Dwayne Powell, Cartoonist

Dwane Powell had a reputation as a doodler when he was growing up on a farm in his home state of Arkansas, and by the time he reached college he was producing editorial cartoons for several papers in the region. Since then, he has been honing the artistic talents, keen perspective and no-holds-barred sense of humor that have become the trademarks of his drawings.

Powell’s first full-time newspaper job was with the Hot Springs Sentinel Record in 1969. Three years later, he moved to San Antonio, where he was the political cartoonist/staff artist for the San Antonio Light. After a short stint with the Cincinnati Enquirer, Powell moved to North Carolina and the Raleigh News and Observer in 1975, where he has worked eve since.

According to Powell’s editor at the News and Observer, Powell’s four cartoons a week draw more mail and stir up more debate than anything else in the paper. Among the acclamations Powell has won over the course of his career are the Overseas Press Club Award for Excellence in Cartooning and the National Headliners Club Award for Outstanding Editorial Cartoons. He was also named Distinguished Alumnus by his alma mater, the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Powell currently lives Raleigh with his wife, Jan, his daughter, Devon, and his wiener dog, Oliver. When not drawing cartoons, he spends his time playing blues and rock guitar, bicycling and cruising on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.