Sunday, December 20, 2009
Weekend 123.1
A Namesake Who Reanimated Disney (WSJ)
Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney, was sometimes dismissed within the company as a dilettante. But he successfully fought a series of battles over the management of the entertainment company that bore his family name.
Mr. Disney, who died Wednesday at age 79, served at various times as a board member and an executive of the Walt Disney Co. Though he was often regarded as someone who relied on the family name for advancement, he helped engineer a company turnaround. And he flexed his muscle as a board member and heir to force the company to replace chief executives who he felt were not honoring his family's legacy.
Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney, was sometimes dismissed within the company as a dilettante. But he successfully fought a series of battles over the management of the entertainment company that bore his family name.
Mr. Disney, who died Wednesday at age 79, served at various times as a board member and an executive of the Walt Disney Co. Though he was often regarded as someone who relied on the family name for advancement, he helped engineer a company turnaround. And he flexed his muscle as a board member and heir to force the company to replace chief executives who he felt were not honoring his family's legacy.
