Watchful Wally, the friendly little figure you see here, was the gypsum industry’s safety campaign symbol throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Comprised of several pieces of wallboard, he received the name “Watchful Wally” from an entry in a naming contest held by the Gypsum Association’s Safety Committee in 1962.
The Safety Committee, organized in the fall of 1942 and initially called the Safety Campaign Committee, led industry efforts to make all gypsum industry personnel aware of the importance of accident prevention. Through a unified safety effort, the industry set new lows for accident frequency ratings. Watchful Wally became the face of the campaign and appeared on signage and collateral material ranging from brochures and bumper stickers to hard hat decals, magnets, and key chains, as seen below. The safety program received recognition from the National Safety Council and various governmental agencies.
Today, the principles, spirit, and emphasis on safety within and outside of the workplace remain stronger than ever for the members of the Gypsum Association. It is for this reason that today we must continue to celebrate and honor the efforts and hard work of Watchful Wally!
