Card Walker

Esmond Cardon Walker (January 9, 1916 – November 28, 2005), commonly known as E. Cardon Walker or Card Walker, was an American businessman who served as a top executive at Walt Disney Productions during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He was born in Rexburg, Idaho. Early life and career Walker moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1934, where he attended UCLA. After graduation, he began his career at Disney as a mailroom clerk in 1938. Before long, he stepped up the ladder and found himself in the camera department and later became a unit manager for short subjects. In 1941, Walker was forced to delay his Disney career to serve in the United States Navy during World War II. He was the flight control officer (flight deck officer) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in the Pacific Theater from 1943 to 1945, surviving eight major battles. After the war, he returned to the Disney Studio. In 1956, he became the vice president of advertising and sales before being elected to the board of directors in 1960. Career with Disney Two years after Walt Disney's death in 1966, Walker became executive vice president and chief operating officer. When Walt's brother Roy O. Disney died in 1971, Walker became company president, serving under chairman and CEO Donn Tatum. In November 1976 Walker took over chief executive officer duties from Tatum while retaining the responsibilities of president. In 1977 Walker was awarded an Honary Doctorate from Florida Institute of Technology. Finally, in 1980 Walker became chairman of the Disney board upon Tatum's retirement. Walker himself retired as CEO three years later, in February 1983, but stayed on as chairman until May 1 to oversee the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in Japan.