Today In Disney History ~ January 1st
Today In Disney History ~ January 1st
From D23
Bob Allen began working with Disney in 1955 as a ride operator at Disneyland. Eventually, he rose through the ranks to become vice president of Walt Disney World. Still, he remained a modest and low-key executive, who gained the respect of Central Florida’s government and community. Civic-minded, Bob regularly volunteered to serve the state and the Orlando community. Among his posts, he served as chairman of the Central Florida Economic Development Advisory Council and member of the Governor’s Committee on the Future. He was among Disney’s greatest goodwill ambassadors.
In 1987, the Orlando Sentinel described Bob as a person “who knew how to be successful and compassionate at the same time.” Fellow Disney Legend Joe Potter recalled that same year, “He was a great, great lover of people, and he showed it. When you met Bob Allen, he acted like you were the first person he ever met.” Former Florida Governor Reubin Askew added, “Bob was an outstanding person. He did a tremendous job for Disney and beyond that he was a very warm human being.”
Born in Corona, California, on February 4, 1932, Bob served in the United States Navy for four years during the Korean War. After the war, while majoring in physical education at Long Beach State College, he applied for a job at Disneyland on a “lark.”
TMSM Today in Graphic by Sherry Rinaldi DeHart; D23.com
~ I enjoy writing personal perspective blogs, doing TMSM Meet Ups for our readers, and keeping the constant interaction going with others, sharing the Disney Magic to people when they can’t be at their Happy Place.
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