Beetle Bailey is an American comic strip created by cartoonist Mort Walker , published since September 4, 1950. It is set on a fictional United States Army post. In the years just before Walker's death in 2018 (at age 94), it was among the oldest comic strips still being produced by its original creator. Over the years, Mort Walker had been assisted by (among others) Jerry Dumas , Bob Gustafson , Frank Johnson and Walker's sons, Neal, Brian and Greg Walker, who are continuing the strip after his death.
57-447: Beetle was originally a college student at Rockview University, as of September 4, 1950. Although he was as lazy in college as he would be in the service, he did have a broken down jalopy and was the star of the track team (apparently on a scholarship). He had four friends: Bitter Bill; Diamond Jim; Freshman and Sweatsock. He also smoked a pipe. The characters in that early strip were modeled after Walker's Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers at
114-485: A blood alcohol level of .13 before his death. Although fraternity officials and Miami-Dade Police stated the incident was not a fraternity-sanctioned hazing event, a jury found otherwise and awarded Meredith's parents a $ 12.6 million verdict in a negligence suit based on hazing. As a result of Meredith's death, a law was named in his honor making hazing officially a criminal offense in the State of Florida. Eight years later,
171-572: A fake tipi , and dressing in costumes; this occurred despite intervention by the university and the Native American Student Union following the previous event to educate the chapter on cultural appropriation and violence against Native Americans. In 2019, the chapter hosted a bid event that featured multiple members wearing fake Native American headdresses and costumes; the Inter Fraternity Council and
228-518: A few times with the university before the hazing lawsuit. In 2024, the University of Virginia suspended its Kappa Sigma chapter and temporarily paused all fraternity social events after a pledge was hospitalized due to a hazing incident. The founding chapter at the University of Virginia has been investigated by the university and the student-run Inter Fraternity Council multiple times for alleged incidents of racist costumes and parties. In 2009,
285-450: A huge joke of that, and the ensuing publicity gave the young strip its first big boost in circulation. In 1962, the comic strip was censored because it showed a belly button , and in 2006, the description of Rocky's criminal past was replaced with a non-criminal past. Sometimes Mort Walker created strips with raunchy subject matter for his own amusement. This was done at the sketch stage, and those strips were never meant to be published in
342-563: A piece of paper held by Beetle and Snorkel) was published in 2000. In his 1975 memoir Backstage at the Strips , Walker addressed the question of Beetle's eyes, saying: I constantly get inquiries as to the color of Beetle's eyes. As if I knew. Black as ink, I suppose, if he has any. Maybe there's nothing under the hat. Why should there be? There is nothing until I draw it, and I've never drawn his eyes. Why, then, should he have any? One running gag has Sergeant Snorkel hanging helplessly from
399-509: A regular infantry division). The uniforms of Beetle Bailey are still the uniforms of the late 1940s to early 1970s Army, with green fatigues and patrol caps as the basic uniform, and the open jeep as the basic military vehicle. Sergeant First Class Snorkel wears a green dress uniform with a heavily wrinkled garrison cap ; the officers wear M1 helmet liners painted with their insignia. Despite this anachronism , modern weapons and equipment do make rare appearances. While Beetle Bailey's unit
456-617: A secret society of students beginning with five of his most devoted disciples, for mutual protection against Cossa. On December 10, 1869, five students at the University of Virginia met in 46 East Lawn and founded the Kappa Sigma Fraternity in America. William Grigsby McCormick , George Miles Arnold, John Covert Boyd , Edmund Law Rogers, Jr. , and Frank Courtney Nicodemus established the fraternity based in part on
513-546: A small tree branch after having fallen off a cliff, with the first instance running on August 16, 1956. While he is never shown falling off, or even walking close to the edge of a cliff, he always seems to hold on to that same branch, yelling for help. During the first two years of Beetle Bailey ' s run (1950–1952), Walker did all work on the strip himself, including writing, penciling, inking and lettering; however, in 1952 he hired cartoonist Fred Rhoads as his first assistant. After that, numerous people would assist Walker on
570-507: Is Company A, one running gag is that the characters are variously seen performing activities associated with different types of units in the Army, such as artillery , armor , infantry and paratroops . Occasionally dream sequences have appeared where the characters see themselves as seasoned combat veterans, such as Sarge having a dream he was General " Storming Snorkel " briefing on Operation Desert Shield , or Beetle imagining himself leaving
