Douglas Nigel "Doug" Marlette was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American editorial cartoonist who, at the time of his death, had also published two novels and was "finding his voice in writing long-length fiction." His popular comic strip Kudzu, distributed by Universal Press Syndicate from 1981 to 2007, was adapted into a musical comedy. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Marlette was raised in Durham, North Carolina; Laurel, Mississippi and Sanford, Florida. Marlette began his cartooning career while a student at Seminole Community College where he worked on the student newspaper. He then went on to Florida State University where he drew political cartoons for The Florida Flambeau, from 1969 to 1971. He illustrated the 1970-71 FSU yearbook, Tally Ho, including a wraparound cover. Marlette was the cartoonist for The Charlotte Observer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988, New York Newsday, The Tallahassee Democrat and The Tulsa World. In 2002, he drew criticism from Islamic groups for drawing a cartoon depicting Mohammed driving a Ryder van with missiles pointed out the back and the caption, "What would Mohammed drive?" 

December 6th, 1949 in Greensboro  /  Died:   Jul 10th, 2007 - automobile accident