RIP, Jeff MacNelly

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I heard on the news this morning that cartoonist Jeff MacNelly passed away. He was only in his early 50s. How sad. His drawings were finely detailed and humorous. His ability as a caricaturist was top-notch, and he had a gift at anthropomorphic sketches.

Shoe was a funny, lightly cynical, on-the-money cartoon, both in its social and political observations. It could be scathing at times, but could also simply point out something funny about life. My favorite strip showed Shoe and the Perfessor at the bar, debating the old “is the glass half empty or half full” line of philosophy. Shoe said his philosophy was the most optimistic of all. “I always figure I’m halfway to my next beer.” Words to live by.

I will miss his work.

2

Oh No! I’m sad to hear the news. I love the Shoe strip. Mr. MacNelly went to the same University I did, UNC-Chapel Hill. The character Shoe was based on a legendary wonderful cantankerous old journalism professor there. Very true to the original.

Jeff was also held dear at the Center for The Study of Southern Culture here at Ole Miss. He illustrated posters for us, and graced us often with his presence.

I will truly miss him.