Pratt, Newton (1901 – 1985)

Newton Pratt original cartoon artwork

Newton Pratt first job was as an engineer at the State Division of Highways in Sacramento. In 1938, Pratt was employed by the Sacramento Bee as its editorial cartoonist replacing Harold J. Wahl. Pratt was a three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. When Pratt retired in 1971 and The Sacramento Bee hired Dennis Renault as his successor in 1971, the times had changed but the modus operandi of staff cartoonist remained the same; that of being fiercely independent. Renault, like Pratt, would draw up a sketch each workday and present it to the editor or editorial page editor before completing a more polished version.