The influential illustrator Roger Hane was 35 years old when he was murdered in Central Park in June 1974 by teenagers who stole his Lejeune bicycle. Pete Hamill wrote, "Roger Hane died for nothing, which is the most difficult and absurd thing of all." Only two weeks earlier, Hane was given an Artist of the Year award.

Milton Glaser said, "At the time of his death, Roger Hane was the best illustrator in America." During his brief, 11-year career, Hane produced some 300 illustrations for paperback covers, advertisements, record albums, New York, Fortune and other magazines. Vanguard published Robert C. Hunsicker's illustrated biography in 2009.