From the September 2006 Peg-Board

Above: From Ed Benedict's concept art for the MGM feature Invitation to the Dance

ED BENEDICT, the designer responsible for a majority of Hanna-Barbera's most famous characters, died on August 28 at the age of ninety-four.

Benedict started at Disney in 1930 and also worked for Walter Lantz, Charles Mintz and Paul Fennell. He was a lead designer under Tex Avery and Mike Lah on the Droopy cartoons at MGM in the 1950s.

At Hanna-Barbera, he designed virtually every character in their original pantheon: Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, his sidekick; Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their pals Barney and Betty Rubble.

Benedict moved to Carmel in the late 1960s and continued freelancing for several studios until he retired. He received the Animation Guild Golden Award in 1985. A few years ago he moved to Auburn, where he passed away.