Peter Arthur Markham

Peter Markham was born October 22, 1935, in London England within the sound

of the bells of Bow Church (making him a Cockney). Most of his early life was

dominated by WW II. He and his brothers were part of the group of children who were

evacuated from London to avoid the bombing. However, it was not long before Nan

missed them and brough them back. The family home was hit by an incendiary bomb

and Dad had distinct memories of going out the second story windows and sliding down

the banister to run across the street. When the American Army showed up Dad learned

to shine shoes and clean weapons which he would do in exchange for chocolate (only

English children under 5 could get a sweets ration book).

When he graduated from primary school, he joined the British Army and tried to

go to the Korean War, but he was only 17. They would not allow soldiers under 18 to go

to war. He was stationed in Germany as part of the Third Royal Tank Regiment where

he took great delight in having “accidents” (driving his tank into German structures in

revenge for the bombing). Peter quickly figured out that soldiers who participated in

sports did not have to participate in afternoon drill, so he became quite the athlete. He

participated in everything. He did really well in boxing and made it to the Brigade finals.

Unfortunately, he came up against a former Golden Gloves champion. He got a trophy

for the best fight of the night and was the only opponent the other guy didn’t knock out.

Nevertheless, it damaged his eyes. Parliament had recently passed a law allowing non-

aristocratic men to attend Officer Candidate School so Pete went. The law said they

could attend but it did not say they would be commissioned. He was made a corporal

and sent back to the Army.

After his tour in the British Army Pete went to Canada to become a Canadian

Mounty. He passed all the requirements but failed the medical exam due to his eyes.

Uncle Gordon convinced him to go to the United States and enroll in college where he

attended the University of Connecticut. He graduated at the top of his ROTC class and

finished the engineering program in 4 years instead of 5. Due to the Cuban Missile

Crisis, officers who were within 6 months of citizenship were allowed to go ahead and

commission (in the Engineering CORPS). He is one of only 2 officers we know of who

took the Oath of Citizenship while in uniform as an officer. Pete was stationed in

Germany where he met Sue Noble. They got in an argument on their first date because

teachers made more money than Lieutenants, and they almost didn’t make it out the

door. Fortunately, Sue decided to go ahead and go on the date, and they were married

a few years later. They settled in California and had Amy and Keith. While in California,

Pete became a Christian when a young teacher just out of seminary convinced him

there was a rational defense for Christianity (his name was Hal Lindsey, author of The

Late Great Planet Earth and later one of the leading Christian Apologists in the country).

In 1969 Pete’s company (Dames and Moore) moved them to Orlando to work on the

Magic Kingdom. Pete promised Sue they would only be in Florida for 2-3 years and

would then move back to California (they didn’t). Craig was born in Florida.

While at Disney, Pete became fed up with how the General Contractor was

ripping Disney off and decided to stand up in a briefing with Roy Disney and Admiral

Fallen (CEO) and tell them. Pete expected the other engineers to back him up (they

didn’t). Pete went home that night expecting he would be fired. Sunday night Admiral

Fallen called to inform him that they were going to form their own construction company

(Buena Vista Construction) and Pete was going to run it. He took over the project and

opened the park on time (October 1, 1971). Many of the guys he worked with (including

his brother-in-law Bob Crampton) became lifelong friends. After Disney, Pete went to

work for Red Lobster Group where he built restaurants all over the country. He

eventually formed a construction company for General Mills, building all their

restaurants. He had his own construction company for a while then retired from Martin

Construction (for whom he built highways in Florida).

Pete was an incredible father and, even though he was a busy executive, he

always made time for family trips, Indian Guides, Indian Princesses, and Boy Scouts.

He is most known for his giving. We are constantly hearing stories we had no idea

about of how he helped people out. Sue died unexpectedly in her sleep. Peter is

survived by his Daughter Amy (husband Shawn, children: Daniel, Andrew, and Lilly),

Son Keith (children: Jordan, Anna Catherine, Joshua, and Emma Grace), and son Craig

(wife Shelly, children: Allison and Bailey).

Pete’s last public speaking event (Disney Stories):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRcWTrGAbsQ&list=PL8h3WhLDaNAv5F3Pp-

abzWk_KDG3cGgTj

Video on Disney Construction (mentions Pete):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV1N27QYtBY&list=PL8h3WhLDaNAv5F3Pp-

abzWk_KDG3cGgTj&index=2

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