Jack Elrod
Cartoonist, American, 1924 - 2016
Jack Harrington Elrod, Jr., nationally syndicated cartoonist who wrote and illustrated the “Mark Trail” environmental comic strip for King Features Syndicate for 64 years.
He began working as a cartoonist with Ed Dodd on the “Mark Trail” comic in 1950 and became sole author of the strip in 1978 until his retirement on his 90th birthday in 2014. Mr. Elrod also created a family-style comic strip, “The Ryatts,” which he based on his own family.
He worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on several campaigns promoting weather safety, fire prevention and environmental conservation.
Elrod was the recipient of more than 30 conservationist awards from both national agencies and private organizations, including receiving the “Take Pride in America” Award from President Regan and the Golden Smokey (the Bear) from the USDA Forest Service, and helped educate children and adults through the Wetlands coloring books, visiting classrooms and speaking to civic and community groups. The most gratifying tribute for Elrod was the designation of the “Mark Trail Wilderness” in 1991 – 16,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest that includes portions of the Appalachian Trail that Elrod hiked throughout his life.
He began working as a cartoonist with Ed Dodd on the “Mark Trail” comic in 1950 and became sole author of the strip in 1978 until his retirement on his 90th birthday in 2014. Mr. Elrod also created a family-style comic strip, “The Ryatts,” which he based on his own family.
He worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on several campaigns promoting weather safety, fire prevention and environmental conservation.
Elrod was the recipient of more than 30 conservationist awards from both national agencies and private organizations, including receiving the “Take Pride in America” Award from President Regan and the Golden Smokey (the Bear) from the USDA Forest Service, and helped educate children and adults through the Wetlands coloring books, visiting classrooms and speaking to civic and community groups. The most gratifying tribute for Elrod was the designation of the “Mark Trail Wilderness” in 1991 – 16,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest that includes portions of the Appalachian Trail that Elrod hiked throughout his life.