Michael Broggie

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Michael Broggie (born June 19, 1942) is a nationally-recognized authority on the life and legacy of Walt Disney and the global empire he inspired. An accomplished author and public speaker, he tours the country lecturing on his first-person experiences with Walt Disney and many of the Disney Legends, including his father, the late Roger E. Broggie, who was selected by Walt to be the first Imagineer. Broggie is married to Sharon Charmagne Broggie, who is co-founder of the Carolwood Foundation and the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society, and is an accomplished artist. They reside in Thousand Oaks, California.


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[edit] Early Life and Education

Raised in Los Angeles, California, Michael Broggie grew up around Disney. His father, Roger E. Broggie, was the head of the studio machine shop. As a small child, Michael was one of the few people that got a chance to ride on Walt Disney's backyard 1/8-scale model railroad, which his father helped to build(see Carolwood Pacific Railroad). At age 12, Broggie test-drove the miniature Autopia cars and accompanied Walt Disney in the initial run of the Disneyland Railroad's steam trains on June 18, 1955. It was at Disneyland that Broggie was taught lessons by Walt that he would carry for the rest of his life such as the power of Walt's four Cs: Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Constancy.

Broggie earned his MBA and a Doctorate in Marketing - summa cum laude - at Pacific University, San Diego; a BA in Communications from California State University, Northridge; and, an AA in Journalism - with honors - from Los Angeles Valley College. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served in the Aerospace Medical Command as a pharmacy specialist. He attended law school at Lincoln University.

Broggie married the former Sharon Charmagne on August 8, 1988. He has two sons, Michael Broggie Jr. and Stephen Broggie from a previous marriage. He has a stepson, Tim VanPelt, a granddaughter, Holland, and a grandson, Jeffrey.

[edit] Professional Career

Michael Broggie's first job with Disney was in 1960, as an attractions Cast Member (ride operator) at Disneyland on the Autopia and Mine Train during summer seasons while attending college. After completing his undergraduate education, he joined the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, as a publicity writer in the marketing department.

On behalf of the model railroad industry, Broggie appears as the featured presenter of “Walt Disney’s Railroad Story” on a national tour titled “World’s Greatest Hobby.” The 2008 tour included Schamburg, IL, Sacramento, San Diego, Kansas City, Norfolk, VA, and Louisville. 2007 tour included Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Portland and Fort Worth. During 2006, Michael appeared in Houston, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C. and St. Paul. During 2005, he appeared in Edison, New Jersey, St. Louis, Denver and Long Beach. Over a half million people have seen the show. One of Michael Broggie’s favorite lecture topics is “Walt's Words of Wisdom,” based upon Walt’s own revelations to him when Broggie was 12.

Michael Broggie's board memberships include: Askew Eatertainment (The Beach Boys Good Vibrations restaurants), Anchor Education Foundation, and the Westlake Yacht Club. He is on the Advisory Committee of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department. With his wife, Sharon, he is co-founder and Chairman of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society and the Carolwood Foundation, which operates Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn Museum in Griffith Park, on behalf of Walt Disney’s family.

[edit] Author

Michael Broggie is an award-winning author. His fifth book was released in June 2006. Titled Air Force One: The Final Mission, it describes the history of the Presidential Boeing 707 recently installed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. His 430-page book, Walt Disney’s Railroad Story, was honored with the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best Biography. Broggie's biographical profile on Warren Buffett’s longtime partner, Charlie Munger, is contained in a 470-page book edited by Peter Kaufman, Poor Charlie’s Almanack, released in 2005. His other works include the history of Disney merchandise and "Walt Disney's Happy Place," a child’s illustrated biography of Walt Disney. He has authored numerous articles for national publications on railroad and Disney history. He is currently in various stages of development on three new books.

[edit] Sources

  • Broggie, Michael (2006). Walt Disney's Railroad Story. Marceline, Missouri, Virginia Beach, Virginia: The Donning Company Publishers, Walsworth Publishing Company. ISBN 1-57864-309-0