedby two daughters, Jill Dawsonand Claire Dawson; sistersDee Dee Higley and CindyCrow; and as well as niecesand nephews. As of presstime, services were pending.