Pat Bagley
Encyclopedia
Patrick "Pat" Bagley is a liberal American
editorial cartoonist
and journalist for The Salt Lake Tribune
in Salt Lake City, Utah
, and an author and illustrator of several books.
, where his father was mayor
and his mother was a school teacher. Always interested in politics, during high school Bagley participated in a PBS interview of Ronald Reagan
. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), he was a proselyting missionary
in the Bolivia
La Paz
Mission
from 1975–77. In 1978 he received his degree in political science, with a history minor, from Brigham Young University
(BYU) in Provo, Utah.
Bagley has two sons, Miles and Alec. Will Bagley
, Pat's older brother, is an accomplished historian of the western United States
and coauthored This is the Place!: A Crossroads of Utah's Past with Pat in 1996.
In October 2009, while reacting to recent statements by Dallin H. Oaks
, an LDS Apostle, about gay marriage protesters and religious freedom
, Bagley commented that he was "retired" from the church, though not bitter or angry, and considers his LDS life a "good experience" and "in my blood."
. This became his first published cartoon, which was reprinted in Time Magazine just weeks later. Bagley submitted more cartoons to the Universe and targeted campus issues, such as BYU's requirement for female students to wear dresses
. Some believe the attention from his cartoons helped change the policy.
After graduation, Bagley briefly worked as a caricaturist in the nearby Orem Mall, before being hired as the editorial cartoonist at The Salt Lake Tribune, where he still produces a daily cartoon. His cartoons have appeared in The Washington Post
, The Guardian
of London, The Wall Street Journal
, Newsweek
, and The Los Angeles Times. Over the years, he has produced more than 6,000 cartoons for the Tribune. He is syndicated
in over 450 American
newspapers and his work is regularly featured at Daryl Cagle
's Political Cartoonists Index (Cagle.com) and in The Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year. Cagle ranks Bagley as the second most popular political cartoonist on his index.
Bagley is also an illustrator and author of independent political cartoons and children's books. His liberal political stance contrasts with the conservative state of Utah, and has influenced several books of political cartoons and humor, including 101 Ways to Survive Four More Years of George W. Bush, Clueless George Goes To War!, Clueless George Is Watching You!, and Clueless George Takes on Liberals!.
Bagley describes himself as a moderate-Republican who became a liberal independent
during the presidency of George W. Bush
. Bagley often addresses the predominant Utah culture of conservative politics and the LDS Church. Bagley's joking about Jell-O
consumption in Utah helped motivate the Utah State Senate
to declare in an official 2001 Legislative Resolution
that Jell-O is "a favorite snack food of Utah."
Many critics claim his work is reflective of impulsive and even immature reactions to life, seldom based in actual fact, and injurious to innocent others; and that his niche of popularity is largely limited to radical or rebellious liberal factions of society.
, Bagley designed many popular commemorative pins that poked fun at local themes, including a "Seven Brides for One Brother" pin and a "Crickets Make Me Barf" seagull
pin. During the Olympics, Bagley sold out of his Utah-themed pins and many in high demand were sold at inflated prices. After the events had ended, Bagley continued to produce pins as the only recognized "pin artist" in the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
editorial cartoonist
Editorial cartoonist
An editorial cartoonist, also known as a political cartoonist, is an artist who draws editorial cartoons that contain some level of political or social commentary....
and journalist for The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune is the largest-circulated daily newspaper in the U.S. city of Salt Lake City. It is distributed by Newspaper Agency Corporation, which also distributes the Deseret News. The Tribune — or "Trib," as it is locally known — is currently owned by the Denver-based MediaNews Group....
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, and an author and illustrator of several books.
Biography
Bagley was born in Salt Lake City and raised in Oceanside, CaliforniaOceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
, where his father was mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and his mother was a school teacher. Always interested in politics, during high school Bagley participated in a PBS interview of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), he was a proselyting missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
from 1975–77. In 1978 he received his degree in political science, with a history minor, from 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...
(BYU) in Provo, Utah.
