Bil Keane

Cartoonist, The Family Circus

GRADUATE: Northeast Catholic High School

Through his popular comic strip The Family Circus, Bil Keane shares his values with millions of readers—values that can be traced to his education at Northeast Catholic High School. It was there that Keane taught himself to draw by mimicking the style of the cartoons in The New Yorker. In 1936, Keane became a published cartoonist, landing on the amateur page of the Philadelphia Daily News. But Keane’s real break came in 1960 when The Family Circus made its debut in newspapers across the country.

Keane is a four-time recipient of the National Cartoonists Society’s Award for Best Syndicated Panel. He has been named the Society’s Cartoonist of the Year and even received its top honor, the Reuben Award. He has been honored with the Elzie Segar Award for his unique contribution to the cartooning profession and the Silver T-Square Award for “outstanding dedication” to the National Cartoonists Society.