An Disney Executive’s Window to the Magic.
Continuing on with the Main Street USA window history lessons, we now bring your attention to Mr. Dick Nunis.
Dick Nunis was the former chairman of Walt Disney Attractions, and was an integral part in the growth of Walt Disney’s theme park legacy. Dick’s achievements includes most of the Disney theme parks including “Project X,” which became Walt Disney World Resort.
Dick was often referred to as the “preeminent theme park executive,” and learned from Walt to always focus on the people. Dick said,” Walt believed strongly that what would make Disneyland different was the people- he wanted them to feel that they were part of the organization.”
Dick was born on May 20, 1932, in Cedartown, Georgia. He received a football scholarship to USC and was ambitious in becoming a professional football player. His dream of playing professional football was short lived however when he got a broken neck during a game. Dick graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree of Science in education.
Dick applied for a summer job at Disneyland and was hired by Van France in May 1955 as an orientation training instructor. He soon worked his way up to becoming attractions supervisor where he developed standard operating procedures for all the attractions in the park. In 1961 dick was the director of park operations and later helped in the development of Walt Disney World Resort.
On May 26, 1999 which was exactly 44 years to the day after he joined the company, Dick retired as chairman of Walt Disney Attractions, and in that same year he was honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A., and was named a Disney Legend.
You can see Dick’s window located above the Disney Showcase,and it says: Coast to Coast Peoplemoving, World Leader in Leisure Management, Dick Nunis, Proprietor, Founded 1955, Offices Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, Wave Machines a Specialty.
“This is really quite an honor and a privilege to have my name upon Main Street with so many great people that have dedicated their lives to making Disneyland what it is today.”– Dick Nunis
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(via Disney Parks Blog)
We hope you’re enjoying all these Main Street USA window history lessons! We’re certainly learning and appreciating all these people’s lifetime of work in creating the Disney magic. Be sure to read the rest of the lessons on the previous windows by clicking HERE.
