Elzie Crisler Segar, born in Chester, Illinois, on Dec. 8, 1894, and died in Santa Monica, California, on Oct. 13, 1938, created Popeye from his recollection of Frank "Rocky" Fiegel, a local scrapper born on Jan. 27, 1868, and died on Mar. 24, 1947. Popeye first appeared in the cast of "Thimble Theater" on Jan. 17, 1929. William "Windy Bill" Schuchert, born on Mar. 8, 1857, and died on Feb. 20, 1941, was the owner of the Chester Opera House, Segar's benefactor, and appeared as "Wimpy" the Hamburger Fiend.