Irvin Deggeller 1926-2006
Born Feb 14, 1926 in Silverton Oregon, 3 Brother’s Henry, Allen & Lish & 1 sister, Elizabeth, Attended school in Markham Oregon.
1st Job in the Carnival Business at age 14 working for his brother In-Law Fred A. Thumberg, running the Eyerly Roll-O-Plane at the Tucson Rodeo.
In 1943, at 18 years old, Irvin joined the Navy during WW II. He was assigned to the Heavy Cruiser USS San Francisco of the south pacific Fleet, during the battle of Okinawa.
1946, Irvin and his Brother Allan purchased a used Roll-O-Plane in Lancaster Ohio. booking with Gooding Amusement Company.
1947, Irvin created a Kid Land for Mr Gooding with 4 kid rides, benches and tops. Expanding to 9 Kid rides. In the winter Irvin would travel south and book with: Penn-Premier, Strates, Eddie Young, L J Heth, Broadway & Bluegrass Shows.
1951 at the Fremont Ohio Festival, Irvin met Evelyn Leedy, the daughter of John Leedy, a concessionaire that had basketballs, French Fry & Sideshow's. Ev was running a model circus show for her dad and As the story goes, Ev was working her magic and placed a spell on Irvin, they were married that November in 1951 in Olmsted Ohio, and that spell continues today, over 53 years.
Fall of 1956, Irvin, Brother Allan & Father In-Law, John Leedy purchased the Howard Brother’s 14 ride show in Ohio. The Deggeller Amusement Co was formed, it now operated over 25 rides, 2 elephants and 2 chimps. The ride help wore all white uniforms, a tradition that would continue into today’s modern carnivals.
1960-65 The show was now operating over 50 rides, West Palm, Martin Co, Dade Co, Lexington, Concord, Anderson, Shelby, Greenville, Ionia & Louisville was added to the route. Stunt SkyDiving into the Midway by Bob Coy & Tom Poots helped kick-off each fair. 1963 The show purchased its 1st Sky Wheel, 1964 Irvin was one of the founding Showmen starting the OABA at the Sherman House in Chicago. 1965 Irvin purchased a Piper Airplane, The airplane became a valuable time saving asset. This was the beginning of the Spectacular Magic Midway concept.
Back Ends Shows that balley on the midway were added “Speedy Babb’s Motor Drome”, “the Silas Green Revue”, 10-1 Illusions, “Miss Sandy O’Hare Revue”, great talkers as Bill Thompson. “Right on the inside”, was added. A Show semi trailer was lettered for each fair with their Logo. This received a lot of attention, with Fairs reporting back that they had seen there Logo over 1000 miles from home.
1966 the 2nd Sky Wheel was purchased
1970 – 1975 Deggeller Amusement Co was operating over 92 rides, Virginia State Fair, South Carolina State Fair, Maryland State Fair, Michigan State Fair, Illinois State Fair was added to the route, Irvin negotiated his 1st sponsorship of billboard type advertising on the back of all Coke delivery trucks in the Richmond area.
1975, The Deggeller Amusement Co was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, the 1st and only carnival to do so.
With the show now reaching its pinnacle, back home in Stuart FL, Coy Deggeller Construction & IBSCO (Waste Water Treatment Co) was created; building the Jensen Park Estates Land development, over 300 homes and other scaled housing developments in Martin Co.
Irvin was a founding member and major stockholder/Investor of The American Bank, based in Stuart Florida,
Irv & EV hosted multiple Political Fund Raisers for senators, reps and governors, and gained one on one meetings with President’s Nixon and Bush.
Irvin built his 1st family fun center in New Smyrna Beach Florida with Louis Blackwell as his partner.
1978 The Deggeller Amusement Co was sold to Conklin Shows of Canada.
Stuart Confections, an Independent food concession business was formed.
1984 Deggeller Mfg was formed, building carnival rides.
1989 Irvin showed his love for golf by building 76 GolfWorld, Family Fun Center in Stuart.
Commercial real estate development was next, his locations would feature OutBack SteakHouse, Honda Territory, several Banks, gas station party stores and New car dealers, His parcels were the prime locations in Martin Co.
Irvin & EV enjoy traveling in there new motor coach. They still operate 76 GolfWorld with nephew Steve Coy, Stuart Confections with partner Todd Desgranges & Joe Blume, and their commercial real estate empire.
Irv is a Mason, Shriner, Jester, Kentucky Colonel, member of OABA, SLA, IISA, & The Miami Club.
Feb of 2005, Irvin was Inducted in to the OABA HALL OF FAME
Irvin Deggeller Passed away on April 8, 2006
Deggeller, Irvin L
| IRVIN V. DEGGELLER
2/14/26 - 4/8/06 Born February 14, 1926, in
Silverton, Oregon, Irvin's grandparents traveled west across the
Montana Territory in a covered wagon. Irvin spent the last 46 years
residing in
Stuart, Florida.
Serving in the Navy during W.W.II, he served in
the Pacific
Region on the USS San Francisco. Soon after his service in the Navy, he
and brother, Allen, []bought a Roll-O-Plane Ride and traveled with the In 1951, Irvin met, and that fall married Evelyn Leedy. They traveled with Gooding's Amusement Co until 1957, when he purchased a small Ohio Show partnering with brother Allen and Ev's father John Leedy, forming Deggeller Amusement Company. As the company grew, so did the fairs and celebrations. They played many State Fairs, County Fairs and Celebrations. He helped to create the start of several County Fairs and Celebrations. When the Carnival was sold, it was documented as the largest traveling carnival in North America. Irvin was a past President of the Miami Showmen's Association, one of the original founders of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, member of the Showmen's League of America, International Independent Showmen's Association, and a Kentucky Colonel. He was a perpetual member of Masonic Lodge 163, a member of the Mahi Shrine and a Jester. Irvin's charitable trust helped build a 6,800 square foot addition to the Jesus House of Hope food bank in 2000. He was also a Director of the Coconut Point Yacht Club of Stuart, Florida. Irvin was inducted into the Outdoor Amusement Business Hall of Fame in February 2005. He was a major investor of real estate and owned much land in Martin County, the Florida Keys and North Carolina. Irvin was a major stockholder in the start of American Bank of Stuart. He co-owned Coy & Deggeller Construction Company, Realty One of Martin County, and IBSCO, a water treatment facility. The companies developed Sarita Heights, Stuart, Florida; Jensen Park Estates, Jensen Beach, Florida. Irvin owned Deggeller Equipment Company, Deggeller Square, Stuart Confections, Inc. and in 1990, opened 76 Golf World,Inc. on Kanner Hwy. in Stuart, featuring a Golf Course, Driving Range, MiniGolf, Go-Carts, Batting Cages, Arcade, Club House, Snack Bar and Party Facilities. He loved to travel with his wife, Evelyn, around the world and many journeys throughout North America in their Motorcoach. He liked to play golf and liked boating on the St. Lucie River. Irvin is survived by his wife, Evelyn; sister-inlaw, Barbara (Leedy) & Jim Bullis of Port St. Lucie; Amelia Deggeller of Salem, Oregon; brother-in-law Robert Coy of Jensen Beach; and many nieces and nephews located in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Washington. A Service will be held at the First United
Methodist Church,
1500 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart, Florida at 2:00 p.m. on April 19,
2006. Interment at Fern Hill Cemetery in the family area. |