Yohn, Jefferson D

Jefferson D. Yohn (1917-1997) was an American editorial cartoonist.

Jefferson Yohn was born February 8, 1917 in Urbana, Missouri. Yohn grew up in Florida and Oregon. In 1938, Yohn became a boiler-maker apprentice with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. He served with the Marine Corps during World War II on the USS Denver . After the war, Yohn resumed work with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Yohn received an A.B. in English (1951) and a master's degree in American literature (1954) from the University of Portland. Yohn was a teacher at Clatskanie Union High School in Clatskanie, Oregon and also taught journalism and English at Franklin High School in Portland.

Yohn cartooned for several newspapers. During the 1960s, Yohn worked at the San Bernardino Sun Telegram drawing cartoons and as an editorial writer until he left in 1967. His work also appeared in the Hollywood Citizen-News, the Bakersfield Californian and the Seattle Times . From 1970 to 1974, Yohn was the cartoonist and editorial page editor for the Sacramento Union .

Yohn's work criticizing Cesar Chavez was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and his editorial writing was recognized by awards from the American Legion, National Conference of Christians and Jews, American Medical Association and Goodwill Industries.

Later Yohn served as editor for APB, a publication of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen until 1989. Before his death, Yohn worked part time on the editorial page at the Elk Grove Citizen .

Jefferson Yohn died on April 15, 1997 following a stroke.

From the guide to the Jefferson D. Yohn Cartoons, 1966-1967, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)