Richard Kemplin – RIP
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Editorial cartoonist Richard Kemplin has passed away.
Richard Manley (Dick) Kemplin
December 11, 1930 – November 25, 2022
During his time at Eagle Rock High School, Dick was an athlete and budding artist whose illustrations and cartoons were prominently featured in the school’s newspaper and yearbook. Little did he know that his love of art would serve him well during his retirement years.
His first big break came when he was hired on as a draftsman trainee with the F.L. Mosley Company in Pasadena, Ca. Dick recounted the day two gentlemen were touring the office, one short and one tall. It turned out it was Bill Hewlett and David Packard who eventually purchased the Mosely company in 1958. Dick was the seventh employee of Hewlett Packard and joked that he was the James Bond (007) of the firm. Dick had an AA degree but took some additional math and technical courses and was promoted to a Design Engineer. After a career of 44 years with Hewlett Packard, Dick reluctantly retired in 1998, but continued as a consultant for several more years.
While at Hewlett Packard, Dick reignited his love of cartoons and began producing weekly “funnies” about the San Diego Chargers and circulated them among the office. On a whim he submitted some of his work to the local Poway Chieftain newspaper, who published his editorial cartoons for 25 years.
His cartooning career continued into retirement, and Dick had simultaneous contracts with the Escondido Times Advocate and The San Diego Union. During that period, Dick received multiple awards from the San Diego Press Club.
Dick contributed to The Escondido Times Advocate.
Below are some of his cartoons from 1986 and 1987.
After The Times Advocate closed he contributed to The North County Times.
Below are a few illustrated comments of Dick’s from the years 1999 – 2003.
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