Rex Babin (August 17, 1962 – March 30, 2012) was an American editorial cartoonist.[2][3] He worked for The Denver Post from 1988 to 1989; the Times Union; and The Sacramento Bee from 1999 to 2012.

Rex Babin
Born(1962-08-17)August 17, 1962
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 2012(2012-03-30) (aged 49)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Alma materSan Diego State University
OccupationEditorial cartoonist
SpouseKathleen Babin[1]
Children1

Life and career

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Rex Babin was born on August 17, 1962, in Los Angeles, California.[4] His father died when he was 4 years old and he was primarily raised my his mother.[4] Babin graduated with a B.A. (1985) in English from San Diego State University.[4] He was a strong advocate for the use of local cartoons, and typically drew three cartoons about California subjects per week.

In 1988 to 1989 Babin worked at The Denver Post in an interim capacity. Afterwards, he served as the editorial cartoonist of the Albany Times Union,[2][5] before taking a position as a political cartoonist for The Sacramento Bee in 1999, replacing retiring cartoonist Dennis Renault.[6][7] His innovative cartoons include "Caleeforneeya," a recurring satire of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.[8] Babin was the recipient of the National Press Foundation's 2001 Berryman Award; and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2003.[2][9]

In 2009, Babin served as president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

Death and legacy

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Babin died from complications of stomach cancer at the age of 49.[2][1][10]

A few months after his death, his colleague Jack Ohman took the role of editorial cartoonist at The Sacramento Bee.[11] The California Museum held a posthumous exhibition of his art, Drawing Caleeforneeya: Political Cartoons of Rex Babin, 1999-2012 (2018).[1][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Rine, Jessica (2018-08-14). "A new California Museum exhibit remembers Sacramento Bee cartoonist Rex Babin". Sactown Magazine. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  2. ^ a b c d "Rex Babin, Sacramento Bee editorial cartoonist, dies". Sacramento Bee. Mar 30, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  3. ^ "Rex Babin, Sacramento Bee editorial cartoonist who worked at Denver Post, dies at 49". The Denver Post. 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  4. ^ a b c Colldeweih, Jack; Goldstein, Kalman (1998). Graphic Opinions: Editorial Cartoonists and Their Art. Popular Press. pp. 31–40. ISBN 978-0-87972-758-1.
  5. ^ "About John de Rosier". De Rosier's View. Albany Times Union. Dec 19, 1999.
  6. ^ "Rex Babin Cartoons". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  7. ^ "Dennis Renault Cartoon Collection, 1971-1998". OCLC, Archive Grid. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  8. ^ "Drawing Caleeforneeya: Political cartoons of Rex Babin, 1999–2012". Sacramento Magazine. 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  9. ^ "Sacramento Bee Cartoonist Rex Babin Dies of Cancer". NBC News. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  10. ^ "Bee Editorial Cartoonist Rex Babin Dies". KCRA. 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  11. ^ Leavenworth, Stuart (October 31, 2012). "Jack Ohman to be Sacramento Bee's new editorial cartoonist". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012.
  12. ^ "Bee cartoonist Rex Babin posthumously honored for work". The Sacramento Bee. December 11, 2015.
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