Untold Stories #9: Five Decades with Buzz

I had the distinct privilege of knowing Buzz Price for nearly five decades. While that may seem like a long time, in retrospect, it all passed far too quickly. Our connection, though somewhat distant, was family. Buzz’s sister Pat married my uncle Wendell, making us what Buzz liked to call “shirt-tail relatives.” Despite this, our families weren’t particularly close, and so Buzz and I didn’t know each other well in the early days. That would all change, however, as our relationship evolved from family acquaintances to colleagues, confidants, and dear friends.

The first time I met Buzz was in the mid-1950s at a family gathering at his home on Irving Street in Hancock Park. I remember the day for two reasons. First, there was his name—Buzz. As a kid, I found it fascinating, and it suited the energetic, larger-than-life personality that I would come to know. Second, I remember being absolutely captivated by his silver Mercedes 300 SL gull wing. It was the most beautiful, exotic car I had ever seen. Little did I know then that the car, which came as payment for a consulting job, was only a small glimpse into the fascinating life Buzz led.

Fast forward to the 1960s. I had just finished my MBA at Stanford and done a stint in the Air Force. I was slated to start a job in New York as a brand manager with Colgate-Palmolive, but something didn’t feel right. I wasn’t thrilled about either the job or the idea of living in Manhattan. My mother, noticing my unease, suggested I visit Buzz, who was now running Economics Research Associates (ERA), a firm that specialized in feasibility studies for theme parks and large real estate developments.

Buzz explained ERA’s work to me and, after a brief interview, offered me a job at about half the salary of Colgate-Palmolive. The choice was easy: theme parks in sunny California versus toothpaste in New York. I jumped at the opportunity, and on my first day, Buzz made it clear that while we were relatives, he expected me to earn my place. He warned me that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t last. It was a tough lesson in separating personal from professional relationships, but it served me well.

The culture at ERA was vibrant, with a young, ambitious staff who worked long hours. Buzz’s leadership style was direct but caring. He created a dynamic environment where we felt like an extended family. He also had an uncanny ability to understand the social dynamics of the workplace, always knowing when to let us blow off steam and when to rein things in.?

As the 1970s dawned, I was tasked with helping ERA expand geographically, which took me to various offices around the country. The work was exhilarating, but it also brought challenges. Buzz, always the master strategist, would call early—sometimes very early—to make sure we stayed on track.

One memorable evening in Washington, D.C., Buzz confided in me about his desire to buy a 1,000 cc Honda motorcycle and take a cross-country road trip. He even wanted a helmet stenciled with the words “The Green Weenie.” But by the next morning, Buzz had changed his mind. His love for fast cars and adventure was tempered by his sharp wit and self-awareness.

In 1969, Buzz sold ERA to Planning Research Corporation (PRC), a conglomerate. Initially, it seemed like a promising deal, but when things didn’t pan out as expected, Buzz led a revolt that resulted in him becoming chairman of PRC. Despite the corporate challenges, Buzz always kept his cool, showing the kind of resilience that defined his career.

By the early 1980s, Buzz had founded the Harrison Price Company (HPC), and I was invited to join him for a charrette in Honolulu—a collaborative brainstorming session to explore development opportunities. Afterward, he offered me a position at HPC, and I gladly accepted. For the next decade, we worked side by side, building HPC into a respected consulting firm specializing in recreation and real estate.

Buzz was a master of the English language. His reports were a joy to read, filled with wit and precision. I remember one brunch with Buzz, his wife Anne, and their close friends, Marty and Leah Sklar, where they engaged in a spirited game of competitive limerick writing. Buzz’s love for language was matched only by his ability to infuse it with humor and charm.

In 1988, tragedy struck when my son passed away. Buzz was the first person at the hospital, offering support in a way only someone who had experienced a similar loss could. His own son had died in a tragic accident decades earlier, and his presence during that difficult time was invaluable.

By the 1990s, I had moved on to Warner Bros., heading up their international theme park division, but Buzz and I continued to collaborate. One of our final projects together was a feasibility study for a park in Spain, which Buzz listed as one of his favorite assignments in his memoir. His analysis was, as always, insightful, detailed, and beautifully written.

As the new millennium arrived, both Buzz and I began to step back from our careers. We stayed in touch, and I would occasionally visit Buzz and Anne at their home in Palm Springs or later in Claremont. Buzz even developed an interest in poetry in his later years, always finding ways to keep his mind sharp and engaged.

In 2009, Buzz was asked to speak at the opening of the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. His speech was a resounding success, a fitting final chapter to a remarkable life. Just a few months later, Buzz passed away, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, leadership, and friendship.

There was only one Buzz Price. He was a man of intelligence, wit, integrity, and boundless energy. I will always cherish the memories of our time together, the lessons he taught me, and the friendship that spanned five unforgettable decades.

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Nick Winslow began his career with Economic Research Associates the firm founded by park legend Buzz Price. He worked in the field of leisure-time economics in the firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Miami, and San Francisco. He then returned to Southern California, where he led the new technologies division of Paramount Pictures and, during this tenure, helped oversee the special effects for the films, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Star Trek – The Movie”.Nick then returned to the consulting field as president of the Harrison Price Company, an internationally respected firm with special expertise in theme parks, museums, performing arts centers, and World’s Fairs. His clients included Disney, Universal, Warner Bros, the LA Music Center, and the Smithsonian Institute. Joining Warner Bros as president of its theme park division, Nick oversaw the building of new parks in Australia, Germany, and Spain. Nick was also president of the organization that designed, funded, and ran the US Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the most visited event in history.

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