Twenty-five years ago today, a chubby cartoon cat drawn by a Ball State graduate named Jim Davis appeared in newspapers for the first time. On that day, the number of papers carrying the funny feline was a mere 41. Today, 2,570 newspapers provide 263 million fans worldwide with their daily fix of that lasagna loving, dog punting, owner frustrating, mail carrier terrorizing, orange bundle of flub that we all know as Garfield.
It would be hard to argue that there has ever been a more successful comic cat than Garfield. He has come a long way from the kitchen of the the Italian restaurant he was born in so long ago. On the road between his humble beginnings to his now international stardom, Garfield and his creator Davis have garnered plenty of accolades, including four Emmy Awards for outstanding animated program, two awards from the National Cartoonist Society for best humor strip (1981 and 1985), the Elzie Segar Award (1990) and the prestigious Reuben Award (1990) for overall excellence in cartooning.
People identify with him because he does things most people can only dream of. The best part is, he gets away with it. His main activities are eating and sleeping, yet after a quarter of a century, Garfield looks just as good as ever. In fact, it looks like he's slimmed down since his first appearance. He is cynical and unapologetic, and that is why we love him.
In 111 countries all over the world, people have adopted Garfield and lovingly taken him into their homes and hearts. It is here in Muncie though, that will forever be the home of Garfield.
Here's to you Garfield, because you are certainly deserve a big, fat hairy birthday.
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