Richard "Sparky" Moore was born in Philadelphia in 1925. He worked in a stable in Philadelphia before signing up for a stint in the Navy and Merchant Marines. After serving in WW II, he met and married Helen Sheedy, the sister of one of his navy friends, from California. Their first year of marriage they moved to Corralas, New Mexico outside of Albequerque and studied art at the University of New Mexico. After a year in New Mexico they moved back to California and began their family with a set of twin girls. Four years later another set of twins, boys this time. But the family wasn't done yet, they had one more girl to finish off their family.In the mean time he began his career as a commercial artist illustrating such well-known characters as Rin Tin Tin, Zorro and Tarzan, at Hanna - Barbera studios and Western Publishing. Starting in the 1970's, Sparky worked for Disney, inking such favorites as Winnie the Pooh and the Disney Classics comic strip. Sparky also had the opportunity to be one of the court sketch artists for the infamous Charles Manson trial. His art career has spanned over 50 years and he still dabbles in projects that he likes to do like carving rocking horses. Along with his art Sparky loves horses and was an avid rider along with his wife. On his 85th birthday he rode out to gather the cattle on their ranch in Templeton, Ca where he has lived for the last 25 years. Widowed in 2005 he lives with in 8 miles of all of his children and granddaughter.
