Holiday World's Will Koch dies at 48

Jeff said:
The reporter kind of led me to the thing that I think I liked most about Will, that he was the real deal compared to a lot of people in the business. It's the distinction that made him a great person and his park a great business.

And isn't it ironic that at this tragic moment in time EVERYONE in the industry has made a public statement of condolence, yet nobody from the corporate office of Cedar Fair could issue a statement? Sure some of the individual parks did (Tony, Don, and others thanks for being class acts) but I dare say Dick and Will have at minimum crossed paths before and probably have had conversations since they both are considered leaders in the industry and have been very involved with IAAPA. Dick could have issued a personal statement, or had Brian Witherow put out an official company statement, but no......silence. Again.

No wonder why this hurts so much; Will was an absolute gentleman, someone we honestly could look up to and he knew the true meaning of INTEGRITY. I hope his legacy lives on with those in the industry in position to make a difference and do the right thing when so many others simply just look at numbers on paper and dollars in their pocket.

It's an exaggeration to say that everyone in the industry has made a public statement about Will. Last night I checked the websites for a number of family or independently owned parks, and many had not posted anything about his passing. Those not making mention of it included: Beech Bend, Indiana Beach, Dollywood, Kennywood and Waldameer. Also, Six Flags didn't reference it, either on their national website, or on the links for the SFGA and SFSL -- the two closest remaining SF parks to HW.

Both Cedar Point and KI's blogs, however, did express their condolences.

Darn you and your logic and fact-checking, Mike.

To be honest, when I looked into it I didn't think it would come up in discussion today...

To be fair, I did see it on Six Flags twitter feed, and I recall reading an article where Dallas Jones (Beech Bend) was interviewed and was highly complimentary of Will, saying that he looks at Holiday World for ideas on how to run a park.

http://twitter.com/SixFlags/status/16166504809

I have to remember we're in the age of Twitter. Hell, I even have my own Twitter account, and I never use it or check it.

Honestly I think its a little conceded to assume nothings been done by other parks or industry. You have no clue if CF or any other park chain or park staff sent a thousand or million dollar check to JDA or something in his honor. Or even made personal calls to the park or family. The fact that its not posted somewhere means nothing, They have their own buisnesses to run and are each feeling the loss in their own ways.

It's a fair point, Chuck. And in no way am I trying to minimize the grief and loss that people in and out of the industry are feeling.

No way was I trying to demean you, I just thought the statement was a bit far off what could actually be going on. :)

Yeah, Beech Bend posted on FB and did a nice article. Mr. Jones said he looked to Will for a lot of things when running Beech Bend (and it shows, I LOVE me some Beech Bend!).

My first trip to HW was the Spring Con in 1995. I had never heard of HW or Santa Claus, IN before, but Indiana Beach was on the itinerary and I signed up for the event for that reason. When I got to HW and saw the Raven, I was disappointed. I had been conditioned by Six Flags and Cedar Point to think that bigger is better. One ride on the Raven changed all that, and my first night ride put that notion to bed forever. I fell in love with the ride and the park. I've never missed an event since then, traded in my CP pass for a HW pass and each time I go to the park, Will has always stopped me to say a few words. His smiling face will surely be missed by everyone. My prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the Koch family and the HW family.

The article that Dallas was interviewed for
http://www.ibj.com/newstalk/2010/06/14/a-peer-remembers-will-koch/P...post/20514

Wow, this just makes me even more sad:

http://www.whas11.com/home/Holiday-World-owner-drowned-diabetes-sti...15099.html

Horrable.......

I can't imagine what his kids and family are going thru right now.

I really wonder what happened to cause him to drown in his pool... Time will tell I guess, but is horrible regardless. Very sad.

Prayers and thoughts go out to the family :(

First thing I can think of would be an insulin reaction while swimming, but I have no solid information to confirm or refute that.

Tragic all around.

DISCLAIMER: The following is strictly my personal opinion. FWIW.

mlnem4s said:

And isn't it ironic that at this tragic moment in time EVERYONE in the industry has made a public statement of condolence, yet nobody from the corporate office of Cedar Fair could issue a statement? Sure some of the individual parks did (Tony, Don, and others thanks for being class acts) but I dare say Dick and Will have at minimum crossed paths before and probably have had conversations since they both are considered leaders in the industry and have been very involved with IAAPA. Dick could have issued a personal statement, or had Brian Witherow put out an official company statement, but no......silence. Again.

I fail to see what purpose a public expression of condolences serves. It's one thing for us here to post our reactions and feelings, and it may be proper for a park to post a mention of regret on its website. But any true expression of sympathy should be expressed personally (not through corporate press releases) by the man's colleagues in the field to his family and or co-workers. Especially if the people knew him personally, which by all accounts most probably did.

I hate these grandiose public displays that people need to come up with when some celebrity or public figure dies. The ick factor goes off the board when they trot out all these minor celebrities, with the tiniest thread of connection to the person who passed away, if any at all, to make a statement how they will personally miss so and so and how much he or she meant to them. You can tell the thing was written by a publicist.

We don't know what individual park owners or officers have said or done for the Koch family, and honestly, it isn't any of our business. Just as I believe the details and situation of Mr. Koch's passing isn't any of our business either. Again, just my opinion. I'm not here to keep anyone from voicing their opinions or discussing the topic as they wish.

Well said.

Wow, RGB. I always say this, but I almost always identify with your posts the most. This is no exception.

That's the reason why I haven't responded yet.

While I never met Will, he is mentioned to me almost everyday when I visit CB and other coaster related websites. I, as well as countless others, think very highly of the guy.

I feel really bad about his death, and I, too, am shocked.

His death has affected, and will continue to affect, many people; his family most of all, but also coaster enthusiasts, his employees, and those who work in the amusement industry.