Mile 644: Robert McCall (1919-2010)

Above: Robert McCall's former mural at the now defunct Horizons attraction at Epcot Center in Florida. Click the picture for a close-up look. From Imagineering Disney.

"IF WE CAN DREAM IT,
WE CAN DO IT."

Robert McCall has been a part of my medical school journey... well, in a more indirect way. One of the most inspirational events was riding the Horizons ride at Epcot Center years ago. The ride was all about the future. During the 15-or-so minute ride in the cab, I saw how the future was imagined in the past, what trends were presently (think 1980s) were done to help us get to the future, and what the future (again, think 1980s) was visioned as in the present. At the end was the coolest part, you could select the manner to travel back to the present (sea, space, or desert), and your cab followed suit.

But the most inspirational parts of the ride occurred when walking in and walking out. When entering the Horizons building, one saw the above quote, "If we can dream it, we can do it." It's been one of my "optimistic" quotes I carry at the back of my head. At the end, I never got to experience it, but I learned that in the early days of the ride, Robert McCall had a mural, the one shown above, at the end of the ride. The Prologue and the Promise it was called, and the transition between the darkness of the past and the light of the future Mr. McCall portrayed in his painting is something that still gives me that "tingle" to this day.

However, it was removed, because according to the internet, GE, the sponsor of Horizons until 1994, wasn't satisfied that people were walking off the ride not knowing that it was the sponsor. So, by the time I rode it, they had replaced the room with the mural with hallways leading to a GE logo. I honestly think they should have stuck with the mural, as it was much more conducive to solidifying the message the ride gave, which to me was There is hope in the future.

I learned a few days ago through the NASA website that Mr. McCall passed away at 90 years old on February 26. He has inspired a lot of people through his interpretations of space and the future. He showed us that the future is quite a beautiful thing. He was one of the people who showed me that there is always reason to keep looking forward.

Thank you, Mr. McCall.

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Check out Mr. McCall's galleries here.