The news business can be tough, especially in a times changes in the medium, consolidation and cut backs. Reporters, editors and support staff, overworked or out of work, are leaving the industry in waves.
But for award-winning Mississippi political cartoonist Marshall Ramsey, his talent and drive has helped him draw his own storyline in the media business — one defined by dedication and helped along by a stroke of luck.
Ramsey is the author of several successful books, including three cartoon collections, two short story collections (Fried Chicken and Wine and Chainsaws and Casseroles) and the children’s book Banjo’s Dream.
His cartoons, photos and stories led him to a statewide radio program, Now You’re Talking with Marshall Ramsey, and the television program Conversations on Mississippi Public Broadcasting. He’s appeared on Fox & Friends, Inside Edition, CBSN and CNN New Day.
In many ways, Ramsey’s work has been influenced by his surroundings, but the common theme of education seems to run through his life story.
Ramsey, now the Editor-At-Large for the web-based news outlet Mississippi Today, got his start in political cartooning in high school. His first published work — a drawing of the school librarian demanding hall passes while brandishing a machine gun — landed him in the principal’s office. It also led to a policy change that aided the students in accessing the library.
After serving as the editorial cartoonist for the University of Tennessee’s newspaper and in the face of a tough job market, his first job out of college was as a custodian at a local high school in Marietta, Ga. That’s where he met his wife, Amy, now a school teacher in the Madison County School district.
He didn’t stay a janitor for long — his submitted worked in the Marietta, Ga. paper and the Conroe, Texas papers landed him his first full-time political cartoonist position at the Jackson Clarion-Ledger in 1996.
With that platform, Ramsey became a household name in Mississippi. He skewered politicians — left, right and center — by succeeding in capturing the hilarious, depraved and outrageous nature of Mississippi politics in a time of great change.
He had a run of fantastic characters. There was former Gov. Kirk Fordice, then Jackson mayors Frank Melton and Harvey Johnson, Jr. Later, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, Lt. Gov. Mike Moore and his infamously tall hair made for endless punchlines.
“I planned to be here maybe two years,” Ramsey explains. “Then I fell in love with it. There’s a lot of love here, especially if you are in the business of storytelling and poking fun at politicians.”
Over 20 years at the Ledger, Ramsey won numerous awards for his cartooning and was a two-time Pulitzer Finalist (2002 and 2006).
He had plenty of job offers over the years, but only seriously considered two others that would have taken he and his family out of Mississippi. Ultimately, he turned down both of them, opting instead to make a life for his family in Madison.
Even when circumstances at the Clarion-Ledger changed, he and his family stayed.
“The wheels kind of fell off of the newspaper industry,” Ramsey says. “Papers were laying off political cartoonists left and right, but I still had a job and the Ledger was like a family. There was Rick and Bobby Cleveland and folks like David Hampton, Billy Watkins and Orley Hood. But all of those people were laid off or left over the years.”
When the chance to move to a new medium presented itself in December of 2018, Ramsey knew the time was right.
“I was the youngest guy on the staff when I started,” Ramsey said. “When I left, I was one of the oldest.”
Now, he and Amy have three kids — all in the Madison County School system — and his schedule allows him time to both keep up with his cartooning, public speaking and TV and radio shows while simultaneously working on his books.
The holiday season is always the busiest. His cartoon collections are always a popular gift choice and Ramsey likes to put in the leg work, holding book signings and meet-and-greets at bookstores and public meetings all over the state.
His latest collection of cartoons, Drawing the Line, nearly sold out last Christmas at Jackson’s biggest privately owned bookstore Lemuria.
“It’s a really nice coffee table book,” says Lemuria owner Johnny Evans. “It came out three years ago, but last year we still sold a whole lot of them. It’s a great Christmas gift that won’t ever be out of date.”
Ramsey’s book Banjo’s Dream, published in 2013, is a children’s book inspired by his family pet who lived nearly 14 years, including the last four with diabetes.
“Banjo was a great dog who survived four years on two shots of insulin a day,” Ramsey explains. “He became an inspiration for kids growing up with diabetes who want to live to be old and smelly like Banjo.”
The book, subtitled “A Little Brown Dog’s A-Z Book of Inspiration,” is aimed at teaching kids how to unlock their potential by shrugging off perceived limitations and supporting self-esteem.
Sales for the Banjo book did well enough that Ramsey is now working on a second children’s book. He isn’t giving away hints as to the subject, but said fans can look for the release some time around Christmas of next year.
“So much of the inspiration for my work comes from my children,” Ramsey explains. “The Banjo book was as much for them as for anyone else, and I really enjoy writing for a younger audience.”
Ramsey’s work can be found at bookstores throughout the state. Keep up with his personal blog and get all the latest news about his work at www.MarshallRamsey.com.
