CARTOONIST PROFILE

Bio

A sixth-generation Texan, born at Amarillo in 1948 into a newspaper family. Learned the printing trade from age 12 and started working for the local daily as a proof runner at 14. Attended Amarillo College and received a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970.

Worked as a reporter for five years, mainly covering the State Capitol, for The Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Long News Service, The Austin American-Statesman and United Press International. Started drawing editorial cartoons for the American-Statesman in August, 1974,  and went into national distribution through Universal Press Syndicate in 1985. Retired from the American-Statesman in 2009, while continuing regular syndicated cartooning through the end of 2014.

Began a regular cartoon feature, “Loon Star State,” for the Texas Observer in 2009, and now on the Observer’s masthead as staff cartoonist.

Winner of the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, and Pulitzer finalist in 2001 and 2002.  Women in Communications Inc. “Outstanding Communicator” award, 1981.  Texas Women’s Political Caucus media award, 1982.  Headliners’ Club of Texas special journalism award, 1983.  Free Press Association’s “Mencken Award,” 1988. University of Texas “Outstanding Young Texas Exes” award, 1989.  Common Cause of Texas public-service award in journalism, 1990.  Amarillo College’s first “Distinguished Alumnus Award,” 1993.  Cox Newspapers’ “Best of Cox” award for editorial cartooning, 1996,  1999 and 2008. Texas Intercollegiate Press Association “Hall of Fame,” 2004. Cited by the Austin Chronicle as “Best Reason to Read the Statesman,” 2008. National Association of Hispanic Publications “José Marti Award” for Spanish-language cartoons, 2008.  Texas Civil Rights Project “Molly Ivins Give ‘Em Hell” award, 2008. Panhandle Press Association’s “Panhandle Press Hall of Fame,” 2010. Daily Texan “Hall of Fame,” 2013. Texas Press Foundation’s “Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame,” 2016. Austin Chronicle “Best of Austin (comic creator or graphic novelist),” 2021, and “Best of Austin (cartoonist or comic creator),” 2023.

Member of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, serving as vice president 1986-88 and as president, 1988-89. A founding director of the Austin Steam Train Association Inc., serving as board secretary and chairman of the board, and qualified as a steam-locomotive fireman, brakeman and conductor. Active letterpress printer, whose shop includes a 1905 Chandler & Price job press and more than 230 fonts of handset type. Lay eucharistic minister at St. David’s Episcopal Church and former member of the boards of directors of the Newspaper Employees Credit Union and Austin Municipal Federal Credit Union.

Author of Texas Statehouse Blues (1980) and Big Brother Blues (1984), both published by Texas Monthly Press.

Married to Diane Holloway,  retired American-Statesman television critic, with two children and two grandchildren.