John Callahan | Daring cartoonist, 59

John Callahan, 59, the quadriplegic cartoonist whose famously politically incorrect humor earned him praise and criticism, died July 24 at a hospital in Portland, Ore., after undergoing surgery for a chronic bedsore.

Paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident in 1972 and a recovering alcoholic since he was 27, Mr. Callahan began selling cartoons in the early '80s and went on to be internationally syndicated in newspapers and magazines.

Working on the premise that "anything in the world is fair game," he was known as an equal-opportunity offender.

Although he could extend his fingers, he could not close them around a pen. To draw his cartoons, he would wedge a pen between the fingers of his right hand. Then, with control coming from his shoulders, he would guide the pen with his left hand.

Mr. Callahan was not swayed by hate mail blasting him as racist, sexist, ageist, and disgusting (see some of his work, and hate mail, via http://go.philly.com/callahan).

Offsetting the hate mail were letters from fans, including President Bill Clinton.

His success as a cartoonist led to a string of books, including his 1989 autobiography, Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot: The Autobiography of a Dangerous Man. He also created the animated TV shows Pelswick and Quads.

- Los Angeles Times