A lifetime of laughter
Lifelong Snuffy Smith fan gets surprise gifts from comic strip’s cartoonist
A lifelong Snuffy Smith fan gets surprise gifts from the comic strip’s cartoonist.
Sue Davis never imagined that her love of a comic strip could thrust her into the public eye. But it has. A fan and collector of the Snuffy Smith comic strip for years, Sue recently came to public attention after the Rome News-Tribune featured her in a story. That story led to an unusual correspondence with the Snuffy Smith cartoonist himself, John Rose.
On March 17, the Rome News-Tribune featured Sue and her binder full of Snuffy Smith comic strips she had been collecting since the 1970s.
Her fascination began in 1964 when she was in the 10th grade and riding the school bus. Her boyfriend Roland’s father sent her an unusual birthday present — a Snuffy Smith comic strip and a penny. Sue had never seen the strip before but figured that since the strip was about having babies, her father in law was sending a message about Sue and Roland getting married and one day having lots of children.
She soon grew to love the strip and its backwoods charm. Snuffy Smith originally appeared in the comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith as a supporting character. But for the past 60 years, he’s been the main character as the story lines follow the life of his diminutive moonshiner. Its hillbilly humor focuses on the Southern Appalachian hamlet of Hootin’ Holler where Snuffy, his family and friends can be found living a simple country lifestyle. It’s this simple lifestyle that Sue was drawn to. “I started collecting the ones that I really liked,” she said. “I’m country all the way. Me and my husband were both raised on a farm. We’re just country folks and the things that Snuffy did were just like the things in our lives. We didn’t go to town often and stayed out in the country. Sometimes there’s possums around our house and sometimes my husband’s daddy was known to take a drink or two .... or more.”
When Sue’s story ran, it was seen Snuffy fans across the country. One of those was John Rose, the man who now draws all the Snuffy Smith strips.
Rose has family friends in Rome who cut out and mailed him the story. He said when he read the story he could tell immediately that there was something special about Sue and that she was an amazing fan.
“They don’t come any better,” he said. “Anyone that would take the time to create her own Snuffy Smith book collection by clipping and pasting her favorite Snuffy strips since 1964 is incredibly dedicated. I cannot thank her enough.”
Rose grew up reading comic strips and Snuffy was always one of his favorites.
“I started working on it in 1998 as (strip creator) Fred Lasswell’s inking assistant,” he said. “I worked for him for three and a half years. He was a wonderful man and a great teacher.”
When Lasswell died in 2001, King Features Syndicate hired Rose to be the cartoonist of the Snuffy Smith strip.
“It was a dream come true,” Rose said. “Creating this strip each day is the try joy of my professional career.”
Rose said there are many fans like Sue who have been reading the strip for years and who identify with the characters.
“I love all my Snuffy Smith fans,” he said. “They are some of the most wonderful people in the world. I love hearing from them.”
Fans across the globe send Rose letters in the mail and via his website, www.snuffysmithcomics.com. He said he especially enjoys meeting them in person and often makes appearances at comic conventions and public presentations.
“It’s such a joy to meet them in person. They often have great stories, like Sue does, about their love for Snuffy and the gang at Hootin’ Holler.”
When Sue saw the books and read the card, she was overwhelmed.
“It feels like an accomplishment,” she said. “This is something I’ve pursued for many years and I am honored with these gifts. I feel a connection to Snuffy and all his family and friends. I can identify with that simple country life and I’m so glad to know that Mr. Rose is taking care of Snuffy and everyone at Hootin’ Holler.”
Sue said the books will be kept with her other Snuffy treasures and will hold a special place in her heart. Rose also included a Snuffy greeting card in which he wrote:
Dear Sue, I know it is not Valentine’s Day, but I thought this card was appropriate to show you how much I LOVE Snuffy Smith fans like you. I hope you enjoy these two autographed Snuffy Smith book collections I am sending you as a way of saying thank you for loving Snuffy! I know these books cannot compare to the one you’ve assembled since 1964, but I hope you find them funny and entertaining! thank you again, Sue, for everything you do for all of us in Hootin’ Holler.”