Roger Harvell
Roger Harvell grew up in the rural Ozarks of north Arkansas with a passion to draw. Because of the relative isolation, (not knowing anyone who even knew anyone that drew cartoons professionally) he assumed that he would have to find work like everyone else.
He left Melbourne, Ark., upon graduation from high school to join the U.S. Air Force. After taking an early re-enlistment in 1969, he was rewarded for his patriotic attitude by being sent to Vietnam as a computer operator. There he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his services in what was surely the Stone Age of cyberspace. After a rapid deployment to Thailand in 1972 Harvell returned to Little Rock where he left the Air Force with the rank of Staff Sgt.
He was hired by a Little Rock based data processing firm as a computer operator, taught himself programming, and was promoted to systems analyst within six months.
Having continued all the while to pursue drawing as a hobby, he became acquainted with editorial cartoonist George Fisher of the Arkansas Gazette. Fisher introduced him to the editor of the Times of North Little Rock, who agreed to publish one cartoon a week. After some months, by now thoroughly addicted to cartooning, Harvell approached Paul Greenberg of the Pine Bluff Commercial and a full time position was created for him. Having switched hobbies and occupations, Harvell continued his interest in computers and has collaboratedon two nationally distributed electronic games.
In 1983, Harvell joined the Greenville Piedmont as its first full-time cartoonist.And, with the exception of a brief employment with the Commercial Appeal in Memphis in 1985, remained in Greenville until March of 2007 when the full-time editorial cartoonist position was eliminated.
Roger has relocated to Arkansas where he is doing contract work for several newspapers.
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