Fred Desalme began working at Six Flags four days after the park opened in June 1971.
Fifty years later to the day, Desalme, who began as a security officer on June 9, 1971, left the retired as the park’s security supervisor.
Desalme landed a job at the park, which opened as Six Flags Over Mid-America, after a friend told him about the security job.
Fred Desalme in an early photo. He has worked in security at the park for 50 years.
The park was renamed Six Flags St. Louis in 1997.
“I was in between jobs,” said Desalme, 73, of Eureka. “I was 23 years old, and I knew a couple of guys who worked out here in security.”
Desalme said he remembers the manager who interviewed him asked if he would guarantee that he would work for at least three years.
“I said, ‘I can’t make any guarantees, but if I like the place, I will continue to come to work.’ He said, ‘I am going to pick you and take a chance on you.’”
Desalme said he has been a security supervisor for 35 years and has been asked several times if he wanted to be promoted. He said he turned down the promotions because he enjoyed working with people and a promotion would mean less interaction with staff members.
Desalme managed about 70 employees, including park staff and local police officers working secondary shifts. He said he has worked with generations of family members over the last half-century.
“You will have someone who works for you, and a decade or so will go by and their kids will be working out here,” said Desalme, who grew up in Fenton and graduated from Eureka High School in 1966. “That really makes me feel old.”
Public relations and marketing manager Elizabeth Gotway, who has worked with Desalme for 38 years, said he has always been a good mentor for young staff members.
“You know you’ve got somebody to turn to, who you can lean on and that’s going to help you out,” she said.
Operations director Chris Dwyer, who has worked with Desalme for 43 years, said Desalme has been an important part of the park.
“He is a genuinely good man who has the gift of making everyone that meets him feel like a friend,” Dwyer said. “As a 50-year security professional, he has used his skills to resolve any situation as well as mentor countless young security officers who have worked at the park.”
Past employees
Eureka Police Chief Michael Wiegand and Eureka Fire Protection District Chief Greg Brown are on the long list of people who list experience at Six Flags on their resumes.
“I first met (Fred) when I was 16 years old because I started working out here,” Wiegand said.
He said he worked security in the parking lot.
“Fred has probably made millions and millions and millions of friends and enriched millions and millions of lives because he always gave a little good word of advice to live like he does, which is being a great person,” Wiegand said.
Desalme said he is proud to say he once worked with both chiefs.
“It makes you proud to know you had something to do with it,” he said.
Brown said he has always enjoyed being around Desalme.
“If you haven’t had a chance to meet him, he’s not going anywhere,” Brown said. “He’s still a great community partner.”
Park family
Desalme and his wife, Carla, met in the park and were engaged there. The two will celebrate 45 years of marriage in October.
Desalme said his favorite day in the park was when he proposed.
“When I asked her to marry me, it was that day,” he said.
Carla worked in the marketing department for 34 years.
They have two children, Derick Desalme, 39, and Regan Dooley, 36.
Desalme said both children worked at the park at some point. Derick worked in the warehouse, and Dooley in marketing and games.
Desalme said he and his wife are not unique because he believes he has attended at least 30 or 40 weddings for people who met at Six Flags.
“It’s amazing how many people met their spouses out here,” he said.
For his retirement, Six Flags gave Desalme and his wife two plane tickets to anywhere.
“We’re going to fly to Athens, Greece, spend two or three days there. Then we’ll catch a cruise,” he said.
He said they plan to take their trip in May 2022.
Six Flags celebrates 50 years, too
Six Flags St. Louis, 4900 Six Flags Road, began 50 days of celebration on June 5. Events include firework shows on most Saturdays and a drive-in movie night on July 14. (The first was held Wednesday.) A vow renewal ceremony for people who met at the park was held June 19.
Park employees are wearing retro-style uniforms during the 50-day celebration to mark the anniversary.