Fred Lasswell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fred Lasswell |
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Self-caricature of Fred Lasswell
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| Born | July 25, 1916 Kennett, Missouri |
| Died | March 4, 2001 (aged 84) Tampa, Florida |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist |
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Notable works
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Barney Google and Snuffy Smith |
| Awards | National Cartoonists Society Humor Comic Strip Award, 1963 Reuben Award, 1963 Elzie Segar Award, 1984 & 1994 |
| Spouse(s) |
Shirley Slesinger Lasswell
(m. 1964) |
Fred D. Lasswell (born July 25, 1916 – died March 4, 2001) was a famous American cartoonist. He is best known for drawing the popular comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith for many years.
Contents
Fred Lasswell's Life and Career
Fred Lasswell was born in Kennett, Missouri. However, he spent most of his childhood in Gainesville, Florida. His family moved there in 1918. Fred grew up on a farm without electricity or running water. This experience later helped him create the rural setting for his Barney Google and Snuffy Smith comic strip.
Fred started drawing cartoons when he was very young. His first comic strip, called Baseball Hits, was published in his school newspaper when he was in third grade. He began his professional career working for the Tampa Daily Times.
In 1933, Fred drew a poster that caught the eye of Billy DeBeck. DeBeck was the creator of the Barney Google comic strip. Billy DeBeck was very impressed with Fred's poster. He hired Fred to help him with his comic strip. Fred was only seventeen years old at the time. He even left high school to take this exciting job.
How Snuffy Smith Was Created
Billy DeBeck wanted to make his comic strip even more popular. He decided to add a new character: a hillbilly from the countryside. To learn more about this culture, Fred and Billy traveled through the rural southern United States.
After their trip, they introduced the character Snuffy Smith to the comic strip in November 1934. Snuffy quickly became very popular. This made the comic strip even more in demand. Billy DeBeck continued to guide Fred throughout the 1930s. He sent Fred to work with other famous illustrators. Fred also studied at the Art Students League of New York.
When Billy DeBeck passed away in 1942, Fred Lasswell took over the Barney Google and Snuffy Smith comic strip. He became the main cartoonist.
A Long Career in Comics
Fred Lasswell drew Barney Google and Snuffy Smith for an amazing 59 years. This is one of the longest careers in the history of comic strips! He worked with several assistants over the years. One of his assistants, John R. Rose, later took over the strip after Fred.
Fred Lasswell During World War II
During World War II, Fred Lasswell served as a flight radio operator. He worked for Pan American Airways in North Africa. Later in the war, he joined the Marine Corps. There, he used his artistic skills to create posters and illustrate military manuals.
Fred also worked on Leatherneck Magazine. This was a magazine for Marines. He drew cover art and funny stories for it. He even created a wartime comic strip called Sgt. Hashmark for the magazine.
Fred Lasswell's Inventions and Educational Work
Fred Lasswell was not just a cartoonist; he was also an inventor! He liked to try new technologies early on. One of his inventions was a Braille comic strip for people who are blind. He also patented a machine to harvest citrus fruit in 1962.
In the 1990s, Fred was one of the first cartoonists to use computers for his comic strip. He started writing the words for his comics digitally. He would then send his comic strips to King Features Syndicate by email. He also made a digital collection of his work. This was meant to help future art teachers and students.
Starting in the late 1970s, Fred also worked in education. He designed several educational games and books. His work helped teach kids about the alphabet, fruits, vegetables, and caring for the environment. One of his video series, "Uncle Fred's Draw and Color," was highly praised. The U.S. Secretary of Education, Shirley Hufstedler, said it was a "unique and whimsical way to bring fun and focus into our K-6 classrooms." One video in the series even won a Parents Choice Award in 1987.
Fred Lasswell's Thoughts on Cartooning
In 1996, Fred Lasswell shared his thoughts on how comic strips were changing. He noticed that many comics started including social messages. He believed that comics should mostly be about making people laugh. He said, "I just try to do what tickles me." He also believed that if you don't love drawing comics, it can feel like a chore.
Fred Lasswell's Personal Life
Fred Lasswell married Shirley Slesinger in 1964. They had three sons and one daughter. Fred passed away in 2001 from heart failure. After his death, his assistant, John R. Rose, continued drawing Barney Google and Snuffy Smith.
Fred was also a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
Fred Lasswell's Awards and Legacy
Fred Lasswell received many awards for his work. The National Cartoonists Society honored him several times. In 1963, he won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. He also received the National Cartoonists Society Award for the Best Humor Strip that same year.
Fred also won the Elzie Segar Award twice, in 1984 and 1994. This made him one of only two cartoonists to win this award more than once. In 2000, the University of South Florida gave him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. He also received the Silver Lady Award in 1962 from the Banshees Society in New York City.
Lucy Shelton Caswell, an expert on cartoons, said that Fred Lasswell was special. She noted that he was "one of the few cartoonists to inherit a successfully syndicated comic strip and transform it into his own creation." This means he took over an existing popular comic and made it his own unique work.
Cartoonist R.C. Harvey remembered Fred Lasswell as "Uncle Fred" to his fellow cartoonists. He was known for being a fun and active member of the National Cartoonist Society. Even when he wasn't there in person, his humor and spirit were always present.
Images for kids
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Fred Lasswell drew different art styles for his Christmas cards each year, featuring characters from his comic strip.
