‘Beetle Bailey’ cartoonist, Mizzou alum Mort Walker dies at 94

University of Missouri alum Mort Walker, best known for creating the comic strip “Beetle Bailey,” passed away at his home in Connecticut Saturday at the age of 94.

Walker’s son attributed his father’s death to old age.

Walker graduated from the University of Missouri in 1948. His education at Mizzou was interrupted after being drafted into the army.

He began publishing cartoons at age 11, and was involved with more than a half-dozen comic strips in his career, including “Hi and Lois,” ”Boner’s Ark” and “Sam & Silo.” His greatest success came drawing Beetle, his hot-tempered Army sergeant and the rest of the gang at fictional Camp Swampy for more than 60 years.

A bronze statute of Beetle Bailey sits in front of Mizzou’s alumni center, and Mort’s on campus is also named after Walker.