Of all the products Zack Hix has designed as the artist-in-chief of GoodBoyRoy.com, he still favors the original T-shirt his mom printed for him—the one with a sketch of Roy, his first cartoon character.
Diagnosed at age five with neuropsychiatric disorders, Zack occasionally experienced uncontrollable outbursts. He would apologize for them, saying “I really am a good boy.” Kim Hix recognized that drawing helped calm her son, and had a shirt featuring Good Boy Roy made to encourage his artistic talent. “After I saw how proud Zack was of his shirt and other people liked it, a light bulb went off,” she says. “I felt like we were onto something big.”
Kim and Zack now work side-by-side creating and selling T-shirts, greeting cards and other items that are popular among kids who relate to the characters and situations drawn from Zack’s life. “God Rocks” is the company’s best-seller. “Volleyball Girl” was inspired by his kid sister Kelsie. “Angry Allen” features an anti-bullying message.
“Hollywood Here I Come” expresses Zack’s desire to become a professional cartoonist and was inspired by his recent invitation to the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. During the trip, he met Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the creator of the Disney Channel’s Phineas and Ferb. Marsh gave Zack his personal email address and sent him a photo of Vincent Martella, the young actor who voices Phineas, wearing one of Zack’s shirts.
“I hope one day Good Boy Roy will have a huge following,” Zack Hix says. “I hope I’ll get it onto TV as a cartoon series too, and I can be the voice of Roy.”
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Zack Hix
AGE: 16
HOMETOWN: Simpsonville
OCCUPATION: Artist and designer behind Good Boy Roy T-shirts; junior at Hillcrest High School
FAVORITE CARTOON: Phineas and Ferb
HOBBIES: Drawing, fishing, playing sports and hanging out with friends