'Beetle Bailey' Contest Draws 84,725 Entries

Posted Monday, July 1, 2002 12:00 am

By: Dave Astor A contest to name a tech officer in the "Beetle Bailey" comic drew 84,725 entries. The winning suggestion was "Specialist Chip Gizmo."

Chip -- the first new major "Beetle" character in more than a decade -- will make his first appearance under that name in Mort Walker's July 4 comic. Earl Hemminger, who suggested the name, will also be identified in that strip. His other rewards include tickets for any destination served by Northwest Airlines.

Hemminger is an employee of the U.S. State Department. When Walker traveled there to congratulate the winner, Secretary of State Colin Powell joined them.

The readers submitting name suggestions also contributed $105,000 for the Fisher House Foundation, according to Carl Nelson, executive director of the Cartoon Art Association, which managed the Dell Computer-sponsored contest. Fisher House provides families with temporary lodging when visiting sick or injured military personnel.

King Features Syndicate distributes the 52-year-old "Beetle" comic to 1,800 newspapers.

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'Beetle Bailey' Contest Draws 84,725 Entries

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