Palmer, Bob (1920 - 1999)

Robert ‘Bob' Palmer was Springfield’s longest-working cartoonist from 1953 to 1991. He created over 10,000 cartoons during a career that saw 8 American presidents, seven Missouri governors and innumerable local personalities come and go. His cartoons won numerous awards, including at least three Freedom Foundation awards, and a cartoon he drew depicting Richard Nixon as a rat crawling out of a television was nominated for the Pulitzer. Whether they were being praised or parodied, subjects of Palmer’s commentary were always honored to be included in a Bob Palmer cartoon. With his retirement in July 1991, Palmer became the last local News-Leader cartoonist. His original cartoons hung in the offices of Richard Nixon, Harry Truman, as well as members of presidential administrations and the Supreme Court. “There is no one I wouldn’t criticize or praise,” admitted Palmer, “I have no Sacred Cows.”