In this interview, Sullivan discusses the following topics: his family background and how they arrived in San Diego (both sets of grandparents were in the lumber business); when he was married, where he was born, and his educational background; his earliest recollections of the zoo and why he wanted to get involved; issues the Zoo faced while he was on the Board, including the Star of India incident; early fundraising campaigns; the birth of Starlight Opera, and performances in the Zoo Bowl; the relationship between Sullivan's interest in the symphony, zoo, and Starlight Opera; how he helped to build the Old Globe Theatre, serving as the building contractor liaison after the first fire in 1978; the Zoo's education department and whether the Zoo's primary function should be entertainment or education; memories of developing the Wild Animal Park; recollections of founder Harry Wegeforth, including his fundraising acumen; the effects of the Depression and WWII on the Zoo; the development of Balboa Park and the Naval Hospital; an anecdote about a bear getting loose during a Starlight in the Bowl performance; and the general feelings people at the Zoo had after Harry Wegeforth died. He also has a different version of the elephant story told by Ken-helm Stott, Jr.

• Oral Histories

• San Diego State University Library and Information Access, Special Collections and University Archives