howeenterprise.com
Monday, December 28, 2015
Page #12
The Texas Minute: Frank Buck private collectors. Over the course of his career, he captured snakes, birds, elephants, tigers, lions, kangaroos, camels, giraffes, crocodiles, and hyenas. Buck estimated that his expeditions took as many as 100,000 animals altogether. In 1923, he was hired to manage the new San Diego Zoo in California, with zoo directors impressed by his reputation and handling of animals. However, Buck reportedly had many Dr. Ken Bridges disagreements with the board of directors and In the early twentieth century, many city zoos resigned after only a few months. did not have a significant number of animals to Buck developed a steady following thanks to exhibit because of the difficulty in obtaining his exploits. In 1932, he co-authored with animals from the far corners of the globe. And journalist Edward Anthony his best-selling fewer cities could establish zoos for that same memoirs Bring ‘Em Back Alive. The book’s reason. Frank Buck, an animal trapper and success and his dramatic storytelling led to a adventurer, helped bring countless specimens to movie and radio program of the same name. zoos in the United States and inspired generations Later that year, buoyed by their initial success, of Americans to appreciate wildlife, all the while Buck and Anthony wrote a second collection of thrilling the public with stories of his adventures. Buck’s stories titled Wild Cargo. Because of Buck’s early work with animals, he helped educate the public about wildlife and Frank Buck appeared in seven more movies increased the popularity of zoos across the nation. between 1934 and 1949 and co-authored seven more books on his experiences. At the Frank Buck was born in the Cooke County Chicago World Fair in 1933 and the New York community of Gainesville in 1884. He enjoyed World Fair in 1939, Buck created exhibits collecting birds and other small animals featuring thousands of animals that delighted throughout his childhood. His family soon audiences. moved to Dallas, where he attended the local schools. His most promising subject was He was married three times. Shortly after his geography, but he reported years later that the third marriage, he settled with his new wife and limited curriculum bored him, and he quite daughter in San Angelo. During World War II, school in the seventh grade. After working a he traveled extensively across the United series of odd jobs, he eventually made his way to States, speaking to different groups about his Chicago. adventures. In March 1950, he died in Houston following a protracted fight with lung cancer. In 1911, he took an extended trip to Brazil and explored deep into the rain forests. Fascinated by In honor of his accomplishments, his home the beauty and extensive wildlife he saw, Buck town of Gainesville in 1954 renamed the local brought back dozens of exotic birds back to the zoo in his honor. The Frank Buck Zoo, which Untied States with him. As he disembarked in was originally founded in 1930, attracts New York, he found many people just as thousands of visitors each year. In 2008, the fascinated with the birds who then convinced zoo further commemorated Buck’s impact by Buck to sell them at a comfortable profit. adding an exhibit detailing his life and Inspired, Buck then went to Asia to bring back adventures featuring memorabilia donated by more exotic animals to sell in the United States his daughter. and began a life as an animal trapper. Dr. Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor. He can be reached at For the next several years, he trapped and drkenbridges@gmail.com. collected thousands of animals for zoos and
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