August 27, 2025
Chances are you’ll bear in mind Hank, the beloved Disneyland Resort firefighter and the present longest standing worker of The Walt Disney Firm who celebrated his 62nd service anniversary final fall.
Right now, Hank acquired the Walt Disney Legacy Award, which celebrates the legacy of Walt Disney by acknowledging excellent solid, crew, and Walt Disney Imagineers worldwide who exhibit all three of the Legacy qualities: Dream, Create, and Encourage. Hank joined the ranks of different world-class Legacy Award recipients as he was introduced with this prestigious solid member-nominated award, which is reserved for devoted and distinctive people like Hank.
Congratulations to Hank and all of the Walt Disney Legacy Award recipients. Thanks for exhibiting us what it means to Dream, Create, and Encourage!
October 8, 2024
At 92 years outdated, Henry Ameen, affectionately known as Hank, strolls the sidewalks of Foremost Avenue, U.S.A., with the identical enthusiasm he had again when he began as a Jungle Cruise skipper in 1958.
His love for Disney traces again to 1955, when Hank and his spouse visited Disneyland on their honeymoon—only one month after it opened. Hank took eight-millimeter movie of the park on his new Kodak Brownie digital camera and nonetheless has the footage to today. Simply three years later, Hank started his Disney journey as an official solid member after serving a few years in the USA Air Pressure.
Hank was employed as a Jungle Cruise skipper and landed the function due to his earlier expertise as a bartender. The hiring supervisor figured he might inform a joke, and he was proper. Hank rapidly mastered the artwork of creating company snort. “I picked it up, after which lo and behold, individuals had been clapping, and so they favored my spiel,” says Hank whereas chuckling. “I felt fairly good about that.”
After a couple of summer time seasons, Hank was prepared for a brand new problem. As an lively particular person with a ardour for caring for others, he joined the Backyard Grove Hearth Division and commenced what can be a satisfying 35-year profession as a metropolis fireman.
Nevertheless, Hank missed Disneyland. A lot in order that on his days off he started working as a Disneyland Resort firefighter, monitoring pyrotechnic security for the night firework spectaculars. He relished being again in his new function. “I’ve a ardour for what I do as a result of I really feel like we’re defending the magic,” says Hank.
Many years later Hank remains to be defending that for solid and company alike. As of October 8, 2024, he celebrates his 62nd service anniversary and holds the legendary standing as the present longest standing worker of The Walt Disney Firm. With over half a century of unimaginable experiences, he has made outstanding reminiscences—one among which incorporates having lunch with Walt Disney himself. “He began strolling in the direction of my desk, however I by no means thought that he would sit with me,” shares Hank. “He pulled up a chair and he requested me questions like, ‘How do you want working right here? How do you just like the meals? What can I do?’ It was perhaps a 10-minute dialog. That was a beautiful reminiscence.”
When solid members consider Hank, they consider a person who relishes each alternative that life presents. He definitely has, from internet hosting Olympians at Disneyland in 1964, to watching iconic points of interest like Pirates of the Caribbean be constructed proper earlier than his eyes, to having fun with solid picnics with Walt Disney and his household, to successful the bronze, silver and gold medal within the Disneyland 10k Marathons, he has embraced life wholeheartedly.
With all of the once-in-lifetime experiences, Hank maintains his favourite reminiscences middle across the group he has constructed as a solid member, particularly amongst his fellow Disneyland Resort firefighters. “I’ve nice delight within the individuals I work with. I be taught from them and hopefully they be taught from me,” says Hank with a humbleness in his voice. The admiration Hank feels for his fellow solid members is mutual. Final August, the Disneyland Resort firefighters de-throned the years-long reign of the Davy Crockett group, successful the quickest time within the solid member Canoe Races. For years, the firefighters vowed they might win one for Hank, which they lastly did. The group honored Hank by having him be part of their triumphant victory lap whereas the solid cheered uproariously.
How has Hank remained so vibrant? He strikes. When he’s not swimming or on the gymnasium one can find him strolling across the resort within the early morning hours earlier than the parks open. That mixed together with his infinite optimism about life. “You must have outlook on life. Make the very best of it. Dwell within the second,” he says.
When requested concerning the potential of retirement, Hank pauses for a second, and with a twinkle in his eye says, “So long as I can smile and snort, I’m going to be right here.”
Hank has led a outstanding life, one devoted to serving others, making the group safer and defending the magic at Disneyland Resort for 62 years. However those that know Hank or have had the nice fortune to fulfill him, know that he is the magic.
