I feel vain for mentioning this, and I apologize for that in advance, but I suppose you should know that I won the prestigious Reuben Award given out by the National Cartoonists Society on Saturday night at their convention at the beautiful Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Reuben is the equivalent to the Oscar for Best Picture in the cartooning world. It is voted on by the members of, and given out by, the National Cartoonists Society. 

I was honored just to have been nominated by such an incredibly talented and exceptional group of people who I admire, love and respect. I am thrilled to have won and I am humbled to have a place among the outstanding and extraordinary cartoonists and legends of cartooning that have won before me. 

I am glad to stand in the shadows of the greats.

It is a reflection of an organization that can look beyond the distraction of politics and respect the art of editorial cartooning itself. These are the people who continually contribute generously for great causes, whose imagination entertains the world. They are the most lovely group of people and I thank them all. And I get the luxury of calling them my friends and colleagues. 

I did not prepare an acceptance speech because I didn't think I would win. I was up against some outstanding cartoonists, many of whom had been nominated many times before (I actually left the convention early because I didn't want my mother to be alone on Memorial Day). I was pretty happy winning the editorial cartooning division award from time to time. 

Editorial cartoonists are like the illegitimate stepchildren of cartooning. Unlike the amazingly talented cartoonists who create brilliant, witty and imaginative worlds from thin air, we, editorial cartoonists have the best gag-writers working for us, politicians. As I've said before, these days, editorial cartooning is more like stenography than anything creative.  

I want to acknowledge my brilliant fellow nominees, Lynda Barry, Stephan Pastis, Mark Tatulli and Hilary Price. You are all truly exceptional cartoonists, I'm sorry that you had to lose for me to win. You are all so talented... but I am delighted and honored to win. 

The fact that so many who vehemently disagree with me politically, can look beyond our differences and still vote for me, time after time demonstrates how special and truly wonderful these people are. They are extraordinary. I wish you could all meet them. 

I love Memphis. It is fitting that I won the Reuben in the city that I love. I won my first Pulitzer in Memphis and it was good to be back in my home away from home. I'm sure I added a few layers of plaque to my arteries but having Rendezvous ribs are so worth it. 

Thank you to all of you who have sent congratulations. Although I do not draw editorial cartoons to get awards, it is a thrill to win them, especially when it is from your heroes. 

I am blessed to do something I love, that gives me purpose and that hopefully impacts the world we live in, and I thank God for his inspiration and his many blessings, my family for their love and encouragement, and for you, my friends, for your friendship and support. 

Now, let's party!

Congratulations to the Silver Reuben Award winners: 

Magazine Feature / Magazine Illustration
Anton Emdin
Newspaper Illustration
Anton Emdin
Greeting Card
Jim Benton 
TV Animation
Drew Hodges, Creator, Director, Executive Producer (Tumble Leaf)
Feature Animation
Steve Martino, Director (The Peanuts Movie)
Advertising / Product Illustration
Anton Emdin
Book Illustration
Sydney Smith (Sidewalk Flowers)
Magazine Gag Cartoon
David Sipress
Graphic Novel
Ethan Young (Nanjing: The Burning City)
Comic Book
Ben Caldwell (Prez)
Online Comics – Short Form
Dave Kellett (Sheldon)
Online Comics – Long Form
Drew Weing (The Creepy Casefiles of Margo Maloo)
Newspaper Panel Cartoon
Dan Piraro (Bizarro)
Editorial Cartoon
Ann Telnaes
Newspaper Comic Strip
Terri Libenson (The Pajama Diaries)
The Reuben Award
Michael Ramirez

Best wishes, 

-m