Raymond Leslie Watson was an American businessman and city planner, who served on The Walt Disney Company's board of directors from 1974 to 2004 as well as Chairman from 1983 to 1984.
Watson was born to Leslie and Olive Watson but, after moving to Oakland, California, was raised by his grandmother. After a short stint in the Unites States Army Air Forces Cadet Training Program toward the end of World War II, he enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, receiving his B.A. in 1951 and a master's degree in 1953, both in architecture.
In 1960, Watson was hired by the Irvine Company as chief planner where he oversaw the development of the city of Irvine, the University of California, Irvine; Newport Center; and Fashion Island as well as numerous residential villages throughout Orange County.
Ray first got involved with Disney in the mid-1960s when he was asked to meet with Walt Disney to discuss EPCOT, the "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow", for advice from someone with urban planning experience on the same gigantic scale as his new project. Although he was never actively involved in the development or construction of Walt Disney World, Watson would frequently stop by the site whenever his business affairs took him to the East Coast. And in 1973, Disney's then-CEO Donn Tatum asked him if he would be interested in serving on the Board of Directors for Walt Disney Productions. Ray accepted the position on May 28, 1974.
His tenure on the Board saw the expansion of Walt Disney World Resort, the opening of Disney’s first water park, Disney's River Country in 1976, and the opening of Epcot Center on October 1, 1982. After Card Walker stepped down as Chairman and Watson took his place. His nine months as chairman saw him fending off two attempted hostile takeovers of the company, one of which was from Saul Steinberg. On September 22, 1984, Ray stepped down as chairman to let the Board of Directors bring in new CEO Michael Eisner and new president Frank Wells. He remained on the Board and served as part of the Executive Committee until his retirement in 2004, after serving the Company for 30 years and establishing a worldwide reputation as a real estate development visionary.
He was honored with a Disney Legend Award in 2011. A year later, he passed away at his Newport Beach home in the East Bluff development that he helped plan, only 16 days after his 86th birthday.
External links[]
Raymond Watson on Wikipedia
Raymond Watson at Find a Grave
Raymond Watson at D23, The Official Disney Fan Club- Remembering Ray Watson - d23
- LA Times Obituary
