Robert Billingslea, a longtime executive with Disney who helped bring the Florida Classic game to Orlando, has passed at the age of 79. Billingslea was instrumental in bringing Walt Disney World to Orlando, and used his time to mentor young and rising Black executives,
Billingslea was born December 20, 1927 in Youngstown, Ohio, a musical prodigy who eventually graduated from Kent State University in 1964 with a degree in sociology while toying with a musical career. He joined Disneyland in California which then morphed into working in Orlando for the parent company.
Over time, Billingslea became the director of Urban Affairs for the Walt Disney Company, focusing his efforts on promoting and catering to the minority community. (READ MORE)
