Gregg Hudson, Dallas Zoo’s 16-year president and ‘a north star for so many,’ dies at 64
Hudson led the zoo since 2006, overseeing a period of growth — but not without tests.
Gregg Hudson, the Dallas Zoo president who oversaw the facility through succe…
Gregg Hudson, Dallas Zoo’s 16-year president and ‘a north star for so many,’ dies at 64
Hudson led the zoo since 2006, overseeing a period of growth — but not without tests.
Gregg Hudson, the Dallas Zoo president who oversaw the facility through successes like its privatization and the construction of the Giants of the Savanna habitat as well as difficulties including a recent string of ‘unprecedented’ break-ins, has died.
The Dallas Zoo confirmed Hudson died late last week “following a brief but valiant battle with cancer.” He was 64.
Hudson was “a north star for so many,” an emailed statement from the Dallas Zoo said. He was a husband, father, son, and leader in the zoo and aquarium industry. “For all of his professional accomplishments, Gregg was a genuine, caring, wonderful person who built relationships easily, and held those relationships close to his heart,” the statement said. “He was a friend and a mentor to so many, not only here in Dallas, but across the country and around the world. To say he will be greatly missed is an understatement.”
The Zoo said it is heartbroken to “lose such a visionary leader” but its team is ready and proud to continue working off the success Hudson left.
“His passion, tireless work ethic, and love for our Zoo has cemented Gregg’s legacy here forever,” the statement said.
Dallas Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins praised Hudson’s work with the zoo.
“Dallas, North Texas and the entire zoo industry has lost a great person who made Dallas Zoo into one of the top zoos in the country,” Jenkins said. “From the day he set foot on that Zoo ground, he put us on an upward trajectory of being one of the best zoos in the country.”
Before joining the Dallas Zoo, Hudson worked for the Cincinnati Zoo and led the Fort Worth Zoo during its own transition to privatization in the early 1990s.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/obituaries/2023/04/10/gregg-hudson-dallas-zoos-16-year-president-and-a-north-star-for-so-many-dies-at-64/
