Charlie McElmurry began at Disney in 1942 but was soon drafted into the Marine Corps and sent to Quantico, Virginia. He spent the war years in a film unit there then attended Chouinard Art Institute for 4 years. He moved to New York to work as an illustrator while living in Connecticut. Charlie loved what he saw UPA doing in film but by the time he got back to California, UPA had changed ownership and direction. Art Babbit was instrumental in getting Charlie into John Hubley's Storyboard Productions as a Layout/Designer. He had a wonderful time but, when Hubley moved to New York City, Charlie stayed in Los Angeles and worked at John Sutherland Productions. Quartet Films was started with many UPA artists and Charlie joined them. He did his design work for 7 years from his home in New Mexico. Another life change brought him back to Southern California and he did freelance design from Eagle Rock until he felt it was time to retire.