Bob Thaves dies at age 81 (UPDATED)
Skip to commentsBob Thaves, who created Frank & Ernest in 1972 has died at age 81 in Torrance California. He leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Katie, his son Tom, daughter Sara.
In the three decades since the Frank & Earnest debut, Bob has made many innovations and has won many awards. He was the first comic panel to be presented in comic strip format, the first to vary the roles of its characters; the first to use block lettering and the first to use digital coloring for Sunday pages. Bob is also a three-time winner of the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award for Best Syndicated Panel and was given the Free Press Association’s Mencken Award for Best Cartoon. He was voted “Punster of the Year” by the International Save the Pun Foundation and just this year was recognized as a Champion of Creativity by the American Creativity Association.
His son, Tom will carry on with the strip. He has worked on the strip since 1997.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Thaves family in this time of sadness.
UPDATE: Bob’s obit has hit the AP wire. Here it is from the San Jose Mercury News.
Technorati Tags: Bob Thaves, Frank & Earnest
Charles Brubaker
Charles Brubaker
Jim Vincent
Rob
Rob