IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Philip Nelson
Smith
June 29, 1932 – February 23, 2016
Obituary
Philip Nelson Smith, 83, of Minneola, FL passed away at home Tuesday, February 23, 2016. Philip was born on June 29, 1932 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, son of Nelson and Hilda (nee Bachman) Smith. He served in the U.S. Army and afterwards had a successful career as an attorney for Walt Disney World, where he also served as Senior Vice President.
Phil Smith was just a few years out of law school when he started working for a mysterious entity acquiring land for what would become the world's most popular theme-park resort.
As Walt Disney World's first permanent employee, Smith helped pave the legal path for much of the attraction's development.
Smith, of Minneola, died Tuesday of complications from kidney disease and COPD. He was 83.
"He really built a very fine legal organization that really, frankly, kept us out of trouble," said Dick Nunis, retired chairman of Walt Disney Attractions. "Under Phil Smith I never had to worry about any legal problems. I knew we had a very competent guy that would take care of it.
"… His standard quote — this should be on his gravestone — was, 'Let me see if I can find a way.'"
Smith was originally lured to the job by Paul Helliwell, of Disney's Miami law firm, in 1965. Disney was quietly buying more than 40 square miles of Orlando land, and Smith's wife Gwen said her husband didn't even know at first what company he would represent.
"He really didn't know that it was Disney yet," Gwen Smith said.
The secret was unveiled soon after.
One of Smith's biggest accomplishments was helping create the Reedy Creek Improvement District, an unusual government entity through which Disney controls its own planning, building codes and emergency services.
By the end of 1966, a 5-inch-thick pile of documents related to Reedy Creek was ready for the Florida Legislature.
"At first, they were amazed at just the size of it," Smith told the Orlando Sentinel in 1988. "I right away fielded a whole bunch of early questions that started out, 'What are you guys doing down there anyway?' … It took about six weeks to get it safely through the Legislature, and frankly, we considered that success something of a coup. I think there was only one 'nay' vote in the Senate and probably not more than five in the House."
Smith had another role: He watched over Disney's land during early construction. He, his wife and two toddlers lived on an isolated piece of property. Smith picnicked with his family on what became Discovery Island.
Syd Jackowitz, a former Disney attorney who worked for Smith, remembered his former boss having a good sense of humor.
The company had "a fairly harsh form letter" it would send to people who sought permission to use Disney characters. But when one man sent a huge Donald Duck figure carved from a carrot, asking if he could sell similar creations at the Magic Kingdom, Smith didn't have the heart to send him the standard response, Jackowitz said. He decided to have Disney send a letter that "recognized how beautiful his work was and that people should see it, but unfortunately, not in the Magic Kingdom," Jackowitz said.
Former Disney executive Duncan Dickson described Smith as a "humble man." Smith's wife used the same description.
"He didn't rub it into people he was the Disney attorney or anything like that," said Gwen Smith, who met her husband on a blind date. The couple would have celebrated their 50th anniversary in June.
Smith retired in the early 1990s as Disney World's senior vice president of administration and support.
"Phil played a significant role in the development of Walt Disney World and his contributions will long be remembered," Disney World president George Kalogridis said in an emailed statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."
Philip is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Gwendolyn. He and Gwendolyn raised two children; Jeanie S. Daly of Minneola and Christopher M. Smith of China. Philip had two children from a previous marriage as well, Kathryn Hughes of Tallahassee, FL and Elizabeth Smith of Everett, WA. Also surviving Philip are his sister, Jane Smith of Chicago, IL; 13 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren and his other loving companion, his dog "Happy".
A celebration of Phil's life will be held at his home Sunday, April 3, 2016, 12:00-2:00p.m. All family and friends are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution to a charity of your choice be made in his honor.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude for all thoughts and prayers.
Phil Smith was just a few years out of law school when he started working for a mysterious entity acquiring land for what would become the world's most popular theme-park resort.
As Walt Disney World's first permanent employee, Smith helped pave the legal path for much of the attraction's development.
Smith, of Minneola, died Tuesday of complications from kidney disease and COPD. He was 83.
"He really built a very fine legal organization that really, frankly, kept us out of trouble," said Dick Nunis, retired chairman of Walt Disney Attractions. "Under Phil Smith I never had to worry about any legal problems. I knew we had a very competent guy that would take care of it.
"… His standard quote — this should be on his gravestone — was, 'Let me see if I can find a way.'"
Smith was originally lured to the job by Paul Helliwell, of Disney's Miami law firm, in 1965. Disney was quietly buying more than 40 square miles of Orlando land, and Smith's wife Gwen said her husband didn't even know at first what company he would represent.
"He really didn't know that it was Disney yet," Gwen Smith said.
The secret was unveiled soon after.
One of Smith's biggest accomplishments was helping create the Reedy Creek Improvement District, an unusual government entity through which Disney controls its own planning, building codes and emergency services.
By the end of 1966, a 5-inch-thick pile of documents related to Reedy Creek was ready for the Florida Legislature.
"At first, they were amazed at just the size of it," Smith told the Orlando Sentinel in 1988. "I right away fielded a whole bunch of early questions that started out, 'What are you guys doing down there anyway?' … It took about six weeks to get it safely through the Legislature, and frankly, we considered that success something of a coup. I think there was only one 'nay' vote in the Senate and probably not more than five in the House."
Smith had another role: He watched over Disney's land during early construction. He, his wife and two toddlers lived on an isolated piece of property. Smith picnicked with his family on what became Discovery Island.
Syd Jackowitz, a former Disney attorney who worked for Smith, remembered his former boss having a good sense of humor.
The company had "a fairly harsh form letter" it would send to people who sought permission to use Disney characters. But when one man sent a huge Donald Duck figure carved from a carrot, asking if he could sell similar creations at the Magic Kingdom, Smith didn't have the heart to send him the standard response, Jackowitz said. He decided to have Disney send a letter that "recognized how beautiful his work was and that people should see it, but unfortunately, not in the Magic Kingdom," Jackowitz said.
Former Disney executive Duncan Dickson described Smith as a "humble man." Smith's wife used the same description.
"He didn't rub it into people he was the Disney attorney or anything like that," said Gwen Smith, who met her husband on a blind date. The couple would have celebrated their 50th anniversary in June.
Smith retired in the early 1990s as Disney World's senior vice president of administration and support.
"Phil played a significant role in the development of Walt Disney World and his contributions will long be remembered," Disney World president George Kalogridis said in an emailed statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."
Philip is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Gwendolyn. He and Gwendolyn raised two children; Jeanie S. Daly of Minneola and Christopher M. Smith of China. Philip had two children from a previous marriage as well, Kathryn Hughes of Tallahassee, FL and Elizabeth Smith of Everett, WA. Also surviving Philip are his sister, Jane Smith of Chicago, IL; 13 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren and his other loving companion, his dog "Happy".
A celebration of Phil's life will be held at his home Sunday, April 3, 2016, 12:00-2:00p.m. All family and friends are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution to a charity of your choice be made in his honor.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude for all thoughts and prayers.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Philip Nelson Smith, please visit our flower store.
Services
Celebration of Life
April
3
Smith Residence
12:00 - 2:00 pm
Philip Nelson Smith's Guestbook
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