627-753: Is Kappa Sig. To be eligible for membership a prospective member must profess a belief in God, though adherence to a specific religion is not required. In at least one situation, Kappa Sigma has revoked a chapter's charter for omitting the fraternity's religious requirements from its initiation. While most activities of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity occur in the undergraduate chapters, the fraternity oversees several international programs or campaigns. The Greater Cause program encourages Kappa Sigma members to be active in their communities. The program aims to raise $ 25 for and dedicate 25 hours per year towards charitable causes for each member. The program also aims at having 100% of
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#1732800908707684-653: Is made of one undergraduate from each of the five areas, is charged with representing their respective area as well as the general undergraduate perspective at all Supreme Executive Council meetings. The fraternity's professional staff is based at the international headquarters in Charlottesville , Virginia , which manages the day-to-day operations of the fraternity. The staff includes the Executive Director, currently Mitchell Wilson, and several program directors and administrative assistants. Also, based in
741-434: Is often based on King Features Syndicate copyright dates for lack of a book date. Book numbers for mass-market paperbacks (from the cover of the earliest available copy) are given before year of publication, for chronological purposes. Kappa Sigma Kappa Sigma ( ΚΣ ), commonly known as Kappa Sig or KSig , is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at the University of Virginia in 1869. Kappa Sigma
798-617: Is one of the five largest international fraternities with currently 318 active chapters and colonies in North America . Its endowment fund , founded in 1919, has donated more than $ 5 million to undergrads since 1948. In 2012 alone, the Fraternity's endowment fund raised over $ 1 million in donations. According to the traditions of the fraternity, Kappa Sigma evolved from an ancient order, known in some accounts as " Kirjath Sepher ", said to have been founded between 1395 and 1400 at
855-801: The Defenders of the Earth series a few years before) and Hägar the Horrible (co-produced with Hanna-Barbera Productions ). In 1988, a musical based on the comic strip premiered at Candlewood Playhouse in New Fairfield , Connecticut for a limited run. Music and lyrics were by Neil and Gretchen Gould. In addition to the familiar characters from the strip, the plot introduced a wayward computer that promoted Bailey to three-star general. (All titles by Mort Walker. Published by Ace Tempo/ Grosset & Dunlap , unless otherwise noted. Year of publication
912-871: The Fisher House Foundation , the SEAL Legacy Foundation, and the Valour Place. In 1919, the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund was established "to support the charitable and beneficent" of the fraternity. The Endowment Fund assists with the educational and leadership programming at each Conclave and Leadership Conference. In addition, each year, the Endowment Fund awards $ 250,000 in scholarships to undergraduate members. These scholarship and leadership awards are presented on Founders' Day (December 10). To date,
969-666: The Gismo and Eight Ball cartoon series in the Marine's Leatherneck Magazine . He also assisted several cartoonists, including Mort Walker ( Beetle Bailey ), Jimmy Hatlo ( They'll Do It Every Time ) and Fred Lasswell ( Barney Google and Snuffy Smith ). In 1954, Harvey Comics and Baker brought in Paul McCarthy to draw the Sad Sack titles, followed by Rhoads, Jack O'Brien and Joe Dennett. Others who periodically drew for
1026-408: The University of Bologna . The story says that the corrupt governor of the city, one-time pirate and later papal usurper Baldassare Cossa , took advantage of the students at Bologna, one of Europe's preeminent universities which attracted students from all over the continent, by sending his men to assault and rob them; this motivated one of the university's scholars Manuel Chrysoloras to found
1083-722: The University of Kentucky . The Chi-Omega chapter at the University of South Carolina raises money annually for the Ray Tanner Foundation, which benefits economically and medically disadvantaged children in South Carolina, and the Columbia metropolitan area . The Kappa-Pi chapter at the University of Central Oklahoma hosts the Bath Tub push that benefits the Veterans' Families United Foundation. During
1140-574: The University of Missouri . On March 13, 1951, during the strip's first year, Beetle quit school and enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he has remained ever since. His reason for enlisting was because he was running away after being nearly trapped by both his angry jealous first girlfriend "Buzz" and a second girl who was chasing him. Most of the humor in Beetle Bailey revolves around the inept characters stationed at Camp Swampy (inspired by Camp Crowder , where Walker had once been stationed while in
