Charles Werner

Born on March 23, 1909, in Marshfield, Wisconsin, Charles George Werner is a celebrated alumnus of Marshfield High School. Pursuing his education further, he attended Oklahoma City University without any formal training in art. His talent, however, was undeniable and from 1930 to 1935, Werner worked as staff artist and photographer for Leader and Press in Springfield, Missouri.

After joining the Daily Oklahoman in 1935, Werner made his mark and became an editorial cartoonist by 1937. His career then took him to the Chicago Sun in 1941 as Chief Editorial Cartoonist, but in 1947 he transferred to the Indianapolis Star, where he remained until his retirement in 1994. His work was so admired that former U.S. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Harry Truman requested his original cartoons for their personal collections.

Charles Werner was not just a popular figure in his industry; he was also an award-winning cartoonist. In 1939, when he was just 29 years old, Werner won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning, making him the youngest person to ever receive this prestigious award. His winning cartoon, "Nomination for 1938," depicted the Munich Agreement, which led to the transfer of Sudetenland to Hitler's Germany.

Over the years, Werner continued to receive recognition for his profound work. He won the Sigma Delta Chi Award for excellence in journalism in 1943 and seven Freedom Foundation Awards between 1951 and 1963. In 1959, he served as the president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. In the 1969 International Salon of Cartoons in Montreal, he was awarded as one of the world's six best cartoonists.

Charles Werner passed away on July 1, 1997, from cancer but his legacy continues to inspire. You can review his work and papers between 1938 to 1966 at Syracuse University, and find his records at the Library of Congress.