While the master showman was alive, he became a living legend, with more than 900 awards and honors conferred by states and cities of the United States as well as churches, schools, civic groups and service organizations. Outside the USA, Walt was also honored by many countries of the world — like Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, and many others.
Not withstanding all of this, Walt Disney retained his humility. Contemporaneous journalist Bill Davison, in his article “The Fantastic Walt Disney”, reported how Walt was reluctant to accept many of these high awards:
“Not long ago, one of the leading French magazines made a startling and completely serious proposal: that Walt Disney be awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. At about the same time an equally startling and equally serious movement was launched in California: to make Disney the rapid-transit czar of Los Angeles. The 62-year-old Disney, a noted turf kicker of the Gary Cooper school, modestly disassociated himself from both of these suggestions. A few weeks later, however, came the most unexpected honor of them all. President Johnson awarded Disney the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest decoration the United States Government can bestow on a civilian.” (See Walt Disney’s Presidential Medal of Freedom Certificate; 1964)
On October 1, 1966, Walt personally received his final award of his lifetime, at the annual convention of National Association of Theater Owners. Walt and Lilly flew to New York, where he was the recipient of a Showman of the World Award, presented by fellow honoree “Star of the Year”, Sophia Loren.
Marshall H. Fine impressed the significance of the award when presenting it, saying that “it was the first, and would probably be the last such honor.” Walt’s humble acceptance speech singled out all the exhibitors who had given him a break by showing his films. “From Frank Newman on, he spoke of how their faith in his product had enabled him to go on.”
Even after Walt’s passing, the praise and recognition continued to pour in.
On May 24, 1968, a joint resolution of the United States Congress (based on Legislative Public Law 90-316), agreed to recognize Walt Disney’s outstanding contributions of entertainment, theme parks, goodwill, and philanthropy upon the United States and all the world, by authorizing The Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal.
The portrait of Walt Disney on the obverse side of the medal was designed and sculpted by Walt Disney Studio Lead Sculptor Blaine Gibson, who later created the iconic “Partners” bronze statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse surrounded by other classic cartoon characters. The reverse side was designed by Bob Moore and executed by Joe Kaba. When the prototype was finished, it was cast and struck as a single gold medal, by the United States Mint in Philadelphia.
On March 25, 1969, at a prestigious ceremony, in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Richard Nixon posthumously presented the single Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal to Walt Disney’s widow, Lillian Disney. Lillian Disney accepted the official gold congressional medal honoring her late husband.
Other family members were present including Roy O. Disney (Walt's older brother and business partner) who attended the ceremony with his family. In 1970, bronze duplicates were later given to family members like Walt’s nephew Roy E. and his wife Patty. Below, Walt’s brother Roy was photographed holding his cherished Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal, in this rare internal image.
Thousands of bronze duplicate Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medals were also minted, and sold at a fundraiser to help establish Walt’s dream of furthering the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). These were three-inch, eight-ounce bronze medallions and were accompanied by commemorative message (below):
“United States Congress, also sanctioned the minting of 100,000 replicas of the medal in bronze. Congress specified that these special medals be made available to and distributed by California Institute of the Arts. Walt Disney was instrumental in the formation of this non-proft, college level school of the creative and performing arts which was founded in 1961 upon the merger of two distinguished professional schools: the Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music. The new Institute has obtained this limited issue of bronze medals at the cost of manufacture, and has made them available to individuals who give significant support to the realization of Walt Disney's dream of a ‘community of the arts’”.
News of the 10,000 Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medals soon spread through several internal publications (below).
So, now fans of Walt could memorialize the man through their generous monetary donation toward his dream and this stunning commemorative Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal.
