Frank Thompson Director of Operations 1975-1976

Frank was the first Director of Ride Operations that I knew in the Park.

He worked 24 hours a day to keep those rides at their peak operating schedules,

and kept his sense of humor also. When 6Flags took over Great Adventure,

Frank moved on to King's Island Park in Ohio.

While grilling Burgers at one of the late nite employee 'after-closing' cook-outs',

(where management did the cooking and ran a few of the rides for employees to enjoy

for a couple of hours after the normal closing time), Frank called in to the Security Office

where I was the radio dispatcher, knowing we could not get out to get any of the food being

shared in the Park. " Setting aside all call-signs and formal radio procedure, which was a big deal

at the time, Frank Yelled into his radio.."HEY AL, IN SECURITY, Y'ALL WANT SOME BURGERS?"

I responded politely, "OPERATIONS 1 ,FROM SECURITY BASE, 10-4 ON THE BURGERS,

WE NEED ABOUT A DOZEN FOR THE OFFICE."

The response was immediate and could be heard on both the Security and the Opns radio nets...

"OK BUDDY, WE GOT A DOZEN OR SO 'BOUT READY, BUT YA GOTTA TELL ME IF YOU

WANT YOUR BUNS TOASTED OR PLAIN?? YOU GOT THAT?? LET ME KNOW QUICK..."

Without hesitation I said quickly. "TOASTED."

To which we all heard the order go out from Frank " THAT NEXT GRILL LOAD OF BURGERS GOES UP TO THE SECURITY OFFICE TO THE GUYS STUCK UP THERE FOR THE NIGHT...AND MAKE SURE THEIR BUN'S GET TOASTED REAL GOOD !"

and they did.

Frank Thompson was one of the Good Guys.