Dale Messick

Cartoonist

Name at birth: Dahlia Messick

Dale Messick created the long-running comic strip Brenda Starr. Messick was already a successful commercial artist when she sent the Chicago Tribune her idea for a strip about a crusading newspaper reporter, changing her own name from Dahlia to Dale to avoid prejudice against female artists. The trick worked, and Brenda Starr debuted on 30 June 1940. Messick worked on the strip for 43 years before retiring. Brenda Starr has since been carried on by other writers and artists, including Tribune columnist Mary Schmich.

Extra credit: According to Messick, Starr was inspired by red-haired actress Rita Hayworth.