Is there any man, woman, or child in America -- or anywhere around the world, for that matter -- who does not know Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and Snoopy? 

Those, and the other characters created by Charles Schulz more than0 years ago are among the most popular icons in American art. 

He is widely considered one of America's greatest cartoonists of all time, and the roster of other famous cartoonist who say they were inspired by Charles Schulz is a long one. 

I was offered the chance to interview hin in 1989 after a book about him by author Rheta Johnson was published -- she called it "Good Grief."