News: Space Mountain lead engineer dies at 83

Posted at 9:38 AM EST (1438 GMT)

Jan. 22nd, 2007 -- Don Edgren, who led the team that built the first Space Mountain and had a role in various Disney parks died Dec. 28 of a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 83.

Edgren spent 33 years working for Disney and began in 1954 when the engineering firm he worked for was hired to help get Disneyland ready for its opening year.  Disney then hired Edgren in 1961.

Edgren lead an engineering team that completed Disneyland’s New Orleans Square addition in 1966 then moved to Florida as chief of field engineering at Walk Disney World.  He then led the team that built the first Space Mountain, which opened in 1975.

Later on Edgren became director of engineering for Tokyo Disneyland.

Family and friends along with some Disney employees are planning a celebration of Edgren's life on January 28.

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