John Prentice (1920-1999) received the National Cartoonists Society award for "Best Story Strip Cartoonist" in 1966, 1967, and 1986. Born in Whitney, Texas. He joined the Navy in 1939 and survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, served on two destroyers in eight combat campaigns, and was honorably discharged in 1945. After the war he enrolled in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and then moved to New York, where he eventually became a successful freelancer, illustrating paperback book covers; comic books for the Joe Simon/Jack Kirby studio, DC Comics, and others; as well as being a regular contributor to major magazines before taking over Rip Kirby in 1956.