Roy O. Disney
Roy Oliver Disney (
June 24,
1893–
December 20,
1971) was, with his younger brother
Walt Disney, co-founder of what is now
The Walt Disney Company. Roy served as the company's chief executive officer (
1929–1971) and president (
1945–1971).
Roy was born to
Elias Disney and the former Flora Call in
Chicago,
Illinois. He married
Edna Francis in April
1925, and from this marriage he is the father of
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 that no one would forget his brother. After Walt Disney World opened in October 1971, Roy Disney finally retired. He died from a
brain hemorrhage two months later, aged 78.
A statue of Roy O. Disney, seated on a park bench beside
Minnie Mouse, is located in Town Square at the
Magic Kingdom.
