Sparks, William B.

Born at Carbon Hill, Alabama; deafened at age 3; graduated the Alabama School for the Deaf and the Blind in 1958. First worked full-time as a technical illustrator for Western Electric and then as abirbrush retoucher for Pictorial Corp. of America. Noted for his portrait painting, which was at first just a sideline, then eventually became his sole concentration. Resident of Winston-Salem, NC. Works are in galleries in U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. One portrait, of President Edward C. Merrill, Jr., is at Gallaudet University; another portrait, of Spark's daughter, became a popular lithograph published by Bernard Picture Company.