Ray Pedersen
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Ray Pedersen is an American artist and graphic designer who was the creator of the iconic orange ball sign of the Union 76 gas stations, one of the most recognizable images in US advertising history. Pedersen originally designed the orange ball for the Union Oil pavilion at the 1962 Seattle's World Fair. In 1967, Union introduced a small styrofoam version of the ball as a "topper" for car radio antennas. This simple promotional gimmick was enduringly popular; over the years tens of millions were made and distributed.
Over 40 years after he designed the orange ball, Pedersen is an influential supporter of efforts to preserve his creation after the purchase of the Union 76 brand by ConocoPhillips, which is currently (2006) removing and destroying the 76 ball signs.
