Cartoonist. Born Alexander Gillespie Raymond in New Rochelle, New York. His career began as a clerk on Wall Street, but after the Crash of 1929 he enrolled in the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. Within a year, he was introduced to King Features Syndicate and assisted such artists as Russ Westover, Lyman Young, and Chic Young. In 1933, he was asked to create a Sunday comic strip in the vein of Buck Rogers, and with writer Don Moore, he launched 'Flash Gordon' the following year. Additionally, his strip ‘Jungle Jim' debuted at the same time, serving in a complimentary fashion and appearing adjoining. Simultaneously, he agreed to draw the 'Secret Agent X9' strip which was scripted by Dashiell Hammett, for the Evening Journal. He remained with that strip for a year. ‘Flash Gordon' evolved from a weekly to a daily strip in 1940. During WWII, however, the daily was canceled when its creator joined the Marines. An associate took up the artistic duties for Flash, while Raymond was commissioned as a captain and served in public-relations creating patriotic posters and art. He then trained at the Marine Corps Air Station for escort carrier duty in the PTO. He mustered out as a Major in 1946. King Features refused to return the ‘Flash Gordon' strip to him, but requested a new one, which resulted in ‘Rip Kirby,' a daily which debuted in March 1946. He was awarded the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award in 1949 and served as their president from 1950 to 1952. At the age of 47 he was involved in an automobile accident in Westport, Connecticut. Fellow cartoonist, Stan Drake, survived the one car crash, but Raymond was killed when the Corvette convertible he was driving hit a tree at approximately 50 mph after he apparently lost control of the vehicle on a wet road.
Cartoonist. Born Alexander Gillespie Raymond in New Rochelle, New York. His career began as a clerk on Wall Street, but after the Crash of 1929 he enrolled in the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. Within a year, he was introduced to King Features Syndicate and assisted such artists as Russ Westover, Lyman Young, and Chic Young. In 1933, he was asked to create a Sunday comic strip in the vein of Buck Rogers, and with writer Don Moore, he launched 'Flash Gordon' the following year. Additionally, his strip ‘Jungle Jim' debuted at the same time, serving in a complimentary fashion and appearing adjoining. Simultaneously, he agreed to draw the 'Secret Agent X9' strip which was scripted by Dashiell Hammett, for the Evening Journal. He remained with that strip for a year. ‘Flash Gordon' evolved from a weekly to a daily strip in 1940. During WWII, however, the daily was canceled when its creator joined the Marines. An associate took up the artistic duties for Flash, while Raymond was commissioned as a captain and served in public-relations creating patriotic posters and art. He then trained at the Marine Corps Air Station for escort carrier duty in the PTO. He mustered out as a Major in 1946. King Features refused to return the ‘Flash Gordon' strip to him, but requested a new one, which resulted in ‘Rip Kirby,' a daily which debuted in March 1946. He was awarded the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award in 1949 and served as their president from 1950 to 1952. At the age of 47 he was involved in an automobile accident in Westport, Connecticut. Fellow cartoonist, Stan Drake, survived the one car crash, but Raymond was killed when the Corvette convertible he was driving hit a tree at approximately 50 mph after he apparently lost control of the vehicle on a wet road.
Bio by: Iola
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