Bob Hill, creator and performer of Hilda the Haku-hasin (Bambioid) character, designed by Jerry Collins, was one of the first non-mascot style full-body animal character costumes. Bob was an artist, model-maker and a character performer at Disneyland. I was his photographer.
A few pictures from a 1988 photoshoot of Hilda the Bamboid (a fursuit/character created and worn by Robert Hill). Robert Hill might very well be one of the first ever modern fursuiters.