Steve Benson

Steve Benson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. editorial cartoonist for The Arizona Republic. Benson is the grandson of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and LDS prophet Ezra Taft Benson.

Related Topics:
Pulitzer Prize - U.S. - Editorial cartoon - The Arizona Republic - Secretary of Agriculture - LDS - Ezra Taft Benson

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Among Benson's most famous cartoon depicts a firefighter carrying an child from the Oklahoma City bombing similar to a well-known photo of a firefighter's futile rescue of 1-year old Baylee Almon. The child in the cartoon says, "Please, no more killing..." to which the firefighter, labeled "death penalty fanatics," replies, "quit your whining!" The cartoon, published June 11 1997, angered firefighters nationwide. Almon's mother called for Benson to apologize for using the image. Benson, however, stood firm even as his paper issued an apology for printing the cartoon.

Related Topics:
Firefighter - Oklahoma City bombing - Baylee Almon - June 11 - 1997

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Late in 1993, Benson very publicly left the LDS Church after charging its leadership with covering up his grandfather's senility and allowing church members to believe Ezra Taft was still in charge of the church's day-to-day affairs.{{ref|Benson-good-bye}} Benson had for some time been feeding information on his grandfather's condition to colleagues at The Arizona Republic and in the Associated Press. Benson and his wife, Mary Ann, left organized religion, and Benson is now an atheist.

Related Topics:
1993 - LDS Church - Senility - Associated Press - Mary Ann - Atheist

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