Marlin perkins died
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Marlin Perkins (1905–1986)
Marlin Perkins served as director at three zoos during his career: the Zoological Gardens in Buffalo, New York; the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago; and the St. Louis Zoo. During his tenure in Chicago he first appeared on WBKB, an experimental television station broadcasting to three hundred receivers in the Chicago area and then on network television. He went on to become one of the world’s best-known zoologists by hosting Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, an Emmy Award–winning television program reaching 35 million people in forty countries, from 1963 to 1985.
Richard Marlin Perkins was born in Carthage, Missouri, on March 28, 1905, the third son of Joseph Dudley and Mynta Mae Miller Perkins. After “trying railroading, farming, and carpentry,” Joseph Perkins decided to become a lawyer and eventually was elected to the Jasper County circuit court, a position he held for twenty years. Mynta Perkins died of pneumonia just before Marlin turned seven years old, and he was sent to Pittsburg, Kansas, to live with his mother’s sister and her husband. Perkins
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Marlin Perkins
Full Name: Richard Marlin Perkins
Born: March 28, 1905
Died: June 14, 1986
Missouri Hometowns: Carthage
Regions of Missouri: Southwest, Saint Louis
Categories: Educators, Entertainers, Historic Mizzourians, Scientists
Introduction
Marlin Perkins was a zoologist and television host from Carthage, Missouri. Starting out as a groundskeeper at the St. Louis Zoo, Perkins became the director of the Buffalo Zoological Gardens, Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, and the St. Louis Zoo, and was famous around the world as the host of the television series Zoo Parade and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
Richard Marlin Perkins was born on March 28, 1905, in Carthage, Missouri, to Mynta Mae (Miller) Perkins and Joseph Dudley Perkins. He was the youngest in the family and had two older brothers. His father was a lawyer and served several terms as Jasper County circuit court judge. In 1912, when Perkins was seven years old, he developed pneumonia, and though he eventually recovered, his mother passed away from the illness. After her death, Perkins
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Marlin Perkins
From 1962 - 1970, R. Marlin Perkins was only the second, full-time Director or the Saint Louis Zoo.
As an avid snake lover and television personality, Marlin Perkins love for animals reached households across the United States.
Explore the History of Marlin Perkins and the impact he made on the Saint Louis Zoo.
Born, March 28, 1905
Marlin Perkins was born in Carthage, Missouri, on March 28, 1905. He was interested in animals throughout his life. At the age of seven, he was creating his own zoo: a collection of mostly snakes, mice, earthworms and toads on his Aunt Laura's farm where he lived for nine years following the death of his mother, Mynta Mae (Miller) Perkins. Later Marlin moved back home to Carthage with his father, Jasper County lawyer and judge, Joseph Dudley Perkins.
Marlin's interest in animals continued to grow, and he enrolled in zoology at the University of Missouri -- Columbia. At the age of 21, he quit school to apply for work at the Saint Louis Zoo. He was hired on the spot as a member of the grounds crew, $3.75 a week.
His Love of
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