Raymond Watson

Raymond L. Watson was Chairman of Walt Disney Productions from 1983-1984, and served on the Disney Board from 1972 until March of 2004. He was the former president of The Irvine Company, and served as chief planner for The Irvine Company during the 60s and 70s.

After rising through the ranks at The Irvine Company and serving as its president and CEO from 1973 to 1977, Watson left to form his own firm, Newport Development Company, where he served as president and partner. He returned to The Irvine Company in 1983, at the request of Donald Bren. In 2004, he retired from Walt Disney Company's Board of Directors after serving over 30 years.

Watson is a former trustee of the University of California, Irvine Foundation and a former member of The Paul Merage School of Business Dean's Advisory Board. He and his wife, Elsa, are lifetime members of the UCI Chancellor's Club. Watson was chair of the Daniel G. Aldrich Society and in 1997, was honored with the Center for Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award.

For his many contributions to the founding and growth of the Irvine community, he was honored in 2005 with the naming of a pedestrian bridge connecting UCI to University Center, across the street from campus.

In 2006, Raymond Watson was awarded The Medal—the highest honor the university bestows—by UCI. Now retired, he serves on the board of The Irvine Company and as Vice Chairman of the Board, Emeritus, of the Public Policy Institute of California.