PORTLAND – Nationally recognized cartoonist Brad Anderson – who called the town of Portland his home for a good portion of his life – has sadly drawn his loveable and exuberant Great Dane for the last time.

Anderson died unexpectedly on Aug. 30 at the age of 91, according to a Saturday statement on the National Cartoonists Society’s website. He is best known for creating the enduring comic strip “Marmaduke,” which is syndicated by Universal Uclick in over 500 newspapers in 10 countries, including the OBSERVER.

“He really liked to talk to people and his heart was here in the town of Portland and (the village of) Brocton,” Portland Supervisor Dan Schrantz said. “He was another success story of someone who got their start growing up in a small, rural community … and becoming a successful person and contributing his talents to society. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will definitely be missed by everyone, but he is well-remembered in the Brocton-Portland area.”

Since 2012, Portland’s not-for-profit Brad Anderson Recognition Committee group has worked to raise funds for two life-size, bronze statues of Anderson and his Marmaduke creation as a way of honoring him and his global success. Committee Chairman Jerry Boltz called Anderson’s passing “a tragedy” and “quite a shock to everybody.”

“In our eyes, Brad Anderson was a hometown hero, a legend from the community,” he added. “He’s taken many trips back here and always spent time with people. He was the guy that always came back and, of course, he’s going to be buried here, so that kind of tells you that home is home.”

Boltz noted Anderson had personally signed off on the design for the two statues. He said he would not be surprised if Anderson’s son, Paul – who was assisting him with the comics since 2004 – picks up in his father’s place.

The National Cartoonists Society called Anderson “one of its true luminaries” and stated it mourns the loss of a longtime member of its family and a true giant of cartooning.

Anderson was born in Jamestown in 1924. He grew up on Third Street in the hamlet of Portland and graduated from Brocton Central School in 1942.

He hatched the idea of “Marmaduke” in 1954 on the top floor of the Owen building on the northeast corner of Main Street and Lake Avenue in Brocton, according to a 2012 OBSERVER article announcing he would be coming to visit his hometown.

The statement from the NCS pointed out Anderson continued to draw “Marmaduke” until his passing.

Anderson has featured many of his lifelong friends and locales such as Cave’s Meat Market from the Brocton-Portland area in his popular comic strip.

Many can remember his father’s farm machine business in Portland, where his father introduced him to craftsmanship in the areas of manufacturing farm implements, woodworking and metal forgery, glass work, hardware crafting and sales. These skills came in handy when he served in the U.S. Navy aboard a diesel ship.

After World War II, Anderson attended Syracuse University School of Fine Arts, graduating in 1951 with a major in advertising.

He began focusing on freelance cartooning in 1953; from 1954 to 1966, he drew a comic strip called “Grandpa’s Boy.”

The NCS awarded Anderson with the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Anderson resided in Montgomery, Texas, at the time of his death.

Anyone wishing to see the Anderson and Marmaduke statues come to fruition can send donations payable to the Brocton Portland Development Corporation – The Marmaduke Fund, c/o Town of Portland, 87 W. Main St., Brocton, NY 14716. All donations are tax deductible.

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