Bagley has two sons, Miles and Alec. Will Bagley
Will Bagley
Will Bagley is a historian specializing in the history of western United States. Bagley has written about the fur trade, overland emigration, American Indians, military history, frontier violence, railroads, mining, and Utah and the Mormons....
, Pat's older brother, is an accomplished historian of the western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and coauthored This is the Place!: A Crossroads of Utah's Past with Pat in 1996.
In October 2009, while reacting to recent statements by Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin Harris Oaks is an American attorney, jurist, author, professor, public speaker, and religious leader. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, an LDS Apostle, about gay marriage protesters and religious freedom
Protests against Proposition 8 supporters
Protests against Proposition 8 supporters, including the Roman Catholic church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , which collaboratively campaigned in favor of California's Proposition 8 through volunteer and financial support for the measure, took place starting in November 2008...
, Bagley commented that he was "retired" from the church, though not bitter or angry, and considers his LDS life a "good experience" and "in my blood."
Cartooning
In 1977, during a finance class at BYU, Bagley doodled a political cartoon, which he submitted to the student newspaper, The Daily UniverseThe Daily Universe
The Daily Universe is the official student newspaper for Brigham Young University and was started shortly after the school was founded. It was first titled Y News, which was then changed to The Blue and White and finally to The Daily Universe...
. This became his first published cartoon, which was reprinted in Time Magazine just weeks later. Bagley submitted more cartoons to the Universe and targeted campus issues, such as BYU's requirement for female students to wear dresses
Brigham Young University Honor Code
The Brigham Young University Honor Code is a set of standards by which students and faculty at Brigham Young University, a school owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are required to live. The standards derive in many ways from codes of conduct of the LDS Church,...
. Some believe the attention from his cartoons helped change the policy.
After graduation, Bagley briefly worked as a caricaturist in the nearby Orem Mall, before being hired as the editorial cartoonist at The Salt Lake Tribune, where he still produces a daily cartoon. His cartoons have appeared in The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
of London, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, and The Los Angeles Times. Over the years, he has produced more than 6,000 cartoons for the Tribune. He is syndicated
Print syndication
Print syndication distributes news articles, columns, comic strips and other features to newspapers, magazines and websites. They offer reprint rights and grant permissions to other parties for republishing content of which they own/represent copyrights....
in over 450 American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspapers and his work is regularly featured at Daryl Cagle
Daryl Cagle
Daryl Cagle is the editorial cartoonist for msnbc.com.Cagle worked with The Muppets from 1979 through 1993. He drew a daily editorial cartoon panel titled, "TRUE!" for Tribune Media Services in 1995 and went on to draw local editorial cartoons for Hawaii's Midweek newspaper...
's Political Cartoonists Index (Cagle.com) and in The Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year. Cagle ranks Bagley as the second most popular political cartoonist on his index.
Bagley is also an illustrator and author of independent political cartoons and children's books. His liberal political stance contrasts with the conservative state of Utah, and has influenced several books of political cartoons and humor, including 101 Ways to Survive Four More Years of George W. Bush, Clueless George Goes To War!, Clueless George Is Watching You!, and Clueless George Takes on Liberals!.
Bagley describes himself as a moderate-Republican who became a liberal independent
Independent (voter)
An independent voter, those who register as an unaffiliated voter in the United States, is a voter of a democratic country who does not align him- or herself with a political party...
during the presidency of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Bagley often addresses the predominant Utah culture of conservative politics and the LDS Church. Bagley's joking about Jell-O
Jell-O
Jell-O is a brand name belonging to U.S.-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts, including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. The brand's popularity has led to it being used as a generic term for gelatin dessert across the U.S. and Canada....
consumption in Utah helped motivate the Utah State Senate
Utah State Senate
The Utah State Senate is the upper house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The Senate is composed of 29 elected members representing an equal number of constituent senatorial districts. Each senatorial district is composed of approximately 91,000 people...
to declare in an official 2001 Legislative Resolution
Non-binding resolution
A non-binding resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body that cannot progress into a law. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion....
that Jell-O is "a favorite snack food of Utah."
