Fred Harman (February 9, 1902 – January 2, 1982) was an American cartoonist, best known for his popular Red Ryder comic strip, which he drew for 25 years, reaching 40 million readers through 750 newspapers.

Harman was two months old when his parents moved from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where he grew up familiar with horses and the ranching lifestyle.

Born Leslie Fred Harman, he worked as a pressman’s helper at The Kansas City Star, where he came in contact with the newspaper's art staff.

In addition to his work as a catalog illustrator for Artcrafts (for the Olathe Boot Company, among other catalogs), Harmon created promotional art, book illustrations and film costume designs commemorating the Pony Express, and bought canvas and paint to create his own paintings at home in his spare time.

Popular comic books, illustrated books and juvenile novels, Radio shows, movies, and an avalanche of dependable quality merchandise followed, from school supplies to camping supplies, toys, games, puzzles, novelties, craft kits and leather kits, wallets with secret pockets, watches, camping cookware and more.

[1] In March 1953, Harman embarked on a six-week USO tour, doing chalk talks at camps in England, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Africa.

The strip was continued by Bob MacLeod, Jim Gary, John Wade Hampton, and Edmond Good, the same talented artists who had helped produce the Red Ryder content in the New York Studios of Stephen Slesinger.

[4] Son Fred Harman was featured on PBS series Painting and Travel with Roger and Sarah Bansemer in season 2, episode 10, Red Ryder, in a tour of the museum.

[6] The Red Ryder Round-up is an annual July 4 weekend event in Pagosa Springs, home of the Fred Harman Art Museum.