Clay Bennett

Born January 20, 1958 in Clinton, South Carolina. Growing up the son of a career army officer, he led a nomadic life, attending ten different schools before graduating in 1976 from S. R. Butler High School in Huntsville, Alabama.

Served as editorial cartoonist for his college paper and managing editor of the alternative student newspaper while attending the University of North Alabama. He graduated in 1980 with degrees in Art and History.

Worked as a staff artist for both the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette and The Fayetteville (NC) Times before accepting an editorial cartooning position with the St. Petersburg Times in 1981.

Fired by the Times in 1994, he spent over three years in professional oblivion before being hired as the editorial cartoonist for The Christian Science Monitor in 1997.

Winner of The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 2002, Bennett has earned almost every honor his profession has to offer. He's received the Sigma Delta Chi Award (2001), the National Journalism Award (2002), the National Cartoonist Society's Award for Editorial Cartoons (2002), the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award (2007), the John Fischetti Award (2001, 2005), the Overseas Press Club Award (2005, 2007), the National Headliner Award (1999, 2000, 2004) and was named 'Editorial Cartoonist of the Year' by Editor & Publisher magazine (2001).


A past president of the
Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, Bennett now draws for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He is the husband of artist Cindy Procious, and father to Matt, Ben and Sarah.

 




AWARDS:


2008 Ink Bottle Award,
Association of American Editorial Cartoonists


2007 Thomas Nast Award,
Overseas Press Club of America


Finalist,
2008 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning


Citation of Excellence,
2007 United Nations Political Cartoon Award


2007 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award
for Cartoons


Honorable Mention,
2007 John Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition


Citation of Excellence,
2006 United Nations Political Cartoon Award


2005 Thomas Nast Award,
Overseas Press Club of America


2005 Alumnus of the Year,
University of North Alabama


First Place,
2005 John Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition


Grand Prize,
2004 National Population Cartoon Contest


2004 National Headliner Award
for Editorial Cartoons


Finalist,
2003 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning


2002 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning


2002 Best Editorial Cartoons,
National Cartoonists Society


2002 National Journalism Award,
Scripps Howard Foundation


2001 Sigma Delta Chi Award,
Society of Professional Journalists


First Place,
2001 John Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition


2001 Editorial Cartoonist of the Year,
Editor & Publisher Magazine


Finalist, 2001 National Journalism Award,
Scripps Howard Foundation


Finalist,
2001 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning


2000 National Headliner Award
for Editorial Cartoons


Finalist,
2000 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning


1999 National Headliner Award
for Editorial Cartoons


Finalist,
1999 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning


Honorable Mention,
1995 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards


1994 Green Eyeshade Award, Best Editorial Cartoons,
Society of Professional Journalists


1990 Jane Roe Media Award,
Florida Abortion Rights Action League


Citation for Editorial Cartoons,
1987 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards


1986 H. L. Mencken Award, Best Cartoon,
Free Press Association


Honorable Mention,
1986 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards


1984 Green Eyeshade Awards, Best Editorial Cartoons,
Society of Professional Journalists


Citation for Excellence,
1982 Overseas Press Club Award


First Place, Editorial Cartoons,
1979 Society for Collegiate Journalists Awards


Runner-up, Comic Strips,
1979 National Council of College Publications



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