Theodore "Ted" W. Drake (September 2, 1907 – May 25, 2000) was an American cartoonist, graphic artist, and sports artist known for his iconic creation, the Notre Dame Leprechaun.
Drake is probably best remembered for the creation of the Notre Dame Leprechaun, for which he was paid $50. The Leprechaun was first used on the 1964 football pocket schedule and later on the football program covers. An immediate success, the Leprechaun was featured on the cover of Time magazine in November 1964.
In the early 1950s, Drake was the main graphic artist for the Kukla, Fran and Ollie television puppet show, creating its opening titles along with album covers, newsletters, advertisements, and even Christmas cards.
Mr. Drake lived most of the later part of his life in Elkhart, IN and was married to Charlotte from Elkhart. Mr. Drake was prolific well into his later years, in a number of graphic mediums including oil on canvas.**