Bob Thaves

Robert Thaves (October 5 1924 - August 1 2006) was the creator of the comic strip "Frank and Ernest", which began in 1972.

Thaves' desire to become a cartoonist began in his childhood. He had no formal training; instead, he practised by studying and drawing the works of other cartoonists. He was so skilled he could identify the cartoonist of a comic strip without looking at the signature.

He attended the University of Minnesota, where he received both a bachelor and masters degree in psychology. While still at university, the first of his cartoons were printed in magazines. He continued to be interested in cartooning, and developed the "Frank and Ernest" strip while working as an industrial psychologist.

"Frank and Ernest" began appearing in magazines as early as the 1960s. It was first nationally syndicated November 6 1972 and was eventually carried in 1,300 papers. It was the first single panel strip to appear in the "panel" format, and the first to use block letters for its dialogue.

He also drew the short-lived "King Baloo" strip, which ran during the 1980s. Its format was identical to "Frank and Ernest", but featured the titular King.

His son Tom began collaborating with him on "Frank and Ernest" in 1997. The elder Thaves had planned on transitioning his son to take over the strip before his death. Bob Thaves died of respiratory failure in Torrance, California at the age of 81.

Awards

He won several awards for "Frank and Ernest" including the National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for 1983, 1984 and 1986. He won the H.L. Mencken Award for the best cartoon in 1985 and he was selected as "Punster of the Year" in 1990.

Tribute

The August 14, 2006 edition of the comic strip "Candorville" and the September 10, 2006 edition of the comic strip "Prickly City" paid tribute to Thaves.

ee also

* "Frank and Ernest"

External links

* [http://www.frankandernest.com Frank and Ernest's official homepage]
* [http://www.reuben.org/ncs/awards.asp NCS Awards]
* [link doesn't work anymore http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/15235317.htm Thaves obituary]
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/frankern.htm Toonopedia entry for Frank and Ernest]