Clyde Peterson -RIP
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Editorial cartoonist Clyde Peterson (aka C. P. Houston) has passed away.
Clyde Enlow Peterson (aka C. P. Houston)
May 7, 1942 – January 20, 2025
The Houston Chronicle is reporting the death of its longtime staff editorial cartoonist and illustrator:
“CP Houston,” Clyde Peterson signed his cartoons, as if he were speaking for the city itself. Which, in a way, he did.
Peterson, who died on Jan. 20 at age 82, worked for the Houston Chronicle from 1965 until 2006, during the glory days of print newspapers and editorial cartoonists. During that astonishing 41-year run, he drew an estimated 12,000 cartoons and illustrations. They add up to a particular view of the world during those stormy decades: The view as seen from Houston.
Peterson weighed in on everything from Middle East peace talks to the tribulations of Houston Independent School District’s school board. He captured the big stuff of history — integration, spaceflight, Watergate — as well as the sinuous lines of an Astros pitcher unfurling a fastball. Often he was outraged. Usually he was funny. Always he made you feel something: recognition, maybe, or worry, or amusement; a little flash of connection to the day’s news, and to the people around you who were feeling the same thing.
The Houston Chronicle article on Clyde’s retirement describes the hiring of “C. P. Houston”:
The Peterson/Chronicle saga began one day in 1965.
Peterson arrived at the Chronicle without an appointment and unannounced, never having published an editorial cartoon in his life. He boldly gave his portfolio to the receptionist, saying, “Show this to the editor. I’ll be back in three hours.”
When Peterson returned he found, against all odds, the Chronicle’s editor, Everett Collier, and a team of senior subordinates waiting for him. Intrigued with Peterson’s work, Collier offered him a 90-day trial. Almost 30 years later, Peterson voiced to an interviewer the hope that things might work out.
Peterson’s first Chronicle cartoon directed readers’ attention to Texas’ looming water shortage, proof that some issues, like tension in the Middle East and government corruption, are always with us.
In 1973 Clyde cartoons were picked up by The Register and Tribune Syndicate for distribution to newspapers across the nation. At that time a profile of the cartoonist was sent to papers running his commentary.
Bill Hinds says it was around this time that Jeff Millar asked Clyde to draw a comic strip he had created:
Jeff Millar was a twice-a-week humor columnist and film critic for the Houston Chronicle. He decided he should share his wit with a national audience. Eliminating the humor columnist route, due to high traffic, he landed on the comics page. There was a new show in town – Doonesbury. That was the type of humor Jeff wanted to write, but the niche he saw to pursue was sports. He was ready to go, except for that whole drawing thing. That’s where I stumbled into the story.
I kept showing my portfolio and waiting for Bill Saylor to go fishing. One of the people I showed it to was the Houston Chronicle cartoonist, Clyde Peterson, pen name C. P. Houston. He introduced me to the features editor, Jack Loftis.
One day Jeff Millar walked into Clyde’s office and asked if he would be interested in drawing a comic strip. Clyde wanted to create his own comic strip, not draw someone else’s, but he knew this 23-year-old kid who might do it. That’s how Jeff and I met [and Tank McNamara].
Clyde never did get a comic strip going, local or syndicated.
During his time at The Chronicle Clyde took to writing the occasional column.
Clyde Peterson retired from The Houston Chronicle staff in 2006 (succeeded by Nick Anderson, he had been preceded by Ferman Martin) but he would occasionally send in a cartoon if an issue poked at him.
For the past years Clyde contributed cartoons and commentary to the Paris (Tenn) Post-Intelligencer.
Post-Intelligencer editorial cartoonist Clyde Peterson died Monday in his home in Houston. He was in hospice because of heart problems.
Arrangements are incomplete, but include cremation with his ashes scattered over his family’s burial plot in Beaver Dam Cemetery on Buchanan Road.
As a very young child, he lived in Buchanan and later, Paris — and was a frequent visitor back to Henry County throughout his life.
His contributions continued into the month of his death.
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