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Show It started as a part-time job, but now Dick is Lagoon executive By TOM HARALDSEN FARM1NGTON -- It all began as just a summer job when he was 16. but 30 years later, Davis County's famous Lagoon amusement park has come to mean much more to Dick Andrew. Today, it is his livelihood, live-lihood, and a big part of his life. goon, as the park management had offered him a position as director of i operation after his first year of teaching. But again. Dick saw his life turn in another direction. "AFTER TEACHING for a few years, I decided counseling was more in line with what 1 wanted to create an even more positive business busi-ness atmosphere in the county." Dick and Deleen have four children: chil-dren: Aleena. a mother of two who lives in Salt Lake City: Chris, a student at the University of Utah: York, serving an LDS mission in Boston: and Melissa, a fourth grader. that more than a million visitors will have a fun. and safe, time at Lagoon between now and the end of September. "I still get excited this time of year.' he states. "There's something some-thing very special in the air each time we open the gates to a smiling n V What began as a part-time job for Dick Andrew 30 years ago is now his livehhood...and a big part of his life as director of communications for the multi-million dollar Lagoon Corporation. He met his wife, Deleen (Cleqq) during his first summer in 1956. BUT FRANKLY, he doesn't get to see much of them this time of year, for Dick Andrew, along with hundreds of other Lagoon employees, em-ployees, are busy helping to assure child." THANKS TO Dick Andrew, a lot of children have smiled over the years, and will be smiling in the seasons to come. PHOTOGRAPHYJim Haskett DICK ANDREW SAYS he spends most of his days like this, on the telephone, managing Lagoon's corporate communications. DICK serves as Director of Communications for the multi-million multi-million dollar Lagoon Corporation. Corpora-tion. He has labored in that post for the past few years, but his connection connec-tion with the park goes back to 1956. "1 began working that summer in the midway as a games supervisor. I don't think 1 had any idea at that time that this would turn out to be a part of my career," he recalls. HE CONTINUED to work at Lagoon La-goon the next two summers, then came back following his first year at Weber State, then a junior college. col-lege. By that time he had been promoted to manager of the games in the park, and each year while he finished his education at the University Uni-versity of Utah, he found himself returning to work summers at Lagoon. La-goon. It was actually that first summer, in 1956, that Dick met another Lagoon La-goon employee, Deleen Clegg. She was a year ahead of him at Davis High, but their paths had never crossed while at school. They began be-gan dating, and culminated a two-year two-year plus courtship when they were married in 1959. "IT MIGHT surprise you to know the number of other couples who've met working here at Lagoon," La-goon," he says. "We see a lot of couples get together here each year." Dick says he might never have discovered Lagoon, or Deleen. had it not been for "a fortuitous move my family made to Davis County." He was born and raised in Salt Lake City, but his parents moved to Layton when he was 14. He graduated gra-duated from Davis High, and eventually even-tually earned his degree in history and geography from the University of Utah. "I BECAME convinced during my first year of college that I wanted to be a teacher. So after graduation, I began teaching at junior high schools in the Salt Lake School District, and eventually moved to South High." He still spent his first summers between classes working at La- do. So I returned to the University and earned a Master's in education administration and education psychology." Dick then moved into high school counseling, bidding what he thought would be his final goodbye to Lagoon. But after a couple of years, he found himself contacted again by the Lagoon management. This time they wanted to hire him for good, and after careful consideration, con-sideration, he agreed to return. "I THINK this business gets under your skin. 1 could never completely separate myself from the park. I guess we were meant for each other in some way," he says. Today he handles communications communica-tions for the company, which operates oper-ates Lagoon and Pioneer Village, and did run the Terrace Ballroom in Salt Lake City when it was open. Dick interfaces with the media, watches pertinent government legislation concerning the amusement amuse-ment park business and handles park promotions. LAGOON OPENED last weekend. By the end of the season in September more than a million visitors will pass through its turn-styles. turn-styles. Dick has been intimately involved in-volved with the new attractions the park adds each year. This season, that includes the Flying Carpet ride from Germany, plus an expanded and improved Mother Goose land for younger children. He's also coordinator of the park's picnic and church organization days, plus helps each season in the training of the more than 1500 employees who work at Lagoon. "Our biggest concern as an employer em-ployer is safety, that of our patrons and our employees. We spend a lot of time making sure everyone is safe, and that all of our equipment is operating properly." DICK IS also active in the Bountiful Boun-tiful Area Chamber of Commerce, serving on its board of directors. He shares the concerns of other members about the growth of business busi-ness in Davis County, and states "the members of the Chamber now are working harder than ever to r fK.K y " jr. V- ft y Ik nt If WSflft - immJ vmi m.mm :tL Mill! HE OFFERED SOME pointers to two of Lagoon's staff members, LeAnna Baxter, center, an area coordinator, and- Karla Young, right, an area supervisor. WHILE THE PARK prepared to open two weeks ago. Dick walked its sidewalks often, making sure everything was in place and ready to go. |