Kenneth S. Norris Explained

Kenneth Stafford Norris (August 11, 1924 – August 16, 1998)^[1] was an American marine mammal biologist, conservationist, naturalist, and co-founder of SeaWorld.

Norris did pioneering work on dolphin echolocation.^{[2] [3]} His conservation work included helping establish the University of California Natural Reserve System and work towards passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.^[2] Norris was a professor at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz.^[4]

Norris, Milton Shedd, David Demott and George Millay co-founded SeaWorld. The four graduates of UCLA originally set out to build an underwater restaurant and marine life show.^[5] When the underwater restaurant concept was deemed unfeasible, they scrapped those plans and decided to build a park instead, and SeaWorld San Diego was opened on March 21, 1964.

Selected bibliography

• Book: The Porpoise Watcher. 1974. 9780393063851. Norris. Kenneth Stafford. registration.
• Book: Dolphin Days: The Life & Times of the Spinner Dolphin. registration. 1991. 9780380719655. Norris. Kenneth Stafford.

as editor

• Book: Norris, Kenneth S.. Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Cetacean Research, held in August 1963 in Washington, D.C.; conducted by the American Institute of Biological Sciences. 1966. University of California Press.

  xv+789 pages, illus., maps, 26 cm.

  . ^[6]

External links and further reading

• Kenneth S. Norris, naturalist, cetologist & conservationist, 1924-1998: an oral history biography. Interviewed by Randall Jarrell and Irene Reti. Regional History Project, University Library, UC Santa Cruz. 1999
• Marine Mammal Science, Oct. 1999, v.15(4). Special issue remembering Dr. Norris.
• Photographs of Ken Norris from the UC Santa Cruz Library's Digital Collections

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kenneth S. Norris: Naturalist, Cetologist, Conservationist, 1924-1998. University Library - UC Santa Cruz. August 24, 2012.
2. Silber. Gregory K.. Remembering Dr. Kenneth Norris. Marine Mammal Science. 1 October 1999. 15. 4. 915–917. 10.1111/j.1748-7692.1999.tb00859.x.
3. News: Fountain. Henry. Kenneth Norris, 95, Pioneer In Study of Marine Mammals. July 6, 2012. New York Times. August 23, 1998.
4. News: Stephens. Tim. Kenneth Norris, world-renowned expert on whales and dolphins, dies at 74. Currents. August 24, 1998.
5. News: Milton Shedd, 79, Co-Founder of SeaWorld. May 28, 2002. The New York Times. June 4, 2009. Associated Press.
6. 10.1017/S0030605300005615. Review of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises edited by Kenneth S. Norris. 1966 . Matthews . L. Harrison . L. Harrison Matthews . Oryx . 8 . 6 . 384 . 86561203 . free .