Background
Tatum grew up in Los Angeles, graduated magna cum laude from Stanford University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, and earned two law degrees from Oxford University.
entrepreneur Chief Executive Officer
Tatum grew up in Los Angeles, graduated magna cum laude from Stanford University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, and earned two law degrees from Oxford University.
AB magna cum laude, Stanford University, 1934. Postgraduate, Loyola University, 1938. Bachelor, Oxford University, England, 1936.
Master of Arts, Oxford University, 1959. Doctor of Business Administration, Woodbury College, 1953. Honorary Doctor of Laws, Pepperdine University, 1977.
Arts D (honorary), California Institute Arts, 1989.
Tatum held senior executive positions with Disney for 25 years and was its chairman from 1971 until 1980. He then served as a director until 1992, when he was named "Director Emeritus". He played a major role in the creation of Walt Disney World Resort, EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland.
He passed the California bar in 1938 and became involved in entertainment law at Lillick, Geary and McHose.
He held a number of company positions and served as counsel for Radio Corporation of America, National Broadcasting Company and American Broadcasting Company. He became general manager of KABC-television in Los Angeles and Western television director for American Broadcasting Company.
Tatum joined Disney as production business manager in 1956 and in 1971, became chief executive and board chairman following the death of Roy O. Disney — becoming the first non-Disney family member to head the company. Tatum served as Chief Executive Officer until November 1976 and as chairman.
On June 3, 1980, he retired as chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Disney Production turning over the company to Card Walker. He stayed on the Disney board as executive committee chairman
He was CalArts board chairman and president of the Disney Foundation, California Broadcasting Association, United Cerebral Palsy Association and Stanford Club of Los Los Angeles
Tatum died on May 31, 1993 of cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades. Then Disney Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner, and President Frank Wells said "He served as a director of the company until his resignation last year, when he was named director emeritus. The world will miss Donn, but we at Disney who looked to him for wisdom, guidance and balance will miss him more.".
Tatum was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London, and an honorary member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Hollywood Radio & Television Society. He served as a board member of The Huntington Library, California State Fair and Exposition, Los Angeles Philharmonic Association., Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles, the John Tracy Clinic, Western Digital, Union Oil, Bank of America and Greyhound Lincolnshire.
Son of Frank D. and Terese (Murphy) T. M. Vernette Ripley, March 20, 1937. Children: Frederic, Donn, Vernette, Forbes, Melantha.