Sargent, Ben, 1948-

Pullitzer Prize-winning artist, Ben Sargent, began his journalism career in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas. Born into a newspaper family, Sargent worked in the trade at an early age and studied at Amarillo College. He then enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin and earned his Bachelor of Journalism in 1970. In 1974, Sargent embarked on a long career as an editorial cartoonist for the Austin American-Statesman, covering a wide range of issues but frequently focused on the divisive and colorful world of Texas politics. Sargent’s work has earned him numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 1982. Though he retired from the Austin American-Statesman in 2009, his work continues to appear in syndication.

From the guide to the Ben Sargent Papers 2009-136; 2011-119., 1974-2011, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)