Cochran's Cartoons

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  • Remembering Bruce Cochran

    Remembering Bruce Cochran

    Edward (Bruce) Cochran
    October 9, 1935 – d. August 22, 2022

    Edward (Bruce) Cochran crossed the finish line on Monday, August 22 in Jacksonville, Florida. He built a lifelong career in cartoons and humor, and he was a loyal and loving husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.

    Bruce in the Duck Blind, Photo by Jon Blumb

    Bruce was born October 9, 1935 to Paul Sr. and Fannie Mae Cochran, and grew up in Oklahoma City from the age of six months. He is an alumnus of Classen High School, class of 1953. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1960 with a BA in Design after serving in the Army Security Agency from 1954 to 1957.

    Bruce & Carol With Their Sprite

    He married Carol Duer in 1958. Together they raised their two children, Holly and Wes, in Prairie Village, Kansas. 

    Bruce Cochran With Kids Wes & Holly
    Bruce with his children, Wes and Holly

    Bruce spent most of his remarkable 63-year career as an independent professional cartoonist, illustrator, humorist and writer based in Kansas City, getting his start as a writer and illustrator for Hallmark Cards, Inc. in 1960.

    Kansas City Cartoonist Bruce Cochran at the Drawing BoardBruce at the Drawing Board

    He went on to become a trailblazer in outdoor sports humor. With a fine-tuned appreciation for the absurd, his brilliantly funny cartoons reminded us all not to take life too seriously. His cartoons have been published in USA TODAY, Playboy, Field & Stream, WILDFOWL Magazine, On Wisconsin Outdoors, and dozens of other publications. He was also an award-winning lifetime member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. In 2017 he earned the OWAA’s most prestigious honor of Excellence in Craft. He also authored 15 books. 

    Bruce Watercolor Painting in His Outdoor Trip Journal

    He truly loved the great outdoors, happiest when he was fishing with his friends and family or hunting alongside one of his black labrador retrievers. He was also passionate about conserving our natural resources, which he championed through lifelong contributions to organizations like Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy. 

    Bruce with His Black Lab, Maggie

    At the end, he reflected on his 86 years and his great career, marriage, life and family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carol, and his two children, Holly (Nick) and Wes (Rachel). He is also survived by five grandkids, Heather (Luke), Cody, Nick (Emeline), Silas and Lydia.

    Bruce & Carol, His Wife of 64 Years

    A remembrance service will be held Saturday, October 8 at 10:30 a.m. ET at Riverside Avenue Christian Church, 2841 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205. The remembrance service can also be streamed online at Facebook.com/RiversideAvenueCC. Instead of sending flowers or food, please consider donating in Bruce’s name to Ducks Unlimited or The Nature Conservancy. 

  • Fishing On the White River

    Long time, no blog. Apologies to my loyal followers …both of you.

    Another fun two days on the White River with outfitter and philosopher Miles Riley. No huge wall-hangers but enough action…mostly rainbows… to keep the days interesting.

    White River Beach

    The first morning Riley’s son Gavin drove us to Rim Shoal where Raleigh Eggers and I stayed out of the way while Miles launched hi battered johnboat and we motored upstream toward Redbud shoal in dense fog, picking up a trout or two along the way. Floating back downstream, fishing was uncharacteristically slow through Rim shoal and lower Rim but picked up as the fog lifted. We finished the day in Riley’s home water. The bite had slacked off considerably but Raleigh and I were too pooped to care. Besides, a cold drink and a hot shower were beckoning.

    White River Brown

    Next morning, after a false start due to lightening, we motored from Riley’s Station upstream to buffalo shoal where we spent the entire day boating and releasing eleven to fourteen inch rainbows, most of which took a #16 sow bug imitation tied by Miles and Michelle’s 11-year-old daughter Jalen.

    Lunch on the White River

    After drinks in Raleigh’s “party room” at the Mountain Home Days Inn we headed for nearby Colton’s Steak House where we ate both nights. After dinner we retired to our separate rooms (Raleigh snores something awful) to rest up for the five hour drive back to Kansas City next day.

    Want some beautiful Arkansas scenery with a mess of trout thrown in? Check out Miles and Michelle’s website at RileyStation.com. or email Miles at info@rileysstation.com.