New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Alex Raymond

(1909 - 1956)

— New Rochelle Walk of Fame —

Alex Raymond Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 19, 2025

1. Alex Raymond Marker

Inscription.
Alex Gillespie Raymond was a cartoonist, best known for creating Flash Gordon for King Features Syndicate in 1934. It came about as the result of a competition Raymond won to create a cartoon version of an up-to-date Jules Verne type story to compete with Buck Rogers.

The strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon and his companions in their battles with the Ming the Merciless, evil ruler of planet Mongo. It lasted only three years.

Alex Raymond's influence on other cartoonists was significant. The artistic creators of Batman (Bob Kane) and Superman (Joe Shuster) credit him as having a strong influence on their artistic development. George Lucas has cited Flash Gordon as a major influence on his Star Wars films.

Raymond's other strips include Jungle Jim, Secret Agent X-9 (written by author Dashiell Hammett) and Rip Kirby. He also assisted Chic Young on Blondie. In 1949, he won the Ruben Award for "Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year" and in 1996 he was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame.

Born Alexander Gillespie Raymond on October 2, 1909 in New Rochelle, he went to New Rochelle High School and attended

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Ionia Prep on an athletic scholarship. He eloped with hometown sweetheart Helen Williams in 1931 and they had five children. The names of his three daughters—Judith, Lynne and Helen ('Honey')—were immortalized in that of Rip Kirby's gorlfirend, Judith Lynne "Honey" Dorian. His life was tragically cut short in an automobile accident in Westport, Connecticut at the age of 46.

Erected by City of New Rochelle, NY; New Rochelle Downtown Business District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is October 2, 1909.

Location. 40° 54.628′ N, 73° 46.973′ W. Marker is in New Rochelle, New York, in Westchester County. It is at the intersection of Library Plaza and Lawton Street on Library Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle NY 10801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hudson Valley

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 19, 2025

2. Alex Raymond Marker

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Irene Castle (here, next to this marker); Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys (here, next to this marker); Joseph Campbell (here, next to this marker); Jan Peerce (here, next to this marker); Teresa Brewer (here, next to this marker); Buffalo Bob Smith (here, next to this marker); E. L. Doctorow (a few steps from this marker); Lou Gehrig (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Rochelle.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.