Steve Benson
Encyclopedia
Stephen Reed Benson is a Pulitzer Prize
-winning U.S.
editorial cartoon
ist for The Arizona Republic
. Benson is the grandson of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former LDS Church president Ezra Taft Benson
.
Benson attended Brigham Young University
, from which he graduated cum laude. He became the cartoonist for the Arizona Republic in 1980. In the late 1980s he was at first a supporter, then a prominent critic, of Evan Mecham
, the first Mormon to be elected governor of Arizona. Benson's criticism stirred controversy among Arizona's Mormon population, leading some LDS church members to seek the intervention of Benson's grandfather in the matter; Benson was later relieved of his position on a church council.
Benson moved to the Tacoma Morning News Tribune in 1990, but then returned to the Arizona Republic in 1991.
In 1993 Benson faced further controversy within the LDS church, when he stated that his grandfather, then nearing his 94th birthday, was suffering from senility
that was being concealed by church leadership. Later that year, Benson publicly left the church. He has since become a critic of religious belief, appearing at Freedom From Religion Foundation's annual conventions and stating in its paper Freethought Today, "If, as the true believers claim, the word 'gospel' means good news, then the good news for me is that there is no gospel, other than what I can define for myself, by observation and conscience. As a freethinking human being, I have come not to favor or fear religion, but to face and fight it as an impediment to civilized advancement."
In 1997, a Benson cartoon used the image of a firefighter carrying a dead child to comment on the death sentence that had just been imposed on Oklahoma City bombing
defendant Timothy McVeigh
. Benson forcefully defended his work against some readers' contentions that the cartoon was insensitive.
Benson was awarded the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
, was a Pulitzer finalist in 1984, 1989, 1992, and 1994, and has received a variety of other awards. He has served as president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
. His cartoons have been collected in a number of books.
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
editorial cartoon
Editorial cartoon
An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration containing a commentary that usually relates to current events or personalities....
ist for The Arizona Republic
The Arizona Republic
The Arizona Republic is a daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. It was ranked tenth in US daily newspapers by circulation in 2007.-Early years:The newspaper was founded...
. Benson is the grandson of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former LDS Church president Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...
.
Benson attended Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, from which he graduated cum laude. He became the cartoonist for the Arizona Republic in 1980. In the late 1980s he was at first a supporter, then a prominent critic, of Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham was the 17th Governor of Arizona. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham earned his living as an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher...
, the first Mormon to be elected governor of Arizona. Benson's criticism stirred controversy among Arizona's Mormon population, leading some LDS church members to seek the intervention of Benson's grandfather in the matter; Benson was later relieved of his position on a church council.
Benson moved to the Tacoma Morning News Tribune in 1990, but then returned to the Arizona Republic in 1991.
In 1993 Benson faced further controversy within the LDS church, when he stated that his grandfather, then nearing his 94th birthday, was suffering from senility
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
that was being concealed by church leadership. Later that year, Benson publicly left the church. He has since become a critic of religious belief, appearing at Freedom From Religion Foundation's annual conventions and stating in its paper Freethought Today, "If, as the true believers claim, the word 'gospel' means good news, then the good news for me is that there is no gospel, other than what I can define for myself, by observation and conscience. As a freethinking human being, I have come not to favor or fear religion, but to face and fight it as an impediment to civilized advancement."
In 1997, a Benson cartoon used the image of a firefighter carrying a dead child to comment on the death sentence that had just been imposed on Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
defendant Timothy McVeigh
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy James McVeigh was a United States Army veteran and security guard who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995...
. Benson forcefully defended his work against some readers' contentions that the cartoon was insensitive.
Benson was awarded the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning has been awarded since 1922 for a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing, and pictorial effect...
, was a Pulitzer finalist in 1984, 1989, 1992, and 1994, and has received a variety of other awards. He has served as president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists is a professional association concerned with promoting the interests of staff, freelance and student editorial cartoonists in the United States, Canada and Mexico...
. His cartoons have been collected in a number of books.