Educator Bob Jacobs greets a future University student.

The next presentation was on video. Professor Bob Jacobs introduced himself as a farmer. He explained that his career at Disney had begun back in 1957 as a ride operator in Disneyland. One day he thought he saw Walt Disney in the Park, but learned it was John Hench. In the years that followed, Bob Jacobs the ride operator became Bob Jacobs the educator. But he never forgot John Hench, and arranged to bring students to learn from him. Two of those students then appeared on the video, sharing about their experiences. Bob Jacobs summed up his appreciation with the words, “We have to water the roses to keep the garden growing. John will always be at my side, holding the watering can.�?

Peggy Van Pelt (right), co-author of Designing Disney, with John Hench and long time assistant Sandy Huskins

The next speaker introduced by Marty Sklar was author and Imagineer Peggy Van Pelt. Van Pelt is the co-author of Hench’s book Designing Disney. She began by stating what an honor it had been to write the book with John Hench. She mentioned that the inspiration for the book was Walt Disney’s desire to create a place where parents and children could have fun together. “Thank you for supporting John,�? she said, “and making the book such a success.�? She went on to add, “Of all the chapters ‘The Art of Color’ was the most challenging.�? She concluded her presentation saying, “In the book, we wanted the last page to express optimism.�? The final image from the book, a drawing by John Hench of a youthful Mickey Mouse, leaping into the air was shown. Around Mickey were written the words, “The first thing we strive for is the experience of being alive.�?

The final illustration in John Hench’s Designing Disney.

Marty Sklar next introduced costumer Pam Haynes. She told of starting her “temporary job�? at WDI in 1966, and how it turned into a “34 year adventure.�? She related how John Hench moved the theme parks from providing mere costumes to clothes that help to tell the story. When Disneyland was new, she said, industrial uniforms were only available in white, blue, gray or black. But under John Hench, she went on, Disney became a testing ground for new colors in uniforms. She concluded her remarks with the words, “We always looked forward to our meetings with John; they were so fulfilling and enriching.�?

John hench designed costumes for cast members of Tomorrowland in 1967.

Even the Submarine Operators uniform were given a John Hench make over.

The next two speakers, Marty Sklar explained, would discuss John Hench and color. Imagineers Ken Danberry and Tom Rodowsky were presented on video from Epcot Center. Danberry related that John Hench “always warned us not to overuse color,�? adding one of Hench’s credos: “There’s nothing worse than forty feet of the wrong color!�? Rodowsky told about a memorable visit from John Hench. The intense blue of the Florida sky was always a source of inspiration, and on this particular day it was perfectly clear. Hench stared up, tilting his head further and further back, until he was facing straight up. As the puzzled Imagineers watched this display, John Hench murmured a satisfied, “Zowie!�?

Danberry also related a story about a rare occasion that found John Hench examining the color scheme on a building for which he had not been consulted. As the designers stood anxiously by, Hench explained that colors should create a symphony—but that in this case all he saw was noise. The two Imagineers concluded with a credo they had learned from John Hench: “If you’re going to make a change, you might as well make a statement.�?