Worked for Van Beuren Studio as writer of "Tom and Jerry" series (of no relation to later MGM cartoon)

Signed with MGM as writer; teamed with William Hanna

First venture with Hanna, "Puss Gets the Boot"; nominated for an Academy Award for Best (Cartoon) Short Subject

With Hanna succeeded Fred Quimby as head of MGM cartoon department; MGM closed the division in 1957

Teamed up with William Hanna to produce the series "The Ruff & Reddy Show," under the company name H-B Enterprises, soon changed to Hanna-Barbera Productions

Co-directed (with William Hanna) the feature-length animated films, "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear" (1964) and "A Man Called Flintstone" (1966)

Hanna and Barbera continued to operate studio under agreement with Taft Co.

Produced live action feature film, "Project X"

Taft and the Hanna-Barbera Studio sold to Great American Broadcasting, with Barbera appointed president

Ted Turner announced the signing of definitive agreements for Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc to buy Hanna-Barbera Productions Inc. (and its library of more than 3,000 half-hours of animated programming and more than 350 different series, telefilms and theatrical relases) for $320 million from Great American Communications Co. in November

Inducted into the TV Hall of Fame by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Wrote, co-storyboarded, co-directed and co-produced the theatrical Tom and Jerry short "The Karateguard"