Meet John

John Horton Houck’s forty-four-year career in zoos and aquariums began at the Oregon Zoo in 1974, where he was hired into a new direction in zookeeping, with the goal of educating the public about the conservation of animals, and depicting natural habitat in the exhibitry. After a dozen years, John accepted a curator position at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and the family moved to Tacoma, Washington. Eventually he became Deputy Director, retiring in late 2018. The stories of his career feature a cast of colorful reptiles, mammals and birds, and the rise of a struggling zoo and aquarium from near closure to prominence as a community treasure and highly respected zoological facility.

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John and wife Janice live in Port Orchard, WA and continue to support, visit and enjoy the zoo and aquarium with their five grandchildren, family and friends.