The man remembered by many in the industry for his time at the ride manufacturer OD Hopkins and as founder of SkyTrans Manufacturing passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 28. Jerry Pendleton was 79.

Jerry Pendleton

He started his career with Hopkins, then a road, bridge and all-around contractor in New Jersey, in 1960. In 1962, the company purchased designs and drawings of the John A Roebling’s Sons Co aerial tramway business, shifting focus to the design, manufacture and installation of chairlifts for the local ski industry.

Over the next two decades, Pendleton worked his way up through the ranks, eventually becoming president of OD Hopkins Associates. The firm expanded into the amusement industry and began operating tramways at major state fairs around the USA under the name SkyFair Inc, a business later purchased by Pendleton.

OD Hopkins meanwhile moved into the manufacture of rollercoasters and water rides. Under Pendleton’s leadership, it became the world’s largest producer by volume of rides including log flumes, shoot the chutes and raft rides. During those Hopkins years, Jerry was involved with hundreds of projects for amusement parks and theme parks around the world, including Splash Mountain at Disneyland, Paul Bunyon Log Flume at Mall of America and the Log Ride at Warner Bros Movie World in Australia. But the testing ground for many rides was Wonderland in Amarillo, Texas. Pictured above is one of those creations.

Pendleton was “easygoing, a good guy,” said former Wonderland president Paul Borchardt. “Sometimes I’d tell Jerry we couldn’t pay [for a project] right at this minute, and he’d say, ‘Well, we can wait until the end of the season’. That’s how we always did everything – there was no pressure with anything we did together. Jerry really helped us create the family-oriented attractions we needed.”

Hopkins was merged with the French ride manufacture Reverchon in 2000. The Hopkins brand later became affiliated with Martin & Vleminckx before being purchased by its current owner, WhiteWater West.

In 2002, Jerry and his sons launched SkyTrans Manufacturing — focusing on water rides and bringing aerial tramways to zoos. The company made over 10 installations across the US. Aditionally, it supplies and fashions replacement parts and testing devices for a variety of rides, including those manufactured by OD Hopkins and others manufacturers no longer in business.

In recent years, Pendleton gradually had been removing himself from the day to day activities of both SkyTrans and SkyFair, thus preparing his sons and colleagues for the succession of the companies’ leadership. At the time of his passing, he was en route to the warmer climes of South Florida.

“He did not make it to his final destination, but he died the busy travellin’ man he was,” said his family in a statement.

Jerry Pendleton was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, on November 13, 1938. He was predeceased by his wife, Sylvia Allen Pendleton, whom he first met on a Ferris wheel. He is survived by his sons Jerry Jr, John, James, Daniel and Matthew, plus 11 grandchildren, one great grandchild, and 11 nieces and nephews. A remembrance of Pendleton will be held later this spring for his family and many friends from around the world.