Background
Raymond L. Watson was born in Seattle, Washington. After moving in 1934 to Oakland, California, Watson was raised by his grandmother, spending his summers at the state beaches and parks where his father worked as a carpenter.
Raymond L. Watson was born in Seattle, Washington. After moving in 1934 to Oakland, California, Watson was raised by his grandmother, spending his summers at the state beaches and parks where his father worked as a carpenter.
Bachelor of Arts, University of California-Berkeley, 1951; Master of Arts, University of California-Berkeley, 1953.
He was also chairman of Walt Disney Productions from 1983 to 1984, and served on the Disney board from 1972 until March 2004. After a short stint in the United States. Army Air Corps Cadet Training Program toward the end of World World War II, he enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in 1951 and a master"s degree in 1953, both in architecture. Watson was hired in 1960 as chief planner of the Irvine Company.
During his time at the Irvine Company, Watson oversaw development of the City of Irvine.
The University of California, Irvine. Newport Center; and Fashion Island as well as numerous residential villages throughout Orange County.
In a 1996 essay in the Orange County Register, Watson wrote of his development and planning work in Irvine: “Irvine the community, the town, the city, is what you, the citizens of Irvine, have built. You"ve built an outstanding education system within the walls of the school buildings.
You"ve created and run an outstanding recreation program that used the open space, parks and lakes (William) Pereira visualized and we built.
You bring life and therefore community to the shopping and entertainment centers we"ve built. The Irvine villages we conceived are now your communities, home to your homes." Guide to Watson Papers. Special Collections and Archives, The University of California Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Other Watson Archive Papers University of California, Berkeley Oral UCIspace the Libraries digital collection: Watson born digital files and digitized slides, 1992-2010.
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.
Married Elsa Constance Coito, September 18, 1954. Children: Kathy Ann, Bryan Frederich, Lisa Marie, David John.