- Ace Reid
Ace Reid was the creator of the cartoon "Cowpokes", which at one time ran in over 400 weekly newspapers across the United States. He produced many popular cartoon books and calendars during his lifetime.
He was born on
March 10 ,1925 at Lelia Lake,Donley County, Texas (nearAmarillo ). He was the son of Asa E. Reid, Sr., and Callie Bishop. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Electra, Wichita County, where he grew up ranching and cowboying.During World War II, he served as a
Machinist's Mate in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific aboard theUSS Lanier (APA-125) . It was on board the Lanier that "Cowpokes" was born. "The Sorry Salt" was a cartoon he drew for the ship's newspaper. After the War, "The Sorry Salt" became "Jake," his primary character.On
September 11 ,1949 , in Dallas, he married Madge Parmley, daughter of the doctor in Electra, T. H. Parmley. They moved toKerrville ,Kerr County, Texas in 1952. Ace’s first cartoon appeared in [http://www.livestockweekly.com/papers/07/07/19/index.html West Texas Livestock Weekly] that same year. Two years later, their son and only child, Stan, was born.Ace and Madge were living in Kerrville at the time of his death on
November 10 ,1991 . Madge, still lives in Kerrville and has kept "Cowpokes" going ever since Ace's death.References
*
John R. Erickson , "Ace Reid: Cowpoke," (Perryton, Texas: Maverick, 1984).
* "Ace Reid and the Cowpokes Cartoons," (University of Texas Press, 2003). Introduction byElmer Kelton and Forward by Washington Post cartoonistPat Oliphant .
*Kinky Friedman , "Cowboy Logic," (St. Martin's Press, 2006).
*Kinky Friedman , "Good Humor Man," "Texas Monthly", March 1994.External links
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/RR/fre50.html Asa Elmer (Ace) Reid, Jr. (1925-1991)] at "Handbook of Texas" OnLine
* [http://www.cowpokes.com/about_ace.html "About Ace Reid" from the Cowpokes Website]
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