Michael Broggie

Broggie was born in Los Angeles, California on June 19, 1942 and grew up between Lake Arrowhead and the San Fernando Valley. His father was Roger E. Broggie, an engineer, machinist, and head of Walt Disney Studio machine shop.^[1]

As a small child, Broggie spent many Sundays in the backyard of Walt Disney's home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. He helped Walt and his father operate the 1/8-scale Carolwood Pacific Railroad—the model railroad layout which his father helped build.^[2] On June 18, 1955, about a month before the opening of Disneyland Park, 12-year-old Broggie assisted Walt Disney and his father with the steam up of the E.P. Ripley—one of the locomotives of the Disneyland Railroad.^[2] He also test-drove cars designed for the park's Autopia attraction.^[3]

Broggie earned an 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.^[3] He attended Lincoln University School of Law, San Francisco but did not graduate.

After graduating from North Hollywood High School in 1960, Broggie worked his way through college as an attractions Cast Member (ride operator) at Disneyland on the Autopia and Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland during the summer seasons.^[3] After completing his undergraduate education, he joined the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, as a publicity writer in the motion picture marketing department.^[3]

Broggie's career led to management and consulting positions with Marriott, Boise Cascade, and General Motors.^[3] For three years in the early 1970s, he returned to his hometown of Lake Arrowhead and served as the executive vice president and general manager of Lake Arrowhead Development Company. Under his administration, the lake was transferred to a community corporation owned in common by area property owners. Broggie also served on the ABC sponsorship team for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Broggie then focused on his connection to Disney and began researching Walt Disney's lifelong connections with trains—culminating in the publication of Walt Disney's Railroad Story in 1997. With his wife, Sharon, he is co-founder and chairman of The Carolwood Society and chairman emeritus of the non-profit Carolwood Foundation.^[3] The foundation operates Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn within the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park on behalf of the Walt Disney Family Foundation.^[4]

On behalf of the model railroad industry, Broggie appeared in 30 cities as the featured presenter of “Walt Disney's Railroad Story” on a national tour titled “World's Greatest Hobby.”

Broggie is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served in the Aerospace Medical Command as a pharmacy specialist.^[3]

Broggie is the author or co-author of eight books—both Disney and non-Disney in subject matter. Walt Disney’s Railroad Story was awarded in 1998 with the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best Biography from the Publishers Marketing Association (PMA).^[5]

In addition to his books, Broggie has authored and edited numerous articles for regional and national publications, and is currently doing research for his autobiography.^[3] Broggie is also the author of the official souvenir guide to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.

Broggie is married to Sharon Charmagne Broggie and resides Prescott Lakes, Arizona. He has two sons from a previous relationship and one stepson.

Broggie and his wife support a variety of charitable and non-profit causes in Arizona.^[3] Broggie is a member of the Westlake Yacht Club, he was founder and initial CEO of The Nautical Foundation, a non-profit corporation that raises funds to promote the values and opportunities of youth and competitive sailing.^[3] He is also co-founder and president of the Prescott Police Foundation.^[3] He and Sharon served eight years as volunteers in the Prescott Police Department's unit of Citizens on Patrol (COP). He was appointed to three terms on the appeals board of the Prescott Fire Department, the last term as chairman ended in 2020.

Broggie is an advocate for motion picture and television production in the state of Arizona, which was a successful industry for many decades until the state eliminated certain tax incentives and other financial benefits. Dating back to the silent era, over 130 motion pictures and countless television productions and commercials have been made in Arizona due to its climate and variety of scenic locales.

In 2010, Broggie was awarded an honorary diploma by Rim of the World High School, where his family sponsors an annual music scholarship award to a graduating student in memory of his mother, who was a concert violinist.

• Walt Disney's Railroad Story
• Walt Disney's Happy Place
• Walt Disney's Words of Wisdom
• The History of Irwindale: Jardin de Roca (Garden of Rocks)

Air Force One: The Final Mission

Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

• Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

• 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
• The Carolwood Society Website

Famous People of Prescott, Arizona (Website of the City of Prescott, AZ)