Last evening, I had the honor of attending an honor for Mell Lazarus, the cartoonist responsible for the newspaper strips, Momma and Miss Peach. It is rare for a guy who draws silly pictures to have one long-running strip but two? And he's done so much else as a writer of novels and plays and as a performer and lecturer and as an important figure in the National Cartoonists Society. Small wonder that the N.C.S. made him the second recipient of its Medal of Honor for lifetime achievement — Mort Drucker was the first — and that's what the ceremony was all about.
The place was packed with cartoonists and folks from the world of cartooning. I went with Sergio Aragonés and among the others present were Matt Groening, Cathy Guisewite, Jerry Van Amerongen, Jeff Keane, Daryl Cagle, Tom Richmond, Tom Gammill, Bill Morrison, Chad Frye, David Folkman and Grant Geissman. I somehow wound up sitting next to the Guest of Honor and it was a special delight to just sit and talk with this funny man named Mell. He was humbled by the whole event…though pleased when I pointed out to him that he was receiving the only award for cartooning that Sergio hasn't won.
I may have some photos for you later in the week. It was a grand event and a most deserved bit of recognition.