list_text=          In September 1984, Frank Wells joined The Walt Disney Company as its President and Chief Operating Officer. During his 10-year-tenure, Disney enjoyed unprecedented growth and revitalization with annual revenues up from $1.5 billion to $8.5 billion. Disney stocks increased a whopping 1,500 percent, while its theme parks and resorts revenues tripled. Disney Consumer Products revenues rose 13-fold, while its filmed entertainment revenues jumped 15-fold. Frank helped make Disney one of the most successful film studios in the world.
          In 1994, company chairman Michael Eisner said, "Fortunately for all of us at Disney, Frank was a buccaneer in the office. He was smart, prudent, a dealmaker and a great closer. He was always supportive of a great idea, whether it was swans on the outside of a building or 'ducks' for the name of a hockey team."
          Appropriately, Frank was born on a date that is stated like a command: March 4th (March forth!), 1932. A native of Coronado, California, and son of a naval officer, he earned his BA at Pomona College and from 1953-55, attended Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar in jurisprudence. He completed his education with an LLB degree from Stanford University. Frank also spent two years in the United States Army, attaining the rank of first lieutenant.
          He began his career as a partner in the Hollywood law firm – Gang, Tyre and Brown, which specialized in entertainment industry law. Then, in 1969, he joined Warner Brothers as its vice president – West Coast, and was named president in 1973. Just prior to joining Disney, Frank was vice chairman of Warner Brothers, Inc., the motion picture subsidiary of Warner Communications, Inc.
          Excellent with detail-oriented business and finance, Frank also readily delved into both creative and administrative endeavors. At Disney, he focused on all aspects of the company, including theme parks, real estate, finance, administration and corporate sponsorships. As a key supporter of Disneyland Paris, Frank expanded the Company's international presence and also promoted development of The Disney Store.
          A born adventurer, in 1983, Frank set out to climb the highest mountain on each of the world's seven continents within a single year - a feat never before accomplished at that time. He scaled six, but was forced to turn back near the top of Mount Everest. His mountaineering exploits were chronicled in his book, "Seven Summits," published in 1986.
          On April 3, 1994, Frank Wells died in a helicopter accident in Nevada. A building was constructed at The Walt Disney Studios in his memory. The Frank G. Wells building opened, in 1998, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by his wife Luanne, and friend and business partner Michael Eisner.&