INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The state of Indiana is honoring cartoonist and Indiana native Jim Davis who created the “Garfield” comic strip.

The Indiana Arts Commission says Davis is one of the recipients of the Governor’s Arts Awards, which recognize contributions to and achievements in the arts. The ceremony is April 9.

Davis was born in Marion and raised on a farm. He went to Ball State University with majors in art and business. Davis developed “Garfield” about a fat, lazy cat who loves lasagna. The strip debuted in 1978 and is seen in newspapers around the world.

Davis lives in Albany now where he writes his strip and runs Paws Inc., which employs nearly 40 people.

He says the award is an honor and “validates cartooning as a legitimate art form.”