Many critics claim his work is reflective of impulsive and even immature reactions to life, seldom based in actual fact, and injurious to innocent others; and that his niche of popularity is largely limited to radical or rebellious liberal factions of society.
Olympic pins
For the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, Bagley designed many popular commemorative pins that poked fun at local themes, including a "Seven Brides for One Brother" pin and a "Crickets Make Me Barf" seagull
Miracle of the Gulls
The miracle of the gulls is often credited by Latter-day Saints for saving the Mormon pioneers' first harvest in Utah. According to Mormon folklore, seagulls miraculously saved the 1848 crops by eating thousands of insects that were devouring their fields.-Traditional story:After Brigham Young led...
pin. During the Olympics, Bagley sold out of his Utah-themed pins and many in high demand were sold at inflated prices. After the events had ended, Bagley continued to produce pins as the only recognized "pin artist" in the world.
Honors
- In 1992, Bagley received the Wilbur Award for Religious Communication from the Religious Public Relations Council for a cartoon in the April 23, 1991 Tribune. He was the first cartoonist to receive the award, which is given for "outstanding communication of religious values in the news and entertainment media."
- Bagley's 2002 book Dinosaurs of Utah and Dino Destinations was nominated for the Utah Children's Book of the Year.
- In 2006, Bagley was honored by the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
as the best editorial cartoonist in Utah.
- Bagley was dubbed "Best Illustrator" by Salt Lake City WeeklySalt Lake City WeeklySalt Lake City Weekly is a free alternative weekly tabloid-paged newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah. It began its life as the Private Eye. City Weekly is published and dated for every Thursday by Copperfield Publishing Inc...
in their 2007 Artys awards, which annually honor the best artistic talent in the city.
- Bagley was the recipient of the 2007 Torch of Freedom Award from the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties UnionThe American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
of Utah.
- Bagley was awarded the 2009 HerblockHerblockHerbert Lawrence Block, commonly known as Herblock , was an American editorial cartoonist and author best known for his commentary on national domestic and foreign policy from a liberal perspective.-Career:...
Prize for editorial cartooning by a unanimous panel of judges, made up of Garry TrudeauGarry TrudeauGarretson Beekman "Garry" Trudeau is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip.-Background and education:...
, Jules FeifferJules FeifferJules Ralph Feiffer is an American syndicated cartoonist, most notable for his long-run comic strip titled Feiffer. He has created more than 35 books, plays and screenplays...
and John SherffiusJohn SherffiusJohn Sherffius is an editorial cartoonist, for the Boulder Daily Camera.He graduated from The University of California, Los Angeles.His cartoons have appeared in The Daily Bruin, the Ventura County Star, The St...
, representing the Herb Block Foundation.
Children's books
- If You Were a Girl in the Time of the Nephites: 1989, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
(ISBN 0875792499) - If You Were a Boy in the Time of the Nephites: 1989, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
(ISBN 0875792502) - I Spy a NephiteI Spy a NephiteI Spy a Nephite is a popular Mormon children's book written by Pat Bagley and conceptually based on the Where's Waldo? series of books....
