From KTVU
OAKLAND, Calif. —
Morris “Morrie” Turner, the creator of the Wee Pals comic strip and the first African American artist to have a column syndicated nationally, has died. He was 90.
A spokesman for Turner said the Oakland-born artist died peacefully at a hospital in Sacramento on Saturday.
Turner developed the ethnically diverse comic strip in 1965 at the urging of his mentor Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip.
In addition to his accomplished career as an artist, Turner was also an active member of the Oakland community. He spent much of his time visiting schools and would use his comic strip to draw attention to local writers and artists, including our own Nona Mock Wyman.
You can read more about Turner’s life and achievements here and here.
