So, the creator of Heeza Liar? Wuzza:

"The colonel was created by John R. Bray, one of the pioneers of animation, who learned how to make drawings appear to move directly from Winsor McCay (Gertie the Dinosaur, Little Nemo) himself. Actually, Bray sort of stole the techniques, posing as a reporter to induce the not-especially-secretive McCay into showing him how it was done, then patenting the process for himself."

(Source: Toonpedia.) The Heezas were directed by Walter Lanz, who would soon move on to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for Disney, and later, of course, a certain woodpecker.