Phil Smith First WDW Employee Dies @ 83

[DizneyRox]

Excerpts from Orlando Sentinel article:

Phil Smith was just a few years out of law school when he started working for a mysterious entity acquiring land for what would become the world's most popular theme-park resort. As Walt Disney World's first permanent employee, Smith helped pave the legal path for much of the attraction's development.

Smith, of Minneola, died Tuesday of complications from kidney disease and COPD. He was 83.

'He really built a very fine legal organization that really, frankly, kept us out of trouble,' said Dick Nunis, retired chairman of Walt Disney Attractions. 'Under Phil Smith I never had to worry about any legal problems. I knew we had a very competent guy that would take care of it'.

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