Harvey R. Ball, inventor of Smiley Face, dies at 79
By The Associated Press
WORCESTER -- Harvey R. Ball, whose simple drawing of a yellow, smiling face became a cultural icon, died Thursday after a short illness. He was 79.
Ball, co-owner of an advertising and public relations firm in Worcester, designed the Smiley Face in 1963 to help ease the acrimonious aftermath following the merger of two insurance companies.
A vice president ordered a "friendship campaign" to ease tensions between the bickering workers and hired Ball to come up with a suitable graphic for a button.
"I made a circle with a smile for a mouth on yellow paper, because it was sunshiny and bright," he recalled in a 1996 interview with The Associated Press. Then, he turned the drawing upside down and the smile became a frown.
Deciding that wouldn't do, Ball added two eyes and the Smiley Face was born.
"There are two ways to go about it," he said. "You can take a compass and draw a perfect circle and make two perfect eyes as neat as can be.
"Or you can do it freehand and have some fun with it. Like I did," Ball said. "Give it character."
Ball was paid $45 for his artwork by State Mutual Life Assurance Cos. of America -- now Allamerica. And that's all he ever made from the ubiquitous yellow face.
"I had no idea it would take off like it did," he said. The first order was for 100 buttons. Within weeks the buttons were being made by the thousands within months they were selling by the millions.
He never applied for a trademark or copyright, but said he never had any regrets.
- is trademarked?
