The Tennessee Aquarium is deeply saddened by the recent passing of its first President and CEO, Bill Flynn. Flynn was a visionary leader and a dedicated advocate for aquatic conservation, and his careful stewardship helped build the Aquarium and transformed the face of Chattanooga.
Flynn’s journey to Chattanooga was the culmination of a life spent building and shaping some of the world’s most renowned aquariums.
His career began in the 1950s when he helped build the New York Aquarium, where he later worked as an aquarist and eventually curator. Over the following decades, Flynn’s expertise and passion for aquatic life took him to various roles. He helped build the Pittsburgh Aquarium, served as vice president and curator of Sea World San Diego, returned as director of the New York Aquarium, and served as director of the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
But it was his role as president of the Tennessee Aquarium from 1989 to 1993 that left a lasting mark on the Scenic City.
When Flynn arrived in Chattanooga, the city was on the cusp of transformation. Still in its planning and construction stages, the Tennessee Aquarium needed an expert to bring it to life.
With his wealth of experience, Flynn was the man for the job. As current Aquarium VP and Chief Operating Officer Gordon Stalans, who worked with Flynn in those early years, recalls, “Bill took the project far beyond what was originally planned. His incomparable expertise and unflagging attention to detail ensured its success.”
Flynn also used his considerable connections to establish the Aquarium’s first husbandry team, helping cement the institution as an industry leader in animal care from the very start.
“He was instrumental in setting up the original crew,” says Aquarium Director of Facilities and Safety Rodney Fuller, who also worked with Flynn. “He brought in people who were experts, people who had a lot of experience, and that was a huge advantage.”
More than just a project manager, Flynn was a visionary. He recognized the potential of the Aquarium not only as a world-class facility for aquatic life but also as a cornerstone for the city’s revitalization.
Under his leadership, the Aquarium opened its doors in 1992. The impact on Chattanooga was profound. Once a city struggling to define itself, Chattanooga began to thrive, with the Aquarium as a centerpiece of its urban renewal.
Flynn’s leadership style was marked by his meticulous attention to detail and profound care for people.
“Although he had a great heart for the animals in our collection, he had an even bigger heart for people,” Stalans says. “He cared about everyone he came in contact with and wanted to make sure they had what they needed to be successful.”
“He made it a point to come into the maintenance shop periodically and tell everybody how much he appreciated what they did,” recalls Fuller.
Flynn’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for his staff was as vital to the Aquarium’s success as his knowledge of marine life.
Stalans summed up Flynn’s legacy best: “I am convinced that without Bill’s early contributions to the life of our organization, the Tennessee Aquarium would not be what it is today. We all owe him a large debt of gratitude.”
As the Aquarium continues to flourish, we will never forget Bill Flynn—the man whose dedication helped build an institution and a brighter future for our community.
