Michael Bagnall; Disney Financial Executive

Michael Lawson Bagnall, a top financial executive for Walt Disney Productions who helped arrange financing for Disney World, has died at age 67.

Bagnall died of a suspected brain aneurysm on Thanksgiving while walking with his family in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Hired by Roy Disney in 1962 as assistant treasurer for the company, Bagnall rose to become executive vice president for finance. When Bagnall’s retirement was announced in 1985, Disney head Michael D. Eisner called him “one of Disney’s most untiring workers and a wonderfully professional executive.”

Bagnall prided himself most, according to his son, Patrick, on his establishment of a model benefits and retirement program at Disney and arranging financing for Florida’s Disney World and Epcot Center.

Educated at Los Angeles’ private Harvard School and Claremont Men’s College, Bagnall served in the Army from 1954 to 1956, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He began his career with Price Waterhouse.

Over the years, Bagnall served as board member and treasurer of the John Tracy Clinic, board member and treasurer of the Motion Picture & Television Fund, board member of the Eisenhower Medical Center, and board member of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation and the Rancho Santa Fe Assn. art jury.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Emily Ann; a son, Patrick, of Santa Ana, a daughter, Kathleen Kirk Richardson, of Del Mar; a brother, George, of Los Angeles, and seven grandchildren.

The family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Bagnall Family Scholarship at Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA 91711, or to the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.