Bill Crandall passed away Saturday

Bill A. Crandall, theme park ride inventor and pioneer, passed away Saturday, January 28, 2006, after a battle with cancer.

Bill was the General Manager at AstroWorld from 1975 to 1981. He was the one who brought the Texas Cyclone and Greezed Lightnin' to the park. He is also the person generally credited with coming up with the idea for the river rapids rides that have now become a common fixture at parks everywhere.

Article: http://www.amusementtoday.com/

*** Edited 2/2/2006 5:44:03 PM UTC by Jeffrey Seifert***

Unfortunately, the rapids ride was under renovation when we visited in 2002. It would've been interesting to have tried the first. I saw pictures a few weeks back of the boats on the back of a flatbed headed for who only knows where.

Very sad. I knew him personally. He has some incredible stories to tell, and was an asset to the industry.