1197-452: The 66th Grand Conclave in 2007, the fraternity announced Kappa Sigma Fraternity Military Heroes Campaign, a charitable entity. Since its inception, the campaign has donated over $ 1,000,000 to non-profit organizations that advocate on behalf of servicemen and women and those wounded in combat. The Supreme Executive Committee determines how the contributions will be distributed to support these patriots and veterans. Some of these charities include
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#17328009087071254-484: The Army and returning to school on the G.I. Bill , where female students all know him as "Bombshell Bailey, the famous war hero". Beetle is always seen with a hat or helmet which covers his forehead and eyes. Even on leave, his "civvies" include a pork pie hat worn in the same style. He can be seen without it only once—in the original strip, when he was still a college student. The strip was pulled and never ran in any newspaper. It has been printed only in various books on
1311-592: The Army), which is located near the town of Hurleyburg at " Parris Island, S.C. " (a real-life Marine Corps base). Private Bailey is a lazy sort who usually naps and avoids work, and thus is often the subject of verbal and physical chastising from his senior NCO, Sergeant Snorkel. The characters never seem to see combat themselves, with the exception of mock battles and combat drills. In fact, they seem to be in their own version of stereotypical comic strip purgatory (initially basic training, they now appear to be stuck in time in
1368-608: The CBS network. It has been released on DVD alongside the 1960s cartoons. Greg Whalen played Beetle, Bob Bergen portrayed Killer, Henry Corden was Sgt. Snorkel, Frank Welker was both Zero and Otto, Linda Gary voiced both Miss Buxley and Ms. Blips and General Halftrack was Larry Storch . This special was one of a number of specials made in the same timeframe by King Features/Hearst for TV as potential series pilots; others included Blondie & Dagwood (co-produced with Marvel Productions , who had also collaborated with King Features for
1425-855: The Catch-A-Dream Charity Classic Football Game organized by the Delta-Chi chapter at Mississippi State University , and the Apple Cup Run, jointly organized by the Beta-Psi chapter at the University of Washington and the Gamma-Mu chapter at Washington State University . The Governor's Cup Ball Run is jointly organized by the Mu-Eta chapter at the University of Louisville and the Beta-Nu chapter at
1482-650: The Endowment Fund has contributed over $ 5 million in scholarships since 1948. The Endowment Fund sponsors leadership conferences and Kappa Sigma's Biennial Grand Conclave . Kappa Sigma has over 300 chapters and colonies (probationary chapters). Each chapter is led by a five-member executive committee consisting of officers. These officers include the Grand Master (president), Grand Procurator (first vice president), Grand Master of Ceremonies (second vice president), Grand Scribe (secretary), and Grand Treasurer. Over 1,500 alumni volunteer as advisors for Kappa Sigma. At
1539-576: The Kappa Sigma ushered in an unprecedented era of growth for the fraternity. In the Spring of 2005, Kappa Sigma began fundraising for and construction of a new headquarters. This $ 6 million project had its grand opening on June 2, 2007. At the 66th Conclave, the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund was declared to be the only official educational foundation of the fraternity and is also housed at the new headquarters. Kappa Sigmas are taught to live their lives by
1596-617: The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life at the university both investigated the incident. Fred Rhoads Fred Rhoads (October 17, 1921 – February 26, 2000) was an American cartoonist best known for his contributions to George Baker 's Sad Sack . Born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania , Rhoads studied illustration in New York from 1940 to 1942, at which time he joined the U.S. Marine Corps to serve during World War II . He drew
1653-461: The Order is the direct result of Jackson's devotion 'to make Kappa Sigma the leading college fraternity of the world.'" In 1873, Kappa Sigma expanded to Trinity College (now Duke University ), the University of Maryland , and Washington and Lee University . The fraternity attributes this growth to the initiation of Stephen Alonzo Jackson in 1872. During his membership, Jackson expanded and revised
1710-472: The Star and Crescent, which are also the symbols of the fraternity that make up the official badge: The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it. He must be a gentleman ... a man of honor and courage ... a man of zeal, yet humble ... an intelligent man ... a man of truth ... one who tempers action with wisdom and, above all else, one who walks in
