Universal Uclick has announced that its president, Lee Salem will take a three-month leave of absence beginning February 15, 2013 with a date to retire on March 31, 2014. After the leave of absence, Lee will return with the title “president emeritus and editorial director.” John Glynn, UU vice president and editorial director, will become president on February 15 of next year and retain his position as editorial director of Unviersal.
John McMeel, chairman and president of Andrews McMeel Universal:
“It is hard to overestimate – or quantify – Lee Salem’s contributions to Universal Uclick. His prescient eye for discovering talent, remarkable skill in nurturing that talent, and tireless pursuit in developing new opportunities and platforms for our creators is unequalled. He has been essential in establishing UU as the vibrant, thriving home renowned for exceptional original content and has advanced the editorial vision of my founding partner, Jim Andrews, and myself for nearly four decades. We are immensely grateful for his commitment to AMU.”
Some of the talent that Lee discovered and fostered include Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury), Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes), Cathy Guisewite
(Cathy), Gary Larson (The Far Side), Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse) and Richard Thompson (Cul de Sac).
Lee joined Universal Press Syndicate as an assistant editor in 1974 and was named vice president and editorial director of UPS in 1981. He was named president of UPS in 2006.
Lee is a giant. His love of cartoons and his fearless intuition moved newspaper cartooning from the mundane to the suplime.
We are all better for his always forward thinking stewardship of our profession.
I am so glad he is who he is.
I never met Lee but I can’t remember a time that my syndicate submissions weren’t addressed to him. he’s earned his retirement!
Lee’s such an incredible guy ? his influence on the industry has been and will be felt for years to come! Kudos to you, Lee.
What a legacy: Doonesbury, The Far Side, Calvin & Hobbs, For Better Or For Worse, Bloom County, Cul de Sac, Stone Soup, and Argyle Sweater, plus many more. The man is a legend.
Bloom County was Washington Post Writer’s Group.
But he did give me a shot, and for that I will be forever grateful.
I have tremendous respect for Lee. He has an unparalleled eye for talent, and his respectful treatment of aspiring cartoonists is a model for everyone else. He’s leaving behind a tremendous legacy, both from business and creative perspectives.
I always knew Lee had a great eye for comics but didn’t realize what a nice guy he was until I accidentally ended up at Universal when United imploded. He’s truly a class act. John Glynn, on the other hand, makes me uneasy. He always wants to give me a toe massage.