Smokey Bear’s debut poster (above) was released on August 9, 1944, which is
considered his birthday. Overseen by the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention
Campaign, the first poster was illustrated by Albert Staehle. That same year,
Forest Service worker Rudy Wendelin became the full-time campaign artist;
he was considered Smokey Bear’s "manager" until he retired in 1973.
Artist Albert Staehle
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