N&O cartoonist retiring

RALEIGH -- Dwane Powell is retiring today as editorial cartoonist for The News & Observer after spending 35 years lampooning the high and mighty of Tar Heel politics, from dressing former Republican U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms in a cave man outfit to putting a weathervane in former Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt's pompadour.

Powell, who turns 65 this week, drew more than 8,000 editorial cartoons that pointed out the foibles, the contradictions and affectations of the state's elected leaders.

"It's amazing," said Gary Pearce, a longtime Democratic operative. "With just a pen and a piece of paper, he could come closer to the truth about politics and politicians than thousands of words. He could really just nail you. Even when he did, you just had to laugh."

Steve Ford, editorial page editor for The N&O, said there were no immediate plans to replace Powell. Ford said it was possible that Powell might be an occasional contributor.

Editorial cartoonists are part of a disappearing breed as the economic fortunes of newspapers continue to decline. In 1981, a magazine survey found eight political cartoonists working in North Carolina. With Powell's retirement, there will be only one full-time political cartoonist working for a daily newspaper in North Carolina - Kevin Siers with The Charlotte Observer.

Although Powell's politics lean to the left, there has always has been a lot of Arkansas farm boy in Powell. He grew up among guns and tractors, and he has retained his love of guitar picking.

"His country-boy humor is extraordinarily popular among our readers," his old boss, former N&O editor Claude Sitton once remarked. "Dwane's about one-quarter pickup truck and three-quarters chewing tobacco, and there isn't a politician in the state that will eat breakfast without looking at The News & Observer editorial page first."

Powell worked briefly for newspapers in Arkansas, San Antonio and Cincinnati before coming to Raleigh in 1975.

"The N&O was what I really considered a dream job for a cartoonist," Powell said. "It was a paper that had a strong journalistic ethical standard. It was in a capital city. And they offered me the freedom to do what I wanted to do."

Among Powell's favorite subjects were Helms, the rock-ribbed conservative; Jimmy Green, the often investigated Democratic lieutenant governor; or "any politician doing something stupid."

The hunter and Jim Hunt

There was often a curious relationship between Powell and the politicians he lampooned. Helms and Hunt decorated their office walls with framed Powellcartoons.

"Dwane Powell cartoons, many of which are on my office wall, are a whole lot funnier now than when they first came out," Hunt said Tuesday. "Dwane is a real, honest talent. As I look at the cartoons, they really tell the story of what was going on, the highs and the lows. It's like reading a history book."

Carter Wrenn, a longtime Helms strategist, said it was not unusual for conservatives such as Helms strategist Tom Ellis or former Republican U.S. Sen. John East to receive signed Powell cartoons as Christmas or birthday gifts.

"You didn't have to agree with them," Wrenn said. "He had a way of lampooning politics that was funny." (Powell drew Wrenn slinging political attacks with a catapult-like device called a "Mud-o-matic.")

Powell never met Helms, but the senator would call him from time to time for long chats.

"Helms could be very disarming when he called," Powell said.

Sometimes, Powell would hit a nerve. That was the case in 1977, when Powell offered his take on a story about a secret fund in Billy Graham's organization. Powell drew howls - and won a major national award - when he drew a cartoon that depicted the North Carolina evangelist pushing aside a painting of Christ to reach a wall safe.

Powell also hit the outrage meter in 2007. Commenting on Gen. David Petraeus' plans to draw down troops in Iraq, Powell drew the caskets of U.S. soldiers being drawn down off planes.

Powell said he never lost any sleep over complaints.

"I'd feel kind of bad if people didn't raise a little hell now and then," Powell said.

After 35 years, Powell will come to work for the last day to his second-floor office to draw one more cartoon.

"I'm going to miss him a great deal," Ford said. "I'm going to miss his contribution to the paper. I think he has brought a special perspective to our editorial commentary. His values are admirable and are consistent with the values the paper has tried to further on the editorial page."

Powell has not yet decided whether to continue to draw for Creators Syndicate in Los Angeles. But that would not allow him to draw North Carolina politics.

"I will miss all my cast of characters," Powell said.

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