Cartoonist ("Kudzu") Doug Marlette dies in pickup truck crash

[The Straight Story]

Cartoonist Doug Marlette dies in pickup truck crash

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- Doug Marlette, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who recently turned his incisive wit toward a budding career as a novelist, died Tuesday in a one-vehicle accident in Mississippi. He was 57.
art.marlette.ho.ap.jpg

Marlette, who split his time between Hillsborough, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, was visiting Mississippi to help a group of high school students with the musical version of his syndicated comic strip, "Kudzu."

"You know, there's a couple of family members I'd rather have lost instead of Doug," said author Pat Conroy. "And he would have laughed at that. This has been a shock of all shocks."

Conroy spoke daily with Marlette and last talked with him Monday. The author of "The Prince of Tides" said he expected a call Tuesday evening after Marlette had wrapped up a rehearsal with the drama students at Oxford High School.

Conroy said he had no idea how he will fill the void left by his friend's death. "I've simply been sitting here crying all day, not knowing the answer to that question," he said. "Just don't know."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/11/marlette.obit.ap/index.html