It is with great sorrow that I learned today that my friend and colleague Don Pegler went to the big art studio in the sky.

Don was an artist, humorist, a gentle, loving guy who looked at the world a little differently than most.  His wonderful, cockeyed view saw humor in the mundane and especially in exasperating situations.   With a perennial twinkle in his eye, he loved to make others laugh.

Known for his iconic critters on S.C. Johnson’s Raid commercials, Don also was talented at creating caricatures of people as well as doing straight portraiture.  His sketches of Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy, Fairfax Cone and Michael Jordan adorned his wall at Foote, Cone & Belding Advertising, (now called Draft/FCB)  his place of work for 40+ years.   The agency honored Pegler with a special area known as Pegler’s Place which showcased his work and included 3D models of the well-known Raid bugs that he had crafted over the years.   Unfortunately, this area was disassembled when the agency recently lost its longstanding account.

I learned yesterday that Don drew his first Raid bug when he was just five years old - a premonition of what he would do later in life. 

Son of a Chicago policeman, Pegler almost became one himself.  Fortunately, he landed a job as an artist just before he had to report for duty.  

Before joining FCB, Pegler worked as an illustrator for a magazine for five years and then as an animator for five years.  A former Disney artist taught him  animation at a Chicago studio called Cartoonists.    Later on, when Pegler worked on the Raid account, he went to Hollywood and collaborated with celebrated contributors to the animation industry: Tex Avery (animation director) and Mel Blanc (“Man of a thousand voices” including Bugs Bunny.)

I joined FCB in 1983 as photographer and editor of the internal magazine, Person to Person.   Don often helped illustrate an article or do a special cover for the publication.   I provided him with reference photos for many of his sketched portraits.  We were a good creative team. 

Regularly, we would join other creatives at lunch at the agency and discuss the day’s events over a sandwich.  It was a sweet time when long lasting friendships were made.

When asked by his son Bob what he would like to be most remembered for, Don replied, “ that I was nice to everybody.”  I think everyone who knew Don would agree that he will.

Don is survived by his seven children and twelve grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Bridie.