Gary Michael Story

Gary Story, former President and Chief Operating Officer of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, died on September 21 at his home in Edmond, Oklahoma. He was 58 years old. Mr. Story began his theme park career in high school sweeping streets at the St. Louis Six Flags park. After graduating from University of Missouri, he held various positions at the company before leaving to operate independent theme parks in Mexico City, Sydney, Australia and Oklahoma City. In the mid 1980’s, Mr. Story and his partner, Kieran Burke, founded Premier Parks, Inc. with the acquisition of Frontier City Amusement Park in Oklahoma City. Mr. Story was instrumental in driving the growth of Premier Parks from one park into the largest regional theme park company in the world with 39 parks in 8 countries, including the acquisition of the Six Flags chain of parks in 1998 (Premier Parks changed its name to Six Flags, Inc. in 2000). Mr. Story had a profound impact on the growth and success of Six Flags and was a mentor and role model to countless professionals throughout the company and the industry at large. Mr. Story, who retired from Six Flags in 2004, also served as Chairman of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) in 2004 and remained active in the industry through his participation in the ownership of Nashville Shores water park, Nashville, TN, Ocean Breeze Water Park, Virginia Beach, VA and Clementon Park and Splash World, Clementon, NJ. An Eagle Scout as a youth, Gary was also very involved nationally with the Boy Scouts of America, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and UNICEF. He is survived by his wife, Lorena; three children, Paul, Katherine and Scott who make their homes in the Oklahoma City area. Memorial service will be 12 noon, September 27, 2013 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond.