Happy birthday, Ken Marshall
Let’s pause a moment to offer the happiest of VizEds birthday wishes to Ken Marshall of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland.Ken’s been in Cleveland nearly ten years. Previously, he worked with me (and Kevin Hand and Chris Soprych and Rick Tuma and the rest of the gang) at the Chicago Tribune.
He also worked in San Antonio, San Diego and San Columbus, Ohio. Ken is a graduate of Michigan. No, wait: Ohio State.
Ken and I worked very closely together at the Trib. I learned a lot from this generous, patient man who allowed me to tag along behind him as he made his rounds of the Tribune’s sports department, scraping up work for the graphics department.
Ken doesn’t have a portfolio online, but you can easily track down work by folks he’s supervised over his years at the Plain Dealer. Stephen Beard and William Neff and Reid Brown, for example.
Ken shares a birthday with Adam Levine of the rock group Maroon 5, comedian Dane Cook, speed skater Bonnie Blair, celebrities Vanessa Williams and Queen Latifah, musician Wilson Pickett and writer George Plimpton.
In addition, today is the birthday of the only man who served as president, was defeated for re-election and then got elected again, Grover Cleveland. Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th U.S. president.
Best wishes for a happy birthday, Ken!
March 18th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Happy Birthday little fella!
Many of you may not know that I created one of my personal favorite going-away caricatures for Ken Marshall. (Another favorite was for Patti McCracken) Unfortunately I neglected to make a digital copy of Ken’s (and Patti’s) art and unfortunately Ken (as well as the nomadic McCracken) packed it at the very bottom of one of the many boxes he (as well as she) has not reopened since he (she) left the Tribune Tower.
I urge everyone to join forces with me in shaming this wonderfully shameless graphics guru into finding that box and scanning the art for me so that I can share the art with one and all.
Okay, now I feel better.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Happy birthday, KM!
I’m eternally grateful to Ken for giving me my start and throwing me “All The Good Assignments” ™ day after day.
Hey, Ken … scan in Rick’s caricature already. And give my best to Ann.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
As I was always telling the bored-looking, gum-cracking school groups touring the Plain Dealer newsroom — Ken Marshall was producing award-winning information graphics back when I was still busy striking out with my prom date.
Marshall knows more about the art and science of information graphics falling down drunk than most of the poseurs I’ve worked for would know on their best day. You might not particularly enjoy getting sent back to the drawing board, with your beautifully rendered graphic reduced to a Jackson Pollock of Marshall’s red ink, but as he’ll tell you: “That’s why they invented drawing boards!”
March 18th, 2008 at 10:59 am
It may be easier to drop in on Rick and let him start over. That darned caricature has been impossible to find.
Thanks for the good wishes.
I need to update Charles. I worked at Dallas and drank in San Antonio.