: 1991, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
(ISBN 0875794157), reissued 2000, White Horse Books paperback (ISBN 1566845750) - A Nephite in the Works: 1992, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
(ISBN 0875796303) - Hana, the No-Cow Wife: 1993, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
(ISBN 0875797148) - Where Have All the Nephites Gone: 1993, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
(ISBN 0875797571) - Peek-A-Boo Magic: 1995, Buckaroo Books (ISBN 1885628005)
- Norman the Nephite's & Larry the Lamanite's Book of Mormon Time Line: 1995, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
(ISBN 087579906X) - Showdown at Slickrock: 1995, Buckaroo Books (ISBN 1885628021)
- Norman the Nephite and the A-maze-ing Conference Center: 2000, White Horse Books (ISBN 1566845920)
- Dinosaurs of Utah and Dino Destinations: 2001, White Horse Books (ISBN 1566846013)
Political satire
- 101 Ways to Survive Four More Years of George W. Bush: 2005, White Horse Books, (ISBN 0974486043)
- Clueless George Goes To War!: 2005, White Horse Books (ISBN 0974486051)
- Clueless George Is Watching You!: 2006, White Horse Books (ISBN 097448606X)
- Clueless George Takes on Liberals!: 2006, White Horse Books (ISBN 0974486078)
- Fist Bump Heard 'Round the World: The 2008 Election in Cartoons: 2008, White Horse Books (ISBN 0980140625)
Social and religious satire
- I am Appalled...: A Collection of Daily Universe Cartoons: 1979, BYU Chapter of the Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
and Sigma Delta Chi, with Steve Benson - We Survive World War Three and You Give Us Light Beer?: Life After Megadeath: 1983, Gibbs Smith (ISBN 0879051418)
- Treasures of Half-Truth: 1986, Signature BooksSignature BooksSignature Books is a press specializing in subjects related to Utah, Mormonism, and Western Americana. The company was founded in 1980 by George D...
(ISBN 0-941214-47-8) - "Oh My Heck!": A Pretty, Great Cartoon Book: 1988, Signature BooksSignature BooksSignature Books is a press specializing in subjects related to Utah, Mormonism, and Western Americana. The company was founded in 1980 by George D...
(ISBN 0941214680) - The Best of Bagley: 20 Years of Cartoons from The Salt Lake Tribune: 1998, Slickrock Books (ISBN 1892936011)
- Welcome to Utah: 2001, White Horse Books (ISBN 1566846080)
- Bagley's Utah Survival Guide: 2008, White Horse Books (ISBN 0980140609)
Illustrator
- Legalizing Adulthood in Utah: 1991, Aspen West, by Tom Barberi
- Sunday of the Living Dead: 1995, Buckaroo Books, by Robert Kirby (ISBN 0188562849)
- Astro-Nuts!: Riddles About Astronauts and the Planets They Love: 1995, Buckaroo Books, by Rick Walton (ISBN 1-885628-12-9)
- Dino-Might: Pre-Hysterical Dinosaur Riddles: 1995, Buckaroo Books, by Rick Walton (ISBN 1-885628-080)
- The Ghost Is Clear!: Riddles about ghosts, vampires, witches, and other creatures: 1995, Buckaroo Books, by Rick Walton (ISBN 1-885628-11-0)
- Wholly Cowboy!: Cowboy, Cow, and Horse Riddles: 1995, Buckaroo Books, by Rick Walton (ISBN 1-885628-07-2)
- Wake Me for the Resurrection: 1996, Buckaroo Books, by Robert Kirby (ISBN 1885628471)
- Norman the Nephite's Church History Time Line: 1996, Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
, by William W. Slaughter (ISBN 1573451959) - This is the Place!: A Crossroads of Utah's Past: 1996, Buckaroo Books, by Will BagleyWill BagleyWill Bagley is a historian specializing in the history of western United States. Bagley has written about the fur trade, overland emigration, American Indians, military history, frontier violence, railroads, mining, and Utah and the Mormons....
(ISBN 1885628250) - Pat & Kirby Go To Hell: 1997, Slickrock Books, by Robert Kirby (ISBN 1885628463)
- J. Golden KimballJ. Golden KimballJonathan Golden Kimball was a prominent and well known leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a member of the First Council of the Seventy from 1892 until his death in 1938. He is considered one of the most colorful and beloved of the Church's General Authorities...
Stories: 1999, White Horse Books, by James N. Kimball (ISBN 1566845491) - Family Home Screaming: 1999, Slickrock Books, by Robert Kirby (ISBN 1892936089)
- Kirby Soup for the Soul: 2003, White Horse Books, by Robert Kirby (ISBN 0974486027)
- Fit Kids Cookbook: 2004, White Horse Books, by Kate Duffy and Sarah McRedmond (ISBN 097093016X)
External links
- Bagley at Salt Lake Tribune
- "Award-winning cartoonist keynotes 26th Women's Conference", The CEU Eagle (College of Eastern Utah student newspaper), 3 March 2005