Frank Godfrey Wells (Rhodes 1953)
Entertainment Executive. Rhodes Scholar, University of Oxford.
On Easter Sunday 1994, Frank Wells (Rhodes 1953), the patrician No. 2 man at the Walt Disney Co., and his close friend Clint Eastwood flew by helicopter with a small group to the remote slopes of Nevada’s Thorpe Creek Canyon. They wanted to spend the day skiing on untouched powder. When the party was ready to return to the lodge, Eastwood went ahead in one helicopter while Wells (Rhodes 1953) and two friends decided to ski more and take a second chopper. It was a short trip in the air, less than five minutes, but the second helicopter, carrying Wells (Rhodes 1953) and four others, did not make it. The engine failed, and the chopper crashed into a hillside. There was one gravely injured survivor. Wells (Rhodes 1953)and everybody else were dead.[2]
The five included Dave Walton (Pilot), Paul Scannel (ski guide), Frank Wells (Rhodes 1953) and Beverely Johnson, wife of the single survivor Mike Hoover (Cinematographer). The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the accident was caused by snow ingestion into the helicopters engine. Hoover sued the helicopter manufacturer, reaching an out-of-court settlement.
1993 to 1994 - Trustee of The Rockefeller Foundation
Wells, who attended Stanford Law School, “was the highest of the high goyim,” the late producer Don Simpson (Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop) told me. “He represented everything Michael wanted to be.”[2]
1984 to 1994 - President of Walt Disney Co. The Disney Board recruited Wells to become President and Chief Operating Officer, along with Michael Eisner as Chairman and CEO, and Jeffrey Katzenberg as head of Walt Disney Studios. Wells reported to the board of directors, not Eisener.[2]
1984 - Disney Directors Roy E. Disney, Stanley Gold and Sid Bass had ousted President and CEO Ron W. Miller.
Avid alpinist, cam close to his goal of climing the Seven Summits. The highest on each of the seven continents:
- Kilimanjaro in Africa.
- Denali (Mount McKinley) in North America.
- Aconcagua in South America.
- Elbrus in Europe.
- Mount Everest in Asia - Outstanding.
- Mount Kosciusko in Australia.
- Vinson in Antarctica.
From 1969, Vice President, From 1973, President, 1977 to 1982, Vice Chairman Warner Bros (West Coast)
Graduated Stanford Law School.
Infantry first lieutenant, U.S. Army
1953 to ? - Rhodes Scholar, Brasenose College, University of Oxford.[1] (BA)
Pomona College. Phi Beta Kappa.
Died 3 Apr 1994, from Helicopter Crash. Age 62.
[3] - Geni.com - Frank Godfrey Wells (Rhodes 1953)
[4] - Video - Reallygraceful - Something Strange is Happening with Disney (1923-2019)
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