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Don Williams (Animator)

Don Williams or Ducky as he's is known throughout the Disney community is an animator and illustrator for the Walt Disney World Company. Williams has worked at Disney for over thirty years, at a number of different positions, finally ending up in the marketing division as an animator.

Early Life
Don Williams was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is of Scottish decent and still has strong ties to Scotland. He grew up poor during the 1950's. His mother was a single mother raising 8 children including Don. His mother nicknamed Don "Ducky" because she had a love for the Donald Duck comic books. Don always knew he wanted to be an artist. When he was just 10 years old Williams wrote his first letter to Walt Disney asking for a job. Walt Disney wrote him back saying, he was sorry but he did not have any jobs for 10 year old cartoonist, however he encouraged him to keep drawing. He graduated high school in the early 1960's and was immediately drafted into the Vietnam War. He joined the Navy, and severed for four years in the Navy. After he left the navy he went back to Massachusetts, where he got a job as a teller at a local bank, after a few months of work he was promoted to branch manager. He managed the bank for 10 years.

Life before Disney
While working at the bank Don continued to draw. During the Christmas season at the bank Don would hang up his drawings around the bank. The drawings caught the eye of one of the patrons of the bank, who happened to be an anchor for the local 6pm news. The anchor then did a piece on Don and his drawings. A friend of Don's unbeknownst to him wrote letter and sent a copy of the tape to Disney in California. Two weeks after the tape was sent, Don received a letter from the animation department of Disney saying that while they liked his drawings unfortunately there were no job openings available at that time. However he was told that if he wanted to pursue a career as a Disney artist then he should contact Ralph Kent, an artist for Disney in Florida. Don then sent his tape and a new letter that he had written himself to Kent. Don waited quite some time for a response but he did not receive one. Williams took matters in his own hands and called Kent. He spoke to Kent's Secretary who said that Kent had not had time to watch his tape, and that if he really wanted feedback then he should come down to Florida himself. Don then went to Florida where he meet with two artist and Kent, who told him that his work was unpolished because he did not go to and art school. They told him that he had talent he just needed some work. The sent him off with official Disney model sheets of characters and gave him contact information of an artist who worked with Disney named Russell Schroeder. Don went back to work at the bank and began drawing 100 pictures a week and sending the off to Schroeder for critique. He drew 100 pictures a week for two years before he finally decided that he could no longer pursue his dream in Massachusetts, so he moved to Florida. He attempted to get a job at Disney World for three months, but with no luck. He instead got a job right outside the park at a restaurant. After two weeks at the restaurant he was desperate to get any job inside the park. He was finally offered a job at the park as a custodian during the graveyard shift, but after a little information digging he found out there was a job painting patrons portraits. Even while working at Disney he still sent in his 100 pictures a week to Schroeder. After six weeks as a portrait artist the division was shut down and Don was sent to work as a clerk in Tomorowland. After five weeks in Tomorrow land, he found out about a temporary opening in the art department. He landed the job thanks to Schroeder and the massive amount of drawings he had sent him over the years. It was a 30 day trail and after 30 days of work no one said anything to Don so he just kept showing up for work and has been working there ever since.

Life at Disney
Don started in the art department in Walt Disney World that started off as a 16 person department but eventually dwindled down to just him. With his co-workers going off to work in more computer based mediums. Don stayed behind, "I am not an animator I am an Illustrator." He can use computers he just prefers paint. He is currently the senior character illustrator for the Walt Disney marketing and attractions. Where he does the illustrations for mailers, brochures, guide books, he illustrates almost anything that has to do to do with advertising of Disney in the Orlando area. He has also contributed to Disney World itself, providing the paintings, signage and china for The Lady and the Tramp themed restaurant, Tony's Town Square Cafe. He also helped put together the original Mickey Mouse house that was located in Mickey's Birthday Land. Today he gives presentations across America and on Disney Cruise line ships.

Illustrator
When Don first started working at Disney he became very close to Russell Schroeder, who subsequently pulled him on to his first illustrating job. Don painted and Schroeder drew the pictures for Mickey's Prince and the Pauper. Since then Don has done around 200 different Disney children's book illustrations. The books he has illustrated includes:
 * Disney's Pocahontas
 * Walt Disney's 101 Dalmatians
 * Disney's Hercules
 * Disney's The Lion King
 * Belle Explores the Castle