The William Randolph Hearst Cartoon Hall of Fame

William Randolph Hearst was the premier publisher of his day owning newspapers all over the country. He discovered early the popularity of the comics and claimed that he could add 50,000 subscribers for every comic page he added, calling his section, "Eight pages of iridescent polychromous effulgence that makes the rainbow look like a lead pipe." He took a personal hand in developing new comics for five decades until his death in 1951. To honor his contribution the Museum named The Hall of Fame after him with a sponsorship from the Hearst Foundation in 1997. At that time Frank A. Bennack, Jr. Chairman, Gift Committee; Director, The William Randolph Hearst Foundation stated "Randolph A. Hearst, president of The William Randolph Hearst Foundation and sole surviving son of W. R. Hearst, and all of the directors of the Foundation join in the pride we have in continuing our support for the International Museum of Cartoon Art (now The National Museum of Cartoon Art) in its role as the first and only museum dedicated to the collection, exhibition, preservation and study of cartoon art. As our Founder made newspapers - and newspaper comics - essential elements of society, we are please to be a part of this important gallery." The Hearst Hall of Fame includes works by Walt Disney; Richard Outcault, creator of "The Yellow Kid;" Chester Gould, creator of "Dick Tracy;" Hal Foster, creator of Prince Valiant;" Charles Schulz and Chuck Jones, among others. Inductees are selected by a national jury of artists, educators and cartoon historians. To date there are thirty-one artists whose work is immortalized in this gallery. The Hearst Hall of Fame Gallery may be viewed when the Museum reopens.

Current Hall of Fame Members
Peter Arno Carl Barks Dik Browne Milton Caniff Al Capp Roy Crane Billy DeBeck Rudolph Dirks Walt Disney Will Eisner Bud Fisher Harold Foster Elzie Segar Charles Dana Gibson Rube Goldberg Chester Gould	Harold Gray George Herriman Lynn Johnston Chuck Jones Walt Kelly Winsor McCay George McManus Thomas Nast Frederick Opper Richard Outcault Alex Raymond Charles Schulz Jimmy Swinnerton Mort Walker Chic Young