Monday, June 14, 2010

R.I.P. Will Koch

Down in Southern Indiana there is a well-known theme-park, "Holiday World." It holds a lot of childhood family memories for me. When I was really young every year my family would go to Holiday world. The park is separated into four different areas; Christmas (for the little kiddos), Halloween, 4th of July, and Thanksgiving. Along with that is my all-time favorite water park; Splashin Safari. I love it there. I was very sad to hear about the president of this wonderful family friendly place. He died yesterday... Here is one of the many different articles written about it so far...

Holiday World owner Will Koch dies at 48

By Lesley Stedman Weidenbener • The Courier-Journal • June 14, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS - Will Koch, 48, owner and president of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Ind., died Sunday night at his home, but the park will be open today because family members said that's "what Will would have wanted."

"Will was not only our leader, he was our dear friend," park spokesperson Paula Werne said in a statement. "Our park family is in mourning for this sweet man who worked tirelessly to bring fun and happiness to so many families in the 20 years he ran the park."

Koch's family attributed his death to complications of diabetes.

Holiday World - the self-described "world's first theme park" - opened its 64th season on May 1 and has been in the Koch family since its launch. Despite Koch's death Sunday, the park will continue to be owned and operated by his family, the statement said.

Born and raised in Santa Claus, Koch attended Heritage Hills High School in Lincoln City and earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1984. In 1986, he received a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

Koch was president and CEO and president of Koch Development Corporation, the parent company of the theme park.

During his tenure leading the park, Holiday World grew significantly, adding the Splashin' Safari water park in 1993 and a number of large roller coasts, including some he designed. More than 1 million people attend the park annually.

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