Well-known Texas history author Jack Jackson according to an article in the Austin-American Statesman [no longer available online] was ahead of his time, this creator of comics and histories managed to transform both. Jackson died June 8. Reports are his body were found near his parent's graves in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Stockdale, Texas.
According to the article Jackson born in 1941 published the underground comic book "God Nose" in Austin in 1964, three years before alternative funny books sprang forth half a continent away in San Francisco.
"Along with 'Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers' cartoonist Gilbert Shelton, Moriaty and college buddy Fred Todd, Jackson in 1969 founded Rip Off Press, which became an internationally known publisher of underground comics and the counterculture's printer of choice."
Jackson's books on Texas history included "Los Mesteos: Spanish Ranching in Texas, 1721-1821," "Almonte's Texas: Juan N. Almonte's 1834 Inspection, Secret Report & Role in the 1836 Campaign" and "Indian Agent: Peter Ellis Bean in Mexican Texas." The latter two books were published in 2005-2006. Almontes Texas contains the first full translated text of the complete diary ever published.
Texas Historian Tom Lindley said "in my opinion, Jack is the only professional historian I knew. Most historians don't write history to make a living. They teach. Jack wrote history, and he was always very generous with his research, he was a unique and irreplaceable guy."
"Jackson is chiefly concerned with people in his history, and fills his scenes in such a way that the reader cannot ever focus solely upon the famous personages. The non-famous are as present in the dirty business of national conflict."--Eric Weems, Commercial Artist.
One personal blog tribute put it:
..good by Jack, you were really great at being awesome, ..in the end I want to be more like you.
Additional articles are here, here, and here.
According to the article Jackson born in 1941 published the underground comic book "God Nose" in Austin in 1964, three years before alternative funny books sprang forth half a continent away in San Francisco.
"Along with 'Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers' cartoonist Gilbert Shelton, Moriaty and college buddy Fred Todd, Jackson in 1969 founded Rip Off Press, which became an internationally known publisher of underground comics and the counterculture's printer of choice."
Jackson's books on Texas history included "Los Mesteos: Spanish Ranching in Texas, 1721-1821," "Almonte's Texas: Juan N. Almonte's 1834 Inspection, Secret Report & Role in the 1836 Campaign" and "Indian Agent: Peter Ellis Bean in Mexican Texas." The latter two books were published in 2005-2006. Almontes Texas contains the first full translated text of the complete diary ever published.
Texas Historian Tom Lindley said "in my opinion, Jack is the only professional historian I knew. Most historians don't write history to make a living. They teach. Jack wrote history, and he was always very generous with his research, he was a unique and irreplaceable guy."
"Jackson is chiefly concerned with people in his history, and fills his scenes in such a way that the reader cannot ever focus solely upon the famous personages. The non-famous are as present in the dirty business of national conflict."--Eric Weems, Commercial Artist.
One personal blog tribute put it:
..good by Jack, you were really great at being awesome, ..in the end I want to be more like you.
Additional articles are here, here, and here.
