From Magicpedia, courtesy of Genii Magazine:

Walter J. Gydesen (1917-1993) was Secretary and Treasurer of the Magic Collectors Association for 23 years. He was editor of Magicol from No. 4 to No. 10 (1960 - 1962) and served as Honorary President of the MCA after John Henry Grossman passed away from 1992. Gydesen took magic lessons from the Great Lester and through Judge Frank Carter became active in Wisconsin magic circles. In 1937, he worked for Percy Abbott in Colon. Later he worked with Jim Sherman and then was connected with Joe Kolar for a time. Gydesen served in the Navy starting in 1942. After his discharge, he lived in the Milwaukee area where he became an active member of the Houdini Club of Wisconsin. He moved to Chicago in 1969, where he became manager of the retail department of Magic, Inc. This same year he worked with John McKinven to revive the MCA (after a four year hiatus). He was also the person behind the annual Magic Collectors' Weekend, organizing the first one in March 1970. Upon his retirement in 1982, he moved to New Britain, Connecticut to be near his daughter Darlene