Jerry and Friends

Calling him a cartoonist, illustrator or draw-er, character-ist, or caricatu-rist just doesn't seem adequate somehow. How does one capture that which Jerry captures? Perhaps “Artist” defines him best. He and I first met by way of the amazing invention we call the “Internet.” That was about five years ago when I found him on www.blurb.com. That site allows very talented folks of all persuasions to publish their books for the world's enjoyment. I'm pleased that Jerry found this outlet for his immense gift. Well, like this one for example,”Coach”... 

Many, if not most of Jerry's creations feature men and sometimes animals caught in some predicament or another wearing little else but their union suits. So, you know by now how that caught my attention! After all, union suits are my go-to underwear and why I have posted countess union suit photos, articles and stories in two blogs over the years, a very large number contributed by you, the viewer.

Jerry resides in Kentucky, wears union suits in the wintertime, and like many of us watched many a cowboy wearing long one-piece underwear on TV and in movies. Kenturcky is a state where union suits have flourished as men's and boys' long underwear for over a century and a half. So, why not story books with characters wearing such? 

A few years back, a local newspaper featured Jerry Lee Walters, his storied career, and his best friend, Joe Sharp, in an article.... 

Jerry holds up his book, "OkeyDokey," with Joe who's clad in a red union suit with a grizzly bear breathing down his neck on the front cover. The newswpaper also ran a photograph or two of "Santa Joe," in person, wearing, what else, his button-down, long red underwear and santa hat, posing with his beloved donkey.

For easier reading see this enlarged account below:

The above account relates the two men having met at Wal-Mart where they both worked and became close friends. Joe even thought of Jerry as his son. The bear is actually Jerry in disguise, Joe plays himself. "OkeyDokey" also caricaturized Joe's donkey and cat, Tom.  Here's some more pictures courtesy of the newspaper and Jerry's book:

Some of Jerry's other buddies like Zolle at the outhouse and Bryan, the Cantakerous Racoon peeking out the flap of a union suit hanging on the clothesline:

Don't miss next week's posting for a couple surprises, courtesy of Jerry.

Copy and paste:     www.blurb.com + The Legend of Thunder Cow

Purchase a couple of books and enjoy!