Gene Payne, former editorial cartoonist for The Charlotte Observer has passed away at the age of 91. During his career he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1968.
“He had a loyal following of readers, particularly people who were interested in local issues and local government,” said former Observer publisher Rolfe Neill, who was a reporter when Payne was hired at the Observer in 1958. “They saw him as a conservative guy who could keep people honest.”