1767-558: The U.S. They "end[ed] up in a black box in the bottom drawer", according to Walker. These sketches were sometimes published in Scandinavia , however, with a translation underneath. In Norway , they appeared in the Norwegian Beetle Bailey comic book, Billy , with the cover of the comic marked to show it contained censored strips. To offset any possible negative reaction, the publisher experimented with "scrambling"
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1824-781: The United and Canada that are divided into five areas. Typically, districts are composed of all the Kappa Sigma chapters and colonies within a state or province. Each district, composed of roughly five chapters, is overseen by the District Grand Masters and Assistant District Grand Masters who serve as liaisons between the undergraduate chapters and colonies and the Supreme Executive Council. An alumnus adviser and several assistant alumnus advisers provide advice and assistance to each undergraduate chapter and colony. The Undergraduate Advisory Committee, which
1881-571: The animated television film Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter , which debuted on October 7, 1972, as an episode of The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie . In the beginning of the show, General Halftrack, and Lt. Flap also appeared in the Chinese Restaurant scene. A 30-minute animated TV special co-written by Mort Walker and Hank Saroyan was produced for CBS in 1989, but did not air due to management changes at
1938-399: The chapter hosted a Cowboys & Indians-themed party where, according to photographs posted to social media , some members dressed in fake Native American costumes, wore redface , and posed for photographs simulating scalping . In 2011, members of the chapter hosted a similarly themed party, decorating the outside of their chapter house with imitations of Native American art, constructing
1995-426: The chapter was punished by its international office due to "social and alcohol violations contrary to their codes of conduct." In 2015, two Kappa Sigma members from West Virginia University were arrested and charged with hazing and conspiracy for the death of Nolan Burch at a Big/Little event four days after the chapter had been closed by the fraternity. Burch died due to alcohol poisoning, his blood alcohol level
2052-408: The death of a girl the prior October. A 19-year-old sophomore who had left a Kappa Sigma party was leaning against a door at the fire department when it opened for a call. The sophomore fell and was run over by a fire vehicle responding to what turned out to be a false alarm. Six members of the fraternity were charged with providing alcohol to minors. The victim's parents later reached a settlement with
2109-488: The eligible chapter members registered to vote. Every chapter organizes its charitable events, usually donating the proceeds to Kappa Sigma's Military Heroes Campaign or a local charity. During the 2015-2016 school year, Kappa Sigma chapters and colonies donated $ 3,653,930 million and 671,537 volunteer hours to charitable causes around the United States and Canada. Some of the bigger events that chapters organize are
2166-510: The international headquarters are the Area Recruitment Managers (ARM), who are in charge of recruitment goals and provide assistance to chapters in their respective service area. In 2001, an 18-year-old freshman named Chad Meredith, who was interested in joining the chapter at the University of Miami , drowned after being persuaded by fraternity members to swim across a nearly seven-foot-deep lake near campus. Meredith had
2223-803: The international level, the Supreme Executive Council (SEC) sets policy for the fraternity, disciplines chapters, and approves the formation of colonies and chapter. The offices of the SEC mirror the office of the undergraduate executive committee and consist of the Worthy Grand Master, the Worthy Grand Procurator, the Worthy Grand Master of Ceremonies, the Worthy Grand Scribe, and the Worthy Grand Treasurer. There are just under sixty districts covering
2280-410: The light of God. Kappa Sigma's four pillars are Fraternity: Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. Its motto is Bononia Docet or "Bologna Teaches" The fraternity's original colors were maroon, old gold , and peacock blue . Its modern colors are scarlet, white, and emerald green. Its flower is the lily of the valley . Its publication is The Caduceus . The fraternity's nickname
2337-587: The national leadership of the fraternity for allegations of repeated hazing violations, drug usage, and misconduct. In 2019, the chapter at the University of Central Florida was suspended and placed under conduct review by the university after a pledge reported to authorities his pledge class was ordered to smoke pot, drink entire bottles of alcohol, and sometimes sell their prescribed drugs – like Adderall – to fraternity members. He also reported they were made to stand in pitch-black hallways