Friday, June 16, 2023
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Bob Powell
1938
Bob Powell was born Stanley Robert Pawlowski on October 6, 1916, in Buffalo, New York, according to the New York State Birth Index (at Ancestry.com) and his World War II Draft card.
The 1920 United States Census recorded Powell and his parents, Stanley and Jacqueline, in Buffalo at 330 Gibson Street. His father was a bank cashier.
In the 1925 New York state census, the family were Buffalo residents at 158 North Parade Avenue. Powell’s father worked in the restaurant business.
According to the 1930 census, their address was unchanged. Powell’s father was an automobile salesman. Powell attended East High School and was in the art club.
1931 Orient yearbook
After graduating high school, Powell enrolled at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated in 1938. He was in Pictorial Illustration III. Below his photograph, the Prattonia yearbook said
Powell, S. Robert, “Bob.” 158 N. Parade Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. “A biped without feathers. Makes surdity a blessing with his exotic notes when pleased—makes loneliness bearable at all times.”
Powell and his mother were counted in the 1940 census at 40 Burkhard Avenue in Williston Park, Nassau County, New York. His parents had divorced. Cartoonist Powell earned $1,000 in 1939.
On October 16, 1940, Powell signed his World War II draft card and legally changed his name. His employer was Will Eisner. Powell was described as five feet ten inches, 200 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair. The New York Times said Powell was a navigator in the Army Air Force.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Power contributed Mister Mystic to Eisner’s Spirit Sunday comic book which was syndicated by the Register and Tribune. Powell drew the series from June 2, 1940 to May 14, 1944, with Fred Guardineer filling in from October 10 to 24, 1943. Powell’s Secret Agent D-13, ran from March 3 to August 11, 1940. The Sunday strip art was adapted from the comic book pages. Powell’s comic book credits are here.
On April 20, 1941, Powell married Florence Dzimian. The marriage was reported in the Brooklyn Eagle, April 22 and Buffalo Evening News, April 23.
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Brooklyn Eagle
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Buffalo Evening News
The 1950 census said the Powell family resided at 58 Marcellus in Williston Park. Powell had two sons, Robert and John.
On September 30, 1961, Powell married Bettina (Hollis) Caron in Huntington, New York.
American Newspaper Comics said Powell took over the Bat Masterson comic strip from Howard Nostrand who started the series on September 13, 1959 for Columbia Features. Powell produced the daily from December 7, 1959 to June 25, 1960, and the Sunday from December 27, 1959 to 1960. Ed Herron was the writer. For the Bell-McClure Syndicate, Powell drew Teena a Go Go from August 14, 1966 to February 18, 1967. Bessie Little was the writer.
Powell illustrated the 1967 book, Skiing Guidebook; Basic Ski Technique for Boys and Girls.
Powell passed away on October 1, 1967, in Huntington, New York. (The dates at the Social Security Death Index are incorrect.) An obituary appeared in The New York Times, October 3.
Powell was laid to rest at Furnace Village Cemetery.
Powell’s father passed away on April 2, 1950 in Buffalo, New York. On August 15, 1972, Powell’s mother passed away in Buffalo.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
