Gordon Bess
Encyclopedia
Gordon Bess was an American cartoonist, best known for the comic strip Redeye
.
Born in Richfield, Utah
, Bess began his career as a cartoonist after he joined the United States Marine Corps
in 1947. He created illustrations for the Corps Training Aids Section, and in 1954, he became staff cartoonist for the Marine's Leatherneck magazine
, continuing until 1957, when he left the Corps.
In 1957, he married and took a job as the art director for a greeting card company in Cincinnati, Ohio
. In his spare time, he freelanced cartoons to magazines. In 1967, King Features Syndicate
launched his comic strip Redeye
, about a wacky Indian tribe. The success of the strip enabled him to move to Boise, Idaho
, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing and skiing.
Bess continued writing and drawing Redeye until 1988, when he fell ill. He died in November 1989.
Redeye (comics)
Redeye was a comic strip created by cartoonist Gordon Bess that was syndicated by King Features Syndicate to more than 100 newspapers. The strip debuted on September 11, 1967.-Characters and story:...
.
Born in Richfield, Utah
Richfield, Utah
Richfield is a city in and the county seat of Sevier County, Utah, in the United States, and is the largest city in southern-central Utah. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,551. It lies in the Mormon Corridor, just off of Interstate 70 about 40 miles east of its junction with...
, Bess began his career as a cartoonist after he joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in 1947. He created illustrations for the Corps Training Aids Section, and in 1954, he became staff cartoonist for the Marine's Leatherneck magazine
Leatherneck Magazine
Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines is a magazine for United States Marines. It was first published as a newspaper by off-duty Marines at Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1917, and was originally named The Quantico Leatherneck...
, continuing until 1957, when he left the Corps.
In 1957, he married and took a job as the art director for a greeting card company in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. In his spare time, he freelanced cartoons to magazines. In 1967, King Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate, a print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to nearly 5000 newspapers worldwide...
launched his comic strip Redeye
Redeye (comics)
Redeye was a comic strip created by cartoonist Gordon Bess that was syndicated by King Features Syndicate to more than 100 newspapers. The strip debuted on September 11, 1967.-Characters and story:...
, about a wacky Indian tribe. The success of the strip enabled him to move to Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing and skiing.
Bess continued writing and drawing Redeye until 1988, when he fell ill. He died in November 1989.
