Biographies

(living?) John Wise was a structural engineer for WED Enterprises, Inc. Wise served as chief engineer at Disneyland and held other engineering positions in the company.

(1916-2005) Esmond Cardon “Card” Walker served as president of Walt Disney Productions from 1971 to 1980 and chairman of the board from 1980 to 1983. He originally began with the company in 1938 delivering the mail, and worked his way up the company in the camera and story departments, finally moving into advertising. In 1956 he was named vice president of advertising and sales, and he joined the board of directors in 1960. In 1965 he was appointed vice president of marketing. He became executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1968. It was Walker who, with Donn Tatum,

(1913-1993) Donn Tatum came to Walt Disney Productions as production business manager in 1956 and was later executive vice president of Disneyland, Inc. After 1960, he returned to the Studio where he was vice president of television sales and vice president of administration. He served as president of Walt Disney Productions from 1968 to 1971 and succeeded Roy O. Disney as chairman of the board and chief executive officer, serving from 1971 to 1980. He became chairman of the executive committee from 1980 to 1983. He was a member of the board of directors beginning in 1964, until his resignation

(1922-1996) Al Smoots was a civil engineer. He served as partner at Dames & Moore, a Los Angeles-based engineering firm that worked on Walt Disney World.

(1922-1996) Al Smoots was a civil engineer. He served as partner at Dames & Moore, a Los Angeles-based engineering firm that worked on Walt Disney World.

Retlaw Enterprises was corporation of the Walt Disney family, with the name being Walter spelled backward. Retlaw took over the family interests when Walt Disney sold his original WED Enterprises holdings to Walt Disney Productions in 1965.

(1921-2010) A research economist, Harrison “Buzz” Price was given the task, while working at Stanford Research Institute, of determining the economic feasibility and surveying the ideal location for Walt Disney’s Disneyland park. In 1958, Walt Disney encouraged him to form his own company, which became Economics Research Associates (ERA). ERA was involved in many studies leading to the building and expansion of Walt Disney World, and others for CalArts, Mineral King, and Tokyo Disneyland. He was named a Disney Legend in 2003.

(1933- ) Ronald William Miller Walt Disney’s son-in-law and the husband of Diane Disney,  joined Disney in 1957 and served as associate producer of such films as Bon Voyage, Summer Magic, Moon Pilot, and A Tiger Walks. He became co-producer with Walt Disney on such films as The Monkey’s Uncle; That Darn Cat!; Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN; and Monkeys, Go Home! His first full producer credit was on Never a Dull Moment. Beginning in 1968, he served 12 years as executive producer of motion pictures and television for the company, then was elected president in 1980. He served as president

(1924-2010) Thornton Ladd was an architect and partner of the firm Ladd & Kelsey. He and John Kelsey drew up the plans for the Mineral King resort.

(living) Hank Klehn was an engineer. He served as executive vice president of Dames & Moore, a Los Angeles-based engineering firm that worked on Walt Disney World.