Roy Gillian, the owner of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and former mayor of Ocean City, New Jersey, helped define “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” writes Annabelle Williams for The Wall Street Journal.

Up to a million people visit the resort in the summer and many of those head up to the boardwalk for the arcade games, minigolf, saltwater taffies and the Ferris wheels and roller coasters, among other family distractions.

Gillian, who died Aug. 17, was involved in all of it.

Originally from Havertown, he was part of a three-generation, Jersey-shore family who built up the Ocean City boardwalk with its most iconic and enduring attractions.

“Roy’s was that classic industry story. He was born into the business,” said Jim Futrell, historian of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

He learned how to run an amusement park working at his dad’s boardwalk business, Fun Deck, in the 1930s.

“No matter how bad times are,” David Gillian told his sons, “a father will always have some money to spend on his kids for a merry-go-round ride.”

Roy opened Gillian’s Wonderland Pier in 1965 with 10 rides.  The park laid the groundwork for what the boardwalk would become.

Read more about Roy Gillian and the Ocean City boardwalk in The Wall Street Journal.