Biography:

Editorial cartoonist. Born– November 22, 1920, Andalusia. Parents– Gordie and Emily Elizabeth (Smith) Brooks. Married– Virginia Matson, 1943. Children– Two. Education– Studied at Birmingham Southern College, 1940-1941 and Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, 1941-1942. Served in the 3053rd Engineer Combat Battalion, WWII; took part in the D-Day landing and the Battle of the Bulge. Editorial cartoonist for the Birmingham News, 1948-1985.   Member Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (president, 1969), Birmingham Press Club, and other professional organizations. Founded the series Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year in 1972 and edited it for many years. Honors; Sigma Delta Chi Service Award and the Bronze Medallion, 1960; Vigilant Patriot Award from the DAV., 1968; thirteen Freedom Foundation awards; and the first annual Grover C. Hall Award for Excellence in Alabama Journalism from Troy State University, 1974.  UAB School of Community and Allied Health created the Charles Brooks Award for a graduating senior who has made a creative contribution to the school.  Died September 29, 2011.

Source:

Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 1978; obituary, Birmingham News, October 2, 2011.

Illustrator:

The Real Spiro Agnew. New York; Pelican Publishing, 1970.

Editor:

Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year, 1972-. New York; Pelican Publishing, 1972-.