It expanded to appear in more than 500 daily and Sunday newspapers and has been featured in bestselling books and calendars.

Ziggy merchandising has included plaques, T-shirts, buttons, glass tumblers, lunch boxes, coffee mugs and greeting cards.

Throughout his career, Wilson demonstrated a remarkable ability to anticipate future trends in the marketplace.

Wilson was a talented painter with works appearing in exhibitions throughout the United States, including the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Society of Illustrators annual show in New York.

[8] He received the Purchase award in the Butler Institute of American Art's annual exhibition.