John "Jack" Gill Knox, Jr. was a Nashville-born artist and illustrator best known for the editorial cartoons drawn over more than 40 years for Tennessee newspapers. He was nationally-recognized because his cartoons were often reprinted and sought by newsmakers, including presidents from the time of Dwight Eisenhower. His wit and biting conservative commentary appeared for 26 years in the Nashville Banner. His work previously appeared in The Evening Tennessean in Nashville in 1933-34 and then for 11 years at the The Commercial Appeal in Memphis. Fascinated by horses from growing up in Texas, he took a year off and worked on a ranch there before joining the Banner in 1946. He was a mainstay there until retiring in 1972, but continued drawing cartoons for the Chattanooga News-Free Press in 1975. In between he authored and illustrated his second book: "America's Tennessee Walking Horse," published in Nashville by Hoss Country Publishers. He was a graduate of Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon. He was mostly self-taught and received no more formal art training beyond a correspondence course his wife recommended. The Jack Knox Political Cartoon Collection in the Nashville Main Public Library consists of 240 original editorial cartoon drawings featuring his conservative political satire and caricatures in addition to his original art and writings about Middle Tennessee rural life and life on the grand rivers. He passed away in 1985 at his Nashville home at age 75.
