Ding Darling

Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling (October 21, 1876 – February 12, 1962) was an American editorial cartoonist and a leading figure in the 20th-century conservation movement. Born in Norwood, Michigan, he grew up in Iowa and studied at Beloit College before turning to art. Darling began his career in newspaper cartooning in the 1890s, eventually syndicating his work through the *New York Herald Tribune* and other papers. His signature style blended sharp political commentary with a loose, expressive line, often focusing on environmental themes. He is best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons, which he won twice—in 1924 and 1943. Darling was also a close friend of Walt Disney, and his conservation advocacy led him to found the National Wildlife Federation in 1936. His work appears in *Collier’s*, *Successful Farming*, and *Pennsylvania Game News*, among others. Darling’s legacy endures through the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Florida and his influence on both comics and environmental policy. He was inducted into the National Cartoonists Society Hall of Fame.