Jon B. Kennedy

JON B. KENNEDY, 96, of North Little Rock passed away Friday, Oct. 10. Born in Springfield, Mo. on Aug. 19, 1918 to parents, Brownlow and Ida Kennedy, he started his career as a staff artist at the Springfield Leader-Press while still in high school. After several years in the art department there, he moved on to become editorial cartoonist in 1941 for the Arkansas Democrat in Little Rock, Ark. In 1943, Kennedy enlisted in the Army and was discharged in April 1946. While in the military, he cartooned, drew training materials and painted. Kennedy returned to his position at the Arkansas Democrat in 1946, where he would remain until his semi-retirement with his final cartoon appearing in the Sept. 16, 1988 edition. Kennedy returned to cartooning in 1992 for Arkansas Business, eventually retiring because of vision problems in 2005. Kennedy joined the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists in 1957 as a charter member and published a book of cartoons entitled "Look Back and Laugh" in 1978. He was recognized as "Arkansas Journalist of the Year" in 1988. He has political cartoons on display in seven presidential libraries. Kennedy is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Opal M. Kennedy; son, Brad L. Kennedy and sisters, Norma Freeman and Shirley Kennedy. He is survived by his son, John Kennedy Jr.; granddaughter, Shannon Brooks; grandson, Josh Kennedy and great-grandchildren, Noah and Avery Brooks. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home , 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock, with visitation for family and friends one hour prior to the service. Please share your memories of Jon Kennedy at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.