Marion in Grant County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Jim Davis

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023

1. Jim Davis Marker

Inscription.

Jim Davis. . , Star Financial Bank can spot a star when it sees one and Jim Davis and his masterful creation - Garfield the Cat - are two of the brightest stars in the comic strip galaxy and you can take that to the bank., James Robert Davis was born right here in Marion, July 28, 1945 and grew up on a small farm near Fairmount. Jim probably would have become a farmer had it not been for his serious bouts with asthma as a child. Forced inside, away from regular farm chores, he spent hours alone sketching and doodling and observing others, which would later spawn into creations, characters expressing irony and humor for millions of people's entertainment. His passion for art took him to Ball State University where he studied art and business. From there, Jim Davis went on to advertising and eventually became an American iconic cartoonist who created the Garfield franchise. Jim Davis opened his production company Paws Inc. in 1981 and chose to stay in Indiana to build a creative house to support Garfield licensing. Paws' staff of artists, writers, designers, sculptors, animators, and A/V engineers, supports the creativity that goes into each Garfield product, promotion, and entertainment venue., Jim Davis has had many successes with Garfield, including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program and induction into the Licensing Hall of Fame, but his most prized awards are from his peers in the National Cartoonist Society: Best Humor Strip (1981 and 1985), the Elzie Segar Award (1990), and the coveted Reuben Award for overall excellence in cartooning., Today, Paws Inc. does business in 111 countries and Garfield is read in 2570 newspapers by 263 million readers around the globe. Recently, Guinness World Records named Garfield "The Most Widely Syndicated Comic Strip in the World.", Because of the artistic talents of this small town Grant County farm boy, Jim Davis has created jobs around the world in marketing, sales, distribution, accounting and every job that is affiliated from his creations from comics, TV shows, movies, toys, shirts, books, etc., Thank you to Star for putting your interest in the youth of our community and giving a shining example of what art can do for a committed dreamer. The Community School of the Arts thanks Star Financial Bank for putting a spotlight on two of the brightest stars Grant County has ever had… Jim Davis and Garfield the Cat.

Star Financial Bank can spot a star when it sees one and Jim Davis and his masterful creation - Garfield the Cat - are two of the brightest stars in the comic strip galaxy and you can take that to the bank.

James Robert Davis was born right here in Marion, July 28, 1945 and grew up on a small farm near Fairmount. Jim probably would have become a farmer had it not been for his serious bouts with asthma as a child. Forced inside, away from regular farm chores, he spent hours alone sketching and doodling and observing others, which would later spawn into creations, characters expressing irony and humor for millions of people's entertainment. His passion for art took him to Ball State University where he studied art and business. From there, Jim Davis went on to advertising and eventually became an American iconic cartoonist who created the Garfield franchise. Jim Davis opened his production company Paws Inc. in 1981 and chose to stay in Indiana to build a creative house to support Garfield licensing. Paws' staff of artists, writers, designers, sculptors, animators, and A/V engineers, supports the creativity that goes into each Garfield product, promotion, and entertainment venue.

Jim Davis has had many successes with Garfield, including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program and induction

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into the Licensing Hall of Fame, but his most prized awards are from his peers in the National Cartoonist Society: Best Humor Strip (1981 and 1985), the Elzie Segar Award (1990), and the coveted Reuben Award for overall excellence in cartooning.

Today, Paws Inc. does business in 111 countries and Garfield is read in 2570 newspapers by 263 million readers around the globe. Recently, Guinness World Records named Garfield "The Most Widely Syndicated Comic Strip in the World."

Because of the artistic talents of this small town Grant County farm boy, Jim Davis has created jobs around the world in marketing, sales, distribution, accounting and every job that is affiliated from his creations from comics, TV shows, movies, toys, shirts, books, etc.

Thank you to Star for putting your interest in the youth of our community and giving a shining example of what art can do for a committed dreamer. The Community School of the Arts thanks Star Financial Bank for putting a spotlight on two of the brightest stars Grant County has ever had… Jim Davis and Garfield the Cat.

Erected by Star Financial Bank.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is July 28, 1945.

Location.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023

2. Jim Davis Marker

Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 40° 33.509′ N, 85° 39.503′ W. Marker was in Marion, Indiana, in Grant County. It was on South Adams Street south of East 3rd Street (Indiana Route 18), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 315 S Adams St, Marion IN 46952, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Central Indiana.

It was also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Persian Gulf Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Grant County Vietnam War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Korean War Honor Roll - Grant County (Indiana) (within shouting distance of this marker); WW II Grant County (Indiana) Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); World War I (within shouting distance of this marker); Grant County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of David Branson (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.

Other markers no longer nearby. James Dean (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Cole Porter (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Willis VanDevanter

Community School of the Arts Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023

3. Community School of the Arts Mural

(was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Samuel Plato (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Kenesaw Mountain Landis (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Marie Webster (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Mildred Dilling (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Madelyn Pugh Davis (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Marion (Indiana) W.W. I Honor Roll (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023

4. Community School of the Arts Mural

Jim Davis Marker Removed image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, February 1, 2025

5. Jim Davis Marker Removed

All of the previous markers have been removed.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 894 times since then and 73 times this year. Last updated on February 1, 2025, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 31, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5. submitted on February 1, 2025, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.