Waterpark pioneer and Schlitterbahn founder Robert Henry has died aged 89.

A statement from the operator said that Henry – or Mr. Bob as he was known to many of his employees – had died at his New Braunfels home in Central Texas following a prolonged illness.

“Mr. Bob was a brilliant businessman as well as a devoted husband, father, and papa,” said the statement. “When he came to New Braunfels fifty years ago, he took over a small camp and over time created what is now one of the most beloved waterparks and resorts in the world. But it all started with family.”

Founding Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels in 1979, Henry’s empire eventually expand across Texas, with parks in South Padre Island, Galveston and Corpus Christi, as well as Kansas City, Kansas.

“My father, from the very start, hoped to have a family business where he and his children could work together,” said Gary Henry, president of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, and eldest son of Henry. “All of us will miss him dearly. We will miss his leadership, his guidance, and his insights. We are blessed that he leaves behind a legacy of hard work, dedication, and commitment to those who both those who work here and to generations of guests who have made memories in the parks he made possible.”