Michael Broggie

Michael Broggie is an author and historian. He is an authority on the life and legacy of Walt Disney and the global empire he inspired. As a public speaker, he has toured throughout the country lecturing at universities, libraries, organizations and railroad conventions on his first-person experiences with Walt Disney and many of the Disney legends, including his father, the late Roger Broggie, who was selected personally by Walt Disney to be his first Imagineer--the designers and engineers who built Disneyland and other resorts throughout the world.

Michael's first Disney assignment was as a 12-year-old test driver of the Autopia prototypes on the back lot of Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

After graduating from high school, he spent summers at Disneyland working his way through college. After completing his undergraduate education, he joined Walt Disney Studios as a publicity writer in the motion picture marketing department.

His career led to management and consulting positions with Marriott, Boise Cascade, Lake Arrowhead Resort and General Motors. He served on the ABC Television Network sponsorship team for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

He is chairman of the board of governors of The Carolwood Society, which he co-founded with his wife Sharon. He's chairman emeritus of the Carolwood Foundation, the operator of Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn Museum in Griffith Park, on behalf of the Disney family.

His published books include "Walt Disney's Railroad Story," which earned the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best Biography. His other books include a biographical profile of Warren Buffet's longtime business partner Charlie Munger, which is contained in "Poor Charlie's Almanack" edited by Peter Kaufman; and, "Walt Disney's Words of Wisdom," an inspirational booklet based upon the teachings Michael learned directly from Walt Disney. Other works include "The History of Disney Merchandise" and a child's illustrated biography, "Walt Disney's Happy Place." His book, "Air Force One--The Final Mission" is about the last Presidential Boeing 707, which is displayed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. He also wrote the official souvenir book for the Reagan Library. He wrote "Irwindale: Garden of Rocks" for the city that supplied a billion tons of rocks and gravel to build Southern California. He's written and edited hundreds of articles for national publications and is currently doing research for an autobiographical book.

A native of Los Angeles, Michael earned his MBA and a Doctorate in Marketing at Pacific University, San Diego; a BA in Communications at California State University, Northridge; and, an AA in Journalism from Los Angeles Valley College.

He is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He attended law school at Lincoln University. Michael and Sharon Broggie reside in Prescott Lakes, Arizona, where they are active in civic and charitable endeavors including volunteering on Prescott Police Department's Citizens On Patrol unit. He is a founder of the Prescott Police Foundation, a member of the Central Arizona Model Railroad Club and the Westlake Yacht Club.