found: African American National Biography, accessed December 15, 2014, via Oxford African American Studies Center database:(Billingsley, Ray; cartoonist, comic strip creator; born 25 July 1957 in Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States; completed LaGuardia High School of Music and Art (1975), followed by the School of Visual Arts in New York City; had an internship with Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles (1979); drew a strip called "Lookin' Fine" (1979-1982), contributed designs for television characters such as "Alf "; became a regular contributor to Ebony Magazine (1978); with the creation of the comic strip Curtis became the first African American to receive widespread recognition (1986) honors include the American Lung Association's Humanitarian award (1999), and the American Association's President's award (2000))