Roy Oliver Disney was Walt Disney's older brother and co-founder of what is now The Walt Disney Company.
Roy was born to Elias Disney and the former Flora Call in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. When family moved to Marceline, Missouri and later Kansas City, Roy, along with younger brother Walt, worked as a newsboy for their father. He graduated from the Manual Training High School of Kansas City in 1912 and left He left the newspaper business, eventually settling into a job at the First National Bank of Kansas City along with brother Raymond. During this time, he met Edna Francis and considered marrying her. However, he was called to duty for the U.S. Navy in World War I from 1917 to 1919, being discharged after contracting tuberculosis. After recovering, he joined Walt in Hollywood and helped him start Disney Brothers Studio in 1923. He married Edna Francis in April 1925, and from this marriage, he was the father of the late Roy Edward Disney, who was born on January 10, 1930.
While Walt was the creative genius, Roy was the one who made sure the company was financially stable. After Walt's death, Roy made sure that "Disney World" would be completed and renamed it Walt Disney World in order to make sure no one would forget his brother. After it opened in October 1971, Roy finally retired. He died two months later. Although Walt was a Christian, Roy may have not been one at the time.
A statue of Roy O. Disney, seated on a park bench beside Minnie Mouse, is located in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom along with a Main Street window above the confectionary store. Another window in his honor is located in Disneyland Paris.
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Trivia[]
- While Walt funeral was big and lavish, Roy's was just as grand with over 400 people in attendance including his siblings (Raymond and Ruth), George Murphy, Ray Bolger, Meredith Willson, Dean Jones, Karl Malden, and John Gavin.
External links[]
Roy O. Disney on Wikipedia- Roy O. Disney in Disney A to Z at D23, The Official Disney Fan Club
- Roy O. Disney at Find a Grave
- Disney History 101
- Chronique Disney
