In 1956, he was the first African American animator at the Disney studios.
He won the 2002 Winsor McCay Award, a lifetime-achievement honor from the International Animated Film Society.
After he finished working on The Jungle Book (1967), he left Walt Disney Co. With friend and fellow animator Leo Sullivan, he founded Vignette Films, where they produced six animated films on black history.
Inducted as a Disney Legend in 2007.
In 2013 honored with the Sergio Award from the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS).