Sam McKim Receives a Window on Main Street
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Sam McKim's wife
The fourth and fifth words were more personal, but an important part of Sam McKim. Family was particularly fitting, as many members of Sam’s extended family were on hand to share in the honor. Sam’s wife Dot, and two sons Brian and Matt beamed as Marty told of the importance of family in the life and career of Sam McKim. The final word was gentleman. The crowd murmured their approval at this fitting description. Sam McKim was always unfailingly kind in all his dealings, whether working on a professional assignment, enjoying social time with family and friends, or interacting with his many admirers.
Matt Ouimet again took the stage, to introduce a “helper,�? someone he described as “enormously popular in this world.�? Mickey Mouse entered to his own familiar march, and acknowledged the applause. As he mugged for the appreciative crowd, Matt teased, “OK Mickey, it’s Sam’s day, all right? Are you ready to reveal the window?�?
After a “thumbs up�? from Mickey, and a fanfare from the band, the window covering was pulled away. The window, above the Main Street Photo Supply Company, and facing the plaza, gleamed in the morning light. The fitting inscription read “Cartography Masterworks/ Sam McKim/ Mapmaker to the Kingdom/ There’s magic in the details.�?
Sam McKim’s immediate family was brought forward to acknowledge the honor. Matt spoke first, saying, “It’s quite a window!�? He then related a funny story from his father’s early days at Disneyland. It seems Sam was given the assignment to lay out the windows on Main Street, with details on the text and graphics. As a joke, he drew his own name into one of the windows. Matt chuckled as he related the reaction of the project manager: “Uh, Sam, you haven’t been here long enough, and contributed enough at this point, to have your name up on a window.�? Brian spoke next, acknowledging the many family members, friends, and colleagues in the crowd. He kept his comments brief, concluding, “I’m not going to say much because I’m really choked up, but thank you again for coming out here, and I hope you enjoy Disneyland as much as I did growing up.�?
Sam’s wife spoke last. “I look around,�? she said, “and I see so many friends and so many family, fans, and people that Sam worked with, and I appreciate your coming.�? As she rejoined her sons, Matt Ouimet stepped forward and said simply, “Thank you, thank you for giving us Sam.�? He then presented the family with a special replica of the window. As they proudly held up the scaled down window, a couple dressed in old fashioned garb stepped up to the band and launched into the sprightly theme from the Carousel of Progress.