Kenneth S. Norris

Kenneth Stafford Norris

Kenneth Stafford Norris (August 11, 1924 – August 16, 1998)[1] was an American marine mammal biologist, conservationist, naturalist, and co-founder of SeaWorld.

Norris did pioneering work on dolphin echolocation.[2][3] His conservation work included helping establish the University of California Natural Reserve System and work towards passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.[2] Norris was a professor at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz.[4]

Norris, Milton Shedd, David Demott and George Millay co-founded SeaWorld. The four graduates of UCLA originally set out to build an underwater restaurant and marine life show.[5] When the underwater restaurant concept was deemed unfeasible, they scrapped those plans and decided to build a park instead, and SeaWorld San Diego was opened on March 21, 1964.[5]

  1. ^ "Kenneth S. Norris: Naturalist, Cetologist, Conservationist, 1924-1998". University Library - UC Santa Cruz. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Silber, Gregory K. (1 October 1999). "Remembering Dr. Kenneth Norris". Marine Mammal Science. 15 (4): 915–917. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1999.tb00859.x.
  3. ^ Fountain, Henry (August 23, 1998). "Kenneth Norris, 95, Pioneer In Study of Marine Mammals". New York Times. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  4. ^ Stephens, Tim (August 24, 1998). "Kenneth Norris, world-renowned expert on whales and dolphins, dies at 74". Currents.
  5. ^ a b "Milton Shedd, 79, Co-Founder of SeaWorld". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 28, 2002. Retrieved June 4, 2009.