Lee Judge, editorial cartoonist for the Kansas City Star, has been named as this year’s winner of the John Fischetti award for excellence in editorial cartooning. The winning cartoon shows a soldier’s helmet perched on a rifle with the caption “Price of Gas.” This is the second such win by Lee. He won the very first Fischetti award back in 1982.
“The timing is wonderful,” Lee says. “My job has recently become part-time and to win a prestigious, national award like this gives encouragement not only to me, but to the people who fought to keep my cartoons in the paper. Editorial cartooning is struggling to survive, not because it lacks popularity, but because it’s often not deemed absolutely crucial. I strongly disagree. If we’re in a battle for readers, why get rid of the one person on a staff best equipped to compete with television and internet?”
Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Michael Ramirez of the Investor’s Business Daily were named as honorable mentions.
The 2009 Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition Awards and Reception honoring Lee, Mike and Michael will be held on Thursday, April 16 in the Columbia College Chicago’s Hokin Annex Gallery. The evening will also include an auction of previous award winner’s art.
Great for Lee! He needed such a boost. He’s been in an unhappy situation of essentially being laid off, then coming back in an awkward part-time role. And of course, he probably can use the award money too.
Congrats, Lee! It couldn’t have come at a better time.
Way to go, Lee!
Lee has long been one of my favorite cartoonists. Congratulations!
Last to say it, but well deserved award to one of the best cartoonists around. Congratulations!