Thomas 'Tom' Wilson was a renowned American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the endearing and iconic comic strip character, Ziggy. He first syndicated Ziggy in 1971, and the character's optimistic yet perpetually put-upon nature quickly resonated with audiences worldwide. Beyond his work on the comic strip, Wilson was also a talented artist and executive at American Greetings, where he contributed to numerous creative projects. His son, Tom Wilson Jr., eventually took over the drawing and writing of the Ziggy comic strip, continuing his father's gentle and humorous legacy.