SECRETARY’S REPORT 169 
phone, telegraph, and postal services, sundry supplies, uniforms, gaso- 
line, road repair, equipment replacement, and purchase of new equip- 
ment. 
PERSONNEL 
After serving as Acting Director for 17 months, Dr. Theodore H. 
Reed was named Director on March 12, 1958. At the same time, J. 
Lear Grimmer, who had been Assistant Director, was named Asso- 
ciate Director. 
James F. Wright, V.M.D., a graduate of the University of Penn- 
sylvania, was appointed to fill the position of veterinarian. He comes 
to the Zoo with experience in private veterinary practice as well as 
service with the Department of Agriculture’s Plum Island Animal 
Disease Laboratory, in Long Island, N.Y. He has a makeshift hos- 
pital in the Park, which it is hoped may some day be replaced with a 
more modern structure. His report for the year may be found on 
pages 171-174. 
As of the beginning of the fiscal year, the animal keepers were con- 
verted from the GS classification to Wage Board. They are now on 
a pay level comparable with other skilled trades, such as carpenters 
and plumbers. It is believed that the present starting wage will at- 
tract good men and that the salary will induce them to stay in the Zoo. 
There are 144 authorized positions at the Zoo, divided as follows: 
Administrative office 13, an increase of one property and supply 
clerk; animal department 53 (48 keepers, cook, exterminator, 2 labor- 
ers, and an increase of 1 storekeeper) ; police 23, an increase of 2; 
mechanical department 50, an increase of 2 laborers and 1 store- 
keeper; grounds department 5. 
There has been a reorganization in the animal department. Ralph 
Norris is now head keeper and Malcolm Davis, who has had 30 years 
experience in the Zoo, is now associate head keeper. William Widman 
is senior keeper in the bird division, Charles Thomas in the division of 
large mammals, Bert Barker in the division of small mammals, and 
Mario DePrato in the reptile division. In the police department three 
men were promoted to the rank of Sergeant: Donald B. Bell, Earl A. 
King, and Aubrey L. Canter. In the mechanical shop, William G. 
Modena was made assistant superintendent of maintenance and 
construction. 
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION 
The Zoo continues to handle a large correspondence with persons all 
over the world who write for information regarding animals. From 
every part of this country citizens write to the Zoo as a national insti- 
tution. Telephone calls come in constantly, asking for identification of 
animals, proper diets, or treatment of disease. Visitors to the office as 
well as to the animal exhibits are constantly seeking information. 
