Who can remember the iconic comic form our youth? If you can’t, you are clearly younger than the writer.

Archie and his Riverdale pals were given life by their creator, Cartoonist and Artist Tom Moore. From 1953 to the late 1980s, Archie was a staple read for the youth of the day. Sadly Tom has died of lung cancer in El Paso, Texas. He was diagnosed with throat cancer this week, and choosing to decline treatment, died on July 20, 2015.

According to his hometown paper, the El Paso Times, Moore began his cartooning career while serving in the U.S. Navy.

After being caught drawing a caricature of his captain, he made such an impression on those that saw his work, he was immediately assigned the gig as staff cartoonist.

A truly talented man, it was the start of what would end up being a long career illustrating for Archie, Under Dog and Mighty Mouse comics and comic strips.

All Star Comics Games owner Brad Wilson told the paper “He’s a legend, in El Paso and, really, around the United States,…. A lot of people don’t realize how much he influenced comic book art.”

Victor Gorelick, Archie Comics’ editor-in-chief, told The Associated Press: “Tom was very funny and had a knack for putting together really great, hilarious gags and special pages when he worked at Archie.”

According to Gorelick, Tom Moore was best known for drawing a reboot of the “Jughead” series in the 1980s. Jughead was Archie’s best friend and sidekick.Archie Comics launched almost 75 years ago and was reportedly inspired in part by the Andy Hardy movies of the 1930s.

Archie and the gang were associated with classic high school drama, however like most comics of the day, evolved to take on modern topics and add greater diversity to its cast of characters. Many youths could connect with the characters, such was his ability to read the audience.

Moore apparently maintained an avid interest in the Archie character after his retirement, and was pleased when some of his work was displayed at the El Paso Museum of Art in 1996.

“I think it’s such a kick that my stuff is going to be hanging at the museum,” he said at the time. “Who knew Archie would have such universal appeal?”