the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comics; and, with writer Jerry Siegel, the sole two issues (April 1967 & April 1968) of Gold Key's self-consciously camp revival of creator Frank Thomas' 1940 character The Owl. Working from his studio on Long Island and never venturing West, Gill gained his facility for drawing horses, he said, from "a $1 book called How to Draw Horses: It's Fun and It's Easy. In that same interview, he explained his philosophy of drawing the Lone Ranger's famed white steed: "You had to make Silver a glamour horse. His head was always high, his mane was always flying."" Cartooning and children's books Gill also drew a 1948 comic strip, Ricky Stevens, and comic books for Harvey Comics and Toby Press. For Western Publishing, he additionally illustrated children's books and such projects as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. TV tie-in books and activity books. For roughly 50 years, Gill taught cartooning and children's-book illustration in New York-area colleges and institutions, including the School of Visual Arts, where he served as a department chair in 1948, alumni director in 1969, and consultant well into the 21st century. He served several terms as vice-president of the National Cartoonists Society, winning its Silver T-Square award in 1964 and its Best Story Comic Book Artist award in 1970. With Tim Lasiuta, he wrote the autobiography Misadventures of A Roving Cartoonist: The Lone Ranger's Secret Sidekick (Five Star Publications, 2008) Later life Gill lost his eyesight later in life but continued to teach art at community colleges. Gill died of heart failure at his home in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. He was survived by family including wife Patricia, daughter Nancy Zaglaluer, and son Tom Gill. Awards 2004 Inkpot Award. References External links Tom Gill interview: Alter Ego #43 (Dec. 2004) American comics artists Silver Age comics creators People from Brooklyn 1913 births 2005 deaths People from Croton-on-Hudson, New York Inkpot Award winners