March 15, 1927 – Former President of Disneyland and Disney Legend Jack Lindquist is Born
“Jack is Jack, no matter where he is or what he is doing. He respects people. He goes out of his way not to be set up on a pedestal.” – Former Executive Vice President of Disneyland Ron Dominquez
On March 15, 1927, Jack Lindquist was born in Chicago, Illinois; he and his family moved to Los Angeles, California when he was four, where he went on to be a child actor. After graduating from the Hollywood High School, he served two years with the United States Air Force before attending the University of Southern California. Lindquist began his career in marketing and advertising, and in 1955, while working as a consultant for a corporate sponsor of what would become Disneyland, he became enamored with the place, and found himself working for Disney a month later. In 1965, Lindquist rose up the corporate ladder after being named the director of marketing, and continued his climb after his work marketing Walt Disney World. In 1972, he was named the Vice President of Marketing for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, but his climb didn’t slow from there: in 1976 he was named Vice President of Marketing for Walt Disney Attractions, followed by another promotion in 1982 to Executive Vice President of Marketing and Entertainment for Disney’s Outdoor Recreation Activities. After setting up the marketing division for Tokyo Disneyland, Lindquist continued to develop promotional ideas for all Disney parks, and in 1990, he was named the President of Disneyland. His legacy during his tenure continues to be felt in several Disneyland areas, including Disney’s California Adventure, as he lobbied for the development of the second park. On November 18, 1993, Lindquist retired after nearly 40 years with the company. He was honored with a window on Main Street a month later, naming him the “Honorary Mayor of Disneyland.” He was honored as a Disney Legend in 1994. Lindquist passed away at the age of 88 on February 28, 2016.
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