My Dad

tribbleorlfl

tribbleorlfl

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I apologize if this isn't the thread for this, but my dad, who was a long-time CM after serving in the military, passed away this morning. He was an electrical engineer and worked for 20 years fixing rides and attractions (primarily 3rd shift overnight) to preserve the magic for countless families, possibly even yours.

My mom sent me over to their house to get a few things and I didn't realize going through his dresser, he kept years and years of CM gifts, awards and recognition, his name tags, etc. He was proud of his service to the nation, but it's clear he also really loved working for The Mouse.

Do you think there'd be any interest in me posting some of this stuff or some of his stories, and if so, the best format? Maybe it's more therapy for me than anything to cope with his loss, but I've never personally seen a lot of this before so I figured probably many haven't either.

One thing in particular I've got is a pretty unique bit of MGM Studios history.
 
C

celluloid

Well-Known Member
Do whatever you feel. I lost my mother at a young age, but losing my dad was the hardest. Your family i hope will cope together. Cheers to your dad. A father. A CM with now we know a great passion for the role, but also that the nametags are a bit of a larger life story.

Take care.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
My condolences to you and your family. We lost my dad (his 15 year anniversary of passing away was just a few days ago) and FIL quite a few years ago, my MIL this past July, but the beautiful memories remain.
Of course we would love for you to share any fond memories and stories youd like to post here. Not only will it pass on his love of Dis with us it will be healing for you to help you journey through this time of grieving and mourning. Anyone who loved what they did for a living and spent that much time on the job would have a treasure trove to pass down.
I look forward to reading anything youd like to share.
 
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Eric Graham

Well-Known Member
I'm very sorry to hear about your father's passing. Very sorry for your loss. I'll bet he has a number of great stories. It would be so wonderful to hear about his stories in one form of another on here somewhere. Thank you so much for posting.
 
JoeCamel

JoeCamel

Well-Known Member
tribbleorlfl said:
I apologize if this isn't the thread for this, but my dad, who was a long-time CM after serving in the military, passed away this morning. He was an electrical engineer and worked for 20 years fixing rides and attractions (primarily 3rd shift overnight) to preserve the magic for countless families, possibly even yours.

My mom sent me over to their house to get a few things and I didn't realize going through his dresser, he kept years and years of CM gifts, awards and recognition, his name tags, etc. He was proud of his service to the nation, but it's clear he also really loved working for The Mouse.

Do you think there'd be any interest in me posting some of this stuff or some of his stories, and if so, the best format? Maybe it's more therapy for me than anything to cope with his loss, but I've never personally seen a lot of this before so I figured probably many haven't either.

One thing in particular I've got is a pretty unique bit of MGM Studios history.
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Sorry you no longer have your Dad he sounds like a wonderful person. Please share anything about him you wish, there are plenty of eyes here that will treasure those memories along with you.
 
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Eric Graham

Well-Known Member
There is a TV show called Collectors Call on ME TV. Lisa Whelchel (Sp) from The Facts Of LIfe is the host. Do you have a number of memorabilia from your father's history that you could possibly showcase on the show and tell your father's wonderful legacy from Disney. I tried to get on the show before, but didn't have enough Disney stuff to be on the show. Just a thought. May be a wonderful audience to showcase your stories for Disney fans.
 
tribbleorlfl

tribbleorlfl

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Eric Graham said:
There is a TV show called Collectors Call on ME TV. Lisa Whelchel (Sp) from The Facts Of LIfe is the host. Do you have a number of memorabilia from your father's history that you could possibly showcase on the show and tell your father's wonderful legacy from Disney. I tried to get on the show before, but didn't have enough Disney stuff to be on the show. Just a thought. May be a wonderful audience to showcase your stories for Disney fans.
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I can look into that, thanks!
 
tribbleorlfl

tribbleorlfl

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
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Here are his name tags. He was hired by Disney in '91 after being laid off by the local defense contractor he worked for following his retirement from the military. He worked in all 4 parks and opened several attractions (that's where the referenced MGM history comes into play). For DisneyQuest, he was the building maintenance manager and had to live in CA for a year before it opened to learn and test all of the new technology.
 
tribbleorlfl

tribbleorlfl

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My dad wasa foreman on the opening maintenance team for Tower of Terror, helping install and test many of the ride systems.

What you see below is the very first photo ever taken using the on-ride photo system after installation. They took the elevator platform (sans ride vehicle) all the way up to the top to test the camera, transmission and printing. My dad is back right.
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I can't post all of this second photo as I think they were testing the software to block indecent gestures (which was obviously a failed test, lol!). Interestingly enough, you can see how low resolution and pixelated the technology was in '94!
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Other Tower mementos he held onto was a nice 8x10 of the model, a numbered commemorative ticket and the park times guide from Opening Day (he took me and a friend in the morning for all of opening ceremonies and ride dedication even though he had worked the night before ironing out some more kinks (as I recall, the eyeball displaying the group photo in the Fourth Dimension was a difficult effect to keep working).
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Br0ckford

Br0ckford

Premium Member
tribbleorlfl said:
My dad wasa foreman on the opening maintenance team for Tower of Terror, helping install and test many of the ride systems.

What you see below is the very first photo ever taken using the on-ride photo system after installation. They took the elevator platform (sans ride vehicle) all the way up to the top to test the camera, transmission and printing. My dad is back right.
View attachment 812618
View attachment 812619
I can't post all of this second photo as I think they were testing the software to block indecent gestures (which was obviously a failed test, lol!). Interestingly enough, you can see how low resolution and pixelated the technology was in '94!
View attachment 812631
Other Tower mementos he held onto was a nice 8x10 of the model, a numbered commemorative ticket and the park times guide from Opening Day (he took me and a friend in the morning for all of opening ceremonies and ride dedication even though he had worked the night before ironing out some more kinks (as I recall, the eyeball displaying the group photo in the Fourth Dimension was a difficult effect to keep working).
View attachment 812620
View attachment 812628


View attachment 812630
Click to expand...
This is very cool. I love behind the scenes stuff especially maintenance related being in the maintenance/construction field myself. What a cool experience for you with your dad. Thank you for sharing.
 
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OKWDVCMAGIC

New Member
I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for generously sharing memories and pics of your dad. You have to be so proud of all the work your dad did at Disney that so like so many CMs made WDW what it is today!
 

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