Former Walt Disney World executive, Reedy Creek administrator, and founding editor of Orlando Business Journal, Bill Warren, has passed away at age 68.

Bill Warren

Warren was a business reporter in Tampa and Jacksonville before moving to Central Florida and becoming the first editor of Orlando Business Journal in 1984. He then worked at Florida Power (now Duke Energy).

In 1995, Warren became vice president of public affairs for Walt Disney World. He was promoted to VP of government relations in 2008. In 2010, he became the District Administrator for the Reedy Creek Improvement District. He stayed in that position until John Classe took over in 2016.

Warren told the Orlando Sentinel in 2011 that the highlight of his time at Disney was the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with the animal programs team as the park was built. Their passion inspired the company to engage in a wide range of scientific and charitable projects on behalf of endangered animals around the globe.

Bill Warren

Warren’s wife, Lisa, said, “He had a long career, and he was really blessed because he loved every aspect of it.”

Rena Langley, the current senior VP of public affairs for Walt Disney World, said, “Bill was a smart, genuine, and thoughtful leader who left an incredible legacy within our community and at Walt Disney World. He made friends everywhere he went, and his presence will be deeply missed.”

Warren was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s several years ago. He participated in medical research trials because, as his wife said, “He wanted to do everything he could, obviously for himself, but for [those] coming behind him, too.”

Warren donated his brain for scientific research.

“Anyone facing this disease needs to just learn as much about it as they can, and find every opportunity to still enjoy life,” Lisa Warren said. “We definitely did that for as long as we could.”

He passed away on March 26 and is survived by his wife, two sons, and a grandson. A memorial service will be at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park at 10:30 a.m. on April 15.

Source: Orlando Sentinel

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