Norman Mingo

[1] A prolific magazine illustrator in the Norman Rockwell vein, Mingo resided in the Chicago area for decades before retiring to Tarrytown, New York.

[2] In addition to pin-up art, he also illustrated for paperbacks (Pocket Books), served as a traditional portraitist, painting such subjects as General George S. Patton Jr., and drew numerous movie posters including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Previously, the magazine had printed a rougher image and re-drawings of the character, which were randomly dubbed "Melvin F. Coznowski" or "Mel Haney" in addition to "Alfred E.

But I want him to have this devil-may-care attitude, someone who can maintain a sense of humor while the world is collapsing around him.”Permanently named "Alfred E. Neuman," the character became Mad magazine's mascot with issue #30.

Norman Mingo painted eight Mad covers in 1956–57 before his more regular work with the top-tier Dancer Fitzgerald Sample advertising agency took up all of his time.

While working exclusively in advertising, Mingo illustrated campaigns for a variety of companies including General Mills cereal, L&M cigarettes, Falstaff Beer and the U.S. Army.

Fellow cover artists Jack Rickard and Bob Jones have remarked that Mingo was the only one who could paint the Neuman character perfectly "on model" every time.