Ward Kimball
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Kimball, Ward (b. 1914) - Quirky, inventive, nonconformist, far-out, genius-- these are all adjectives that one could use to describe Ward Kimball. As one of Walt's Nine Old Men, Ward was noted for his creation of the character, Jiminy Cricket. Two shorts directed by Ward won Oscars -- "Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom" and "It's Tough to Be a Bird." His work on a series of space-related programs for the Disneyland television series gained worldwide attention. Ward's interest in model railroading caught Walt's attention. They enjoyed sharing notes about their mutual hobby -- a hobby that, in significant ways was instrumental in the development of Disneyland.