Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Pap Dean

Preston Allen Dean Jr. was an American political cartoonist, author, and illustrator in Louisiana known as Pap Dean. He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 1993.

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Preston Allen Dean Jr. (August 25, 1915 – August 15, 2011) was an American political cartoonist, author, and illustrator in Louisiana known as Pap Dean.123 He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 1993.4

Life and career

Dean was born in Colfax, Louisiana to Preston Allen Dean Sr. and Addie Swafford Dean. He attended Colfax High School.5 He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1937. He also studied at Chicago Art Institute.6

Dean served in the military during World War II,67 retiring from the U.S. Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel.8

Dean worked for the Shreveport Times from 1938 until his retirement in 1979.9 He wrote and illustrated books on Louisiana, Natchitoches, Central Louisiana, and Colfax, Louisiana. He married and had children.10

Death and legacy

Dean died on August 15, 2011, at the age of 95.10

LSU Shreveport has a collection of his cartoons.8

Books

  • Louisiana: A Political History in Cartoon and Narrative10
  • Historic Natchitoches10
  • Beauty of the Cane10
  • Central Louisiana Historical Homesteads and the Families Who Touched Them10
  • Colfax: Its Place in Louisiana10
References

References

  1. "Taking You Back". The Ville Platte Gazette. Ville Platte, Louisiana. July 22, 1985. p. 4. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  2. "Drawing conclusions: Cartoonist Pap Dean puts pen to paper, smiles to faces daily". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. April 11, 1988. p. 15. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  3. "Cenla artist: Schulz 'genius': 'Pap' Dean Recalls Meeting Peanuts' Creator in 1982". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. February 16, 2000. p. 1. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. "P.A. "Pap" Dean".
  5. "Preston Dean Now Residing in Shreveport". The Colfax Chronicle. Colfax, Louisiana. April 20, 1962. p. 2. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  6. "Allen 'Pap' Dean: From Editorial Cartoonist to WWII Hero".
  7. "Pap Dean Retiring, But Not Altogether". The Shreveport Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. August 31, 1979. p. 15. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  8. "Preston A. "Pap" Dean Editorial Cartoons Collection". Louisiana State University Shreveport. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  9. "Drawing from the past". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. September 28, 2010. p. 19. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  10. "Preston Dean Obituary (2011) - Shreveport, LA - Shreveport Times". Legacy.com.