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Arkansas Cartoonist Jon Kennedy Dies at 96

2 min read

Jon B. Kennedy of North Little Rock, a former editorial cartoonist at the Arkansas Democrat and Arkansas Business, died Friday. He was 96.

Kennedy’s funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home in North Little Rock. Visitation for family and friends begins at 10 a.m. 

Kennedy was born in Springfield, Missouri on Aug. 19, 1918 to Brownlow and Ida Kennedy. While in school, he started his career as a staff artist at the Springfield Leader-Press. In 1941, he moved to Little Rock to become editorial cartoonist for the Arkansas Democrat. 

In 1943, Kennedy enlisted in the Army, where he cartooned, drew training materials and painted. He was discharged in April 1946.

Kennedy returned to his position at the Democrat in 1946, where he would remain until his semi-retirement. His final cartoon for the paper appeared in the Sept. 16, 1988 edition. 

Kennedy returned to cartooning in 1992 for Arkansas Business. He eventually retired because of vision problems in 2005.

Kennedy joined the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists in 1957 as a charter member and published a book of cartoons entitled “Look Back and Laugh” in 1978. He was honored as “Arkansas Journalist of the Year” in 1988. He has political cartoons on display in seven presidential libraries.

Kennedy is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Opal M. Kennedy; son, Brad L. Kennedy; and sisters Norma Freeman and Shirley Kennedy. He is survived by his son, Jon Kennedy Jr.; granddaughter, Shannon Brooks; grandson, Josh Kennedy; and great grandchildren Noah and Avery Brooks.

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