Milt Albright

“Shoot! If another guy from Missouri can do it, I need to get with this outfit!�? As a twenty-one-year-old Missouri native, Milt Albright saw a Time magazine cover story on his hero from their home state in December 1937. He knew then and there that he wanted to join the organization of his fellow Missourian, and he achieved his goal ten years later when he was hired at the Walt Disney Studios as a junior accountant.

Working in the Payroll Department, Milt was entrusted with the job of preparing and delivering the paychecks for top Disney executives—something that brought him into direct contact with Walt. “I would write Walt’s check and take it up there once a week,�? Albright reminisced about beginning his career directly with Walt Disney. “Walt was a country boy, he really was, and we’d get to talking a little bit about Missouri. Even when he was busy, he would take a few minutes to talk to a young fellow.�?

In 1953, in an attempt to gain some attention from Walt and transfer to his new “amusement park�? in Anaheim, Milt, an automobile buff, designed a miniature car for the Autopia, then in the planning stages as an attraction for Disneyland. When he saw that Milt had created a car as a calling card, Walt said, “Well, anybody that crazy belongs at Disneyland!�? Walt drove the car, and although he was not impressed with the design, he was impressed with its creator. So, he hired Milt in the spring of 1954 as Manager of Accounting for Disneyland. “I got to come down here because they wanted somebody they could trust,�? Albright chuckles, “Didn’t have to be very smart—just honest.�?

In 1957, Milt became the Manager of Holidayland, a private party and picnic area designed for group events. After the demise of Holidayland in 1961, Milt transferred to Group Sales, where he was a founder of the Magic Kingdom Club. In 1961, Milt also developed the concept for Grad Nite, which is now in its 44th successful year. In the late 70’s, Milt became Manager of Special Projects, Marketing. He was promoted to Manager of Guest Communications, a position he held at his retirement in 1992.

As he concluded his introduction, Jack called out, “Milt, will you please join us and accept your award?�?

After the warm applause died down, Albright leaned into the microphone and said, with a twinkle in his eye, “I couldn’t have written this up better myself.�? After some laughter, he said, “I’m flabbergasted.�? He then turned to Lindquist and said, “I worked with Jack a long time. Sometimes we didn’t agree, but I sure agree with him tonight!�? He finished his remarks with, “I am just grateful to everybody. Thank you for coming.�?

Marty Sklar then introduced Ray Sedayas, who spoke of the next honoree, Chuck Boyajian.

Charles “Chuck�? Boyajian

Chuck Boyajian was the first manager of Custodial Operations at Disneyland, and spent the next quarter-century establishing—and demanding—a sparkling standard for Disneyland and other Disney Parks. Chuck began a “Disney Dynasty�? of Custodial Hosts and Hostesses, who 50 years later are proud to say that they are members of “The Team that Chuck Built.�?

Charles Boyajian was born on August 15, 1917, and grew up in Akron, Ohio with his three siblings, Rose, Paul and Helen. During World War II, he served for three years with the United States Navy as a mechanic on an aircraft carrier. Three years later, he married Alice Wallace, and moved “out west�? to California.

It was in 1955 that Chuck began his career at Disneyland, when Walt Disney himself put Chuck in charge of the janitorial team, and charged him with the somewhat daunting task of keeping the Magic Kingdom clean. As a result, Chuck developed a reputation for cleanliness and efficiency that had never been seen before in an outdoor entertainment enterprise.

Like Walt, Chuck believed that “cleanliness breeds cleanliness,�? and realized that he needed to build a team that, also like Walt, used imagination and innovation to achieve its unusual goals and high standards. Working with some creative management Cast Members, such as his longtime friends and colleagues Tom Roppa, Roy Young, Ray Sidejas, Wayne Culver, and Mike Sweeney; Chuck and his team were able to achieve Walt’s vision of maintaining the cleanest Park in the world.

Chuck also brought his expertise to the establishment of the custodial functions for the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, and for Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. He also participated in the Disney exhibitions at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Honored with a Window on Main Street at his retirement in 1981, he remains a legend among his professional successors, who continue the traditions established by Chuck at Disneyland fifty years ago.

Chuck passed away on August 1, 2004.

Boyajian’s widow Alice took the platform, and with great emotion said, “I’m very weepy. It’s hard for me to come up here.�? She recalled their 56 year marriage, and the great love they had for each other. She also spoke of his love for the Walt Disney Company, adding, “We have always felt proud to be a part of the Disneyland family.�? As she started to leave, she turned back and said, “You know, Chuck always was a clean guy!�?

The next introduction was by Disneyland Ambassador Becky Phelps. This was most fitting, as the honoree was Cicely Rigdon, developer of the Ambassador program.

Cicely Rigdon

It was a quality that Walt Disney had, and obviously Cicely Rigdon had it, too: persistence. “When they first opened the Park,�? Cicely admits, “I made five attempts to get a job. The fifth time, I was finally hired, and I was so excited I came home and drove my car through the garage!�?

Cicely began at Disneyland in 1957 as a ticket seller. In 1959, she joined the Tour Guide Department and was responsible for initiating its growth and development. “Walt really liked the Tour Guides,�? Cicely says, “Every time he would come to the Park he would always stop by and see us and talk to us.�?

She eventually became the supervisor of Guest Relations, and in 1967 took on additional responsibility for the ticket sellers, ticket receptionists, and Guest Relations.

While in Guest Relations she was responsible for Walt’s apartment above the Main Street Fire Station, and was therefore known as the “Keeper of the Keys.�?

Among the other highlights of her career, Cicely most fondly remembers her trip with Walt Disney to the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, and the many conversations she had with him while he was in the Park. She also counts being able to train all the ticket sellers and ticket receptionists for the opening of Walt Disney World as one of her treasured opportunities.

Beginning in 1982, Cicely led and developed the Disneyland Ambassador Program, working with thirteen Disneyland Ambassadors During her tenure, and representing Disneyland around the world. She retired as manager of the Ambassador Program in 1994, with a 37-year Disneyland career to her credit. Despite her long career of travelling, the first thing Cicely did after her retirement was to travel to England to visit her family.

She remembers her years at Disneyland and her unique boss with great fondness. “Walt was just a very decent, very nice man,�? Cicely says. “And I believe that is reflected in all of us here at Disneyland, and that this place for family and fun and decency is what it’s all about.�?

Cicely Rigdon surveyed the crowd, and said, “I’m certainly very honored to receive this award.�? She admitted, “It’s a very big surprise. In my experience, I never felt I was one who was going to get the award. I think of all those wonderful people I worked with. And I look back now to Guest Relations and remember all those fabulous people.�?

She spoke of the Tour Guides, calling them all “perfect, wonderful young ladies.�? She specifically lauded her three “bosses,�? Bob Mathieson, Ron Dominguez, and Jack Lindquist.

Rigdon concluded by saying, “So thank you for all that, especially my family, who listened attentively and with much patience to all the stories I had to tell.�? She confided, “I’ve seen them roll their eyes a few times, but none of them ever told me to shut up!�?

Marty Sklar himself introduced Tom Nabbe, who started his career at Disneyland at the age of 12.