Newspaper cartoonist and illustrator Ron Rice has passed away.
Ronald Maburn (Ron) Rice
January 31, 1933 – March 15, 2021
newspaper illustrator, graphic artist, caricaturist, cartoonist
By profession Ron Rice was an artist for almost sixty years until the onset of Alzheimer’s prevented him from creating his art. He worked in almost every medium of commercial art. He began his career in Dallas, Texas where he worked in an animation studio, at the Dallas Times Herald, and at WFAA TV. Later he worked in art and marketing departments of local television, newspaper, outdoor advertising, and independent art studios. He was the graphic artist for both local newspapers – first at The Shreveport Journal [1972 – 1984] and then he retired from The Times in 1998.
During his entire professional career, he was also a free-lance artist and was commissioned for countless caricatures of individuals, families, athletes, and professional leaders of Shreveport and Bossier City. His caricatures were always treasured by the recipients for the humorous detail that he incorporated into each rendering.
Of all the art work that he produced, he was probably most proud of his originals and prints of his beloved LSU Tigers in both football and baseball. He produced a series of illustrations featuring the LSU Tiger with his various opposing team mascots in cartoon situations with “Tiger Bait” being his most popular print.
During his time with both The Shreveport Journal and The Shreveport Times
Ron would produce editorial cartoons on local issues.
In 1979 Ron created a weekly political cartoon he called By the Bayou.
Around 1974/75 he created Sports Dictionary, a weekly sports cartoon.
