Donald Hadley

Donald Hadley (1937-2007) was a writer who wrote lyrics for several Sesame Street animated segments, teamed with composer/animator Bud Luckey. These included "The Alligator King." The recurring character Donnie Budd was named jointly after Hadley and Luckey, borrowing one first name from each.

Hadley moved to San Francisco in 1955 to study literature at the local university. A career as a writer of advertising copy followed, working for many agencies including Dancer, Fitzgerald & Sample (where he first met Luckey).