REX BABIN has been with The Sacramento Bee in California since May 1999. Prior to joining The Bee, he was the editorial cartoonist for the Times Union in Albany, New York, The Denver Post in Colorado, and the Orange County-Costa Mesa, California Daily Pilot. He claims he got his start as an editorial cartoonist while crawling around on the linoleum floor of his family's Walnut Creek, California home. There he says he would crush various Crayola crayons against the kitchen walls, occasionally stuffing a burnt sienna up his nose or dropping a lemon yellow down his diaper. Naturally, he moved with ease to the next medium – finger paints. In addition to his work at The Bee, Babin's cartoons are nationally syndicated by North America Syndicate, appearing in over 300 newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA TODAY and Newsweek. NPF's judges found his “strong drawing style refreshingly original and appreciated his effective presentation of powerful ideas.” He was a finalist in the 1991 Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition and the second place winner in 1999. Other awards Babin has received include the Hearst Newspapers Eagle Award for Excellence along with numerous California and New York state and regional honors. But to prove he's got his priorities straight, he's most proud of his US Rowing Masters Nationals Championship medal. Babin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University in 1985. He, his wife Kathleen and son Sebastian live in Sacramento.
2001 Rex Babin
Rex Babin / The Sacramento Bee