Vesey Walker

In more than a half-century as one of the world’s great bandmasters, Vesey Walker’s proudest achievement was his Disneyland Band. “Here I have the finest musicians in the United States, most of whom have been with me for more than ten years,�? he said proudly.

He organized and directed more than 50 college, military, school and youth bands, but at Disneyland, the master “music man�? finally found the one place in the world to organize a thoroughly professional band, performing daily throughout the year—not just for Saturday football games or annual parades.

Born in Sheffield, England, in 1893, Vesey decided to come to the United States in 1912 because “all the famous bands were here.�? Within ten years he organized bands in thirty schools surrounding the Milwaukee area, and established and became head bandmaster of the Marquette University Band in 1930.

In the mid-thirties, Vesey moved to Hollywood where he conducted musical scores for films, and a year after his arrival on the West Coast, he organized the Los Angeles Elks Club “Toppers�? marching band of Tournament of Roses Parade fame, and personally led them for twenty years.

Walker’s Disneyland engagement started as a two-week run for the Park’s opening in 1955, but he was “held over�? by popular demand for 15 years. Reminiscing about his achievements, Walker considers coming to Disneyland the high point in his career.

This love of his band helped Walker defeat an attack of a rare spinal virus that nearly took his life and left him paralyzed for months. Doctors told him he would never walk again, but he would not accept it. “I wouldn’t give up,�? he recalls. “I had to get back to my band.�? Gradually, after months of painful effort, he regained control of everything except his legs. The great bandsman spurned crutches “because I was afraid I would begin to rely on them too much.�?

Just a year after he was stricken (and reluctantly using a cane), Vesey proudly led his band down Main Street, U.S.A., once again. A few weeks later he threw away the cane.

Vesey retired in 1970, and died in November 1977 after a long illness.

Walker’s daughter Diane, accepting on behalf of her father, said, “He was some guy, huh?�? She added, “Dad loved working here.�? She noted her pleasure at members of the family who were in attendance. She also spoke of her father’s memorable 83rd birthday, when the entire Disneyland Band (with cake) sneaked into their backyard to serenade the retired director. She noted that their mother never did figure out how they managed the feat.

Jill Bolton, Director of Community and Educational relations introduced honoree Mary Jones.

Mary Jones

In the late 1940s, Mary Jones began a job that eventually led to her work at Disneyland. “I worked for the Anaheim Truck and Transfer Company, which was owned by the Mayor of Anaheim Charles A. Pearson,�? Mary explains. “During those years I met Ed Ettinger, who was Disneyland’s director of the Public Relations division. I resigned from the trucking company in 1956 so I could be at home with our three daughters.�?

Mary promised to let Ed know if she ever planned to work again, so she called his office in 1962 and left word that she would return to work in September. Ed offered her a job, and on Disneyland’s seventh anniversary, Mary accepted a job at the Park as a Secretary.

In September, Ettinger asked Mary to assume responsibility for Disneyland Community Relations. That included administering the Community Service Awards, which had been initiated in 1957. Mary accepted the challenge, but explains that she “also enrolled in public relations courses at USC and UCLA in order to do the best job possible.�?

Mary says, “My philosophy on our responsibility has always been that good community relations is making sure that Disneyland is a good neighbor and citizen… and if we can do that, it benefits the community, our Cast Members, and Disneyland.�?

So in addition to such programs as the Community Service Awards, Mary initiated and supervised others, such as the Operation Christmas program and the Community Action Team.

International Relations was also an important part of Mary’s work. “Because we are such an international institution, dignitaries and visitors who come to our country want to see Disneyland,�? Mary says. “Working with the State Department and as liaison to the Los Angeles Consular Corps and the San Francisco consulates which have jurisdiction over Orange County, Mary coordinated visits to the Park by heads of state, royalty, and other important foreign dignitaries. Because of this knowledge, Mary was “on loan�? during her final year at Disneyland to the County of Orange, to establish an official protocol for the County.

After nearly a quarter of a century of distinguished service to the Park, Mary retired in February of 1986—but her year-long “loan�? to the County continued for almost another decade, during which Mary established the Orange County Office of Protocol and served as its Chief.

On her retirement from the Park, Mary reflected not on her own achievements, but her appreciation of Disneyland teamwork. “Because of our department’s unique responsibilities, we’ve had to rely on the help and cooperation of all the divisions—and they’ve always come through. It has truly been a joy.�?

In accepting her award, Mary Jones said, “I have always been so grateful to the dear Lord that I have been able to work at Disneyland, and host people that came from all over the world.�? She added, “My years at Disneyland were wonderful, and I’m never forgetting them.�?

As the afternoon wound down, Dick Cook spoke of the final honoree, Steve Martin. He concluded his remarks, “Here to tell you more about Steve Martin is the man Steve once credited as his mentor. Actor, comedian, retired star of the Golden Horseshoe Review at Disneyland… the incomparable, the fabulous Wally Boag.�?