Blaine Gibson

Blaine Gibson (February 11, 1918-July 5, 2015) was a Disney animator and Imagineer best known for his sculpting work on numerous classic Disney attractions.

Biography
Blaine Gibson was born on a farm in Rocky Ford, Colorado. As a child, he enjoyed making clay sculptures. After attending Western State Colorado University and the University of Colorado (though he dropped out of the latter), he applied to Disney in 1939 and worked as an assistant animator on films such as Fantasia, Song of the South, Alice in Wonderland, and Lady and the Tramp. While working in the animation department, he took sculpting classes at Pasadena City College and his sculpture work caught the eye of Walt Disney, who took him aboard for his Disneyland project in 1954.

Among the attractions Blaine Gibson would sculpt for included the Jungle Cruise, the Enchanted Tiki Room, the various attractions produced for the 1964 New York World's Fair, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and the Hall of Presidents, which he would continue to sculpt new presidents for until George W. Bush. In 1993, Blaine Gibson was commissioned to sculpt the "Partners" statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse for Disneyland. The same year, Blaine Gibson would be honored as a Disney Legend.