[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 168 (Friday, November 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    IN HONOR OF MR. THOMAS A. WILSON

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Thomas A. 
Wilson, a cartoon artist whose character, Ziggy, brought joy to 
people's lives every day.
  Mr. Wilson was born on August 1, 1931, in Grant Town, West Virginia 
and raised in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army 
before graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the mid 
1950s. Mr. Wilson began a nearly forty-year career with Cleveland's 
American Greetings in 1955. He spent time writing romantic greeting 
cards and comedic greeting cards for the public. Throughout his stay 
with American Greetings he served in several different executive roles 
for the creative department.
  In 1971, Mr. Wilson created the character Ziggy and launched a 
cartoon series featuring this average American character. Ziggy started 
off as part of a cartoon illustration collection that had no words. The 
Universal Press Syndicate worked with Mr. Wilson to put words into the 
animation and bring Ziggy to life. He worked with the Universal Press 
Syndicate until he formed Ziggy and Friends. In 1987, Mr. Wilson gave 
control of his comic strip, Ziggy and Friends, to his son and fellow 
cartoonist Tom M. Wilson. Ziggy cartoons continue to be published in 
more than 500 newspapers throughout the country and enjoyed by 
millions.
  The Cleveland Museum of Art has honored Mr. Tom A. Wilson by 
exhibiting his artwork. Mr. Wilson has also had his artwork shown in 
the Society of Illustrations and the Butler Institute of Art.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life and 
achievements of Mr. Tom Albert Wilson. I offer my condolences to his 
wife, Carol; son, Tom; two daughters, Ava and Julianne; and five 
grandchildren.

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