---

Kate's Early Career as a Political Cartoonist

Kate actually started her political cartoonist career as the editorial cartoonist for The Gamecock, the student newspaper at the University of South Carolina.  At USC, she caricatured the school’s administration with humor in the late 60’s when many college campuses experienced unrest and protests.  At her graduation in 1968, the university president, Tom Jones, stopped the procession of graduates and made a special presentation to Kate in appreciation for her contributions to better relations between students and the administration. After marrying Jim in 1970, Kate taught school for two years – first, 6th grade in Seneca and then, art at Pickens Elementary School.  With two small children, and Jim traveling extensively with the Clemson University Extension Service, Kate decided to give political commentary another shot.

In the mid-70’s Kate began doing free-lance political cartoons for the local newspaper, The Messenger.  


First Full-Time Cartoonist in South Carolina

In 1978, Kate took the position of staff editorial cartoonist for The Greenville News – one of only two women political cartoonists in the US at that time.  In 1980 her cartoons were syndicated by News America Syndicate in over 200 newspapers and magazines across the country. Also that year Kate won the Freedom Foundation’s Honor Medal for Political Cartooning with a cartoon about a Vietnam Vet coming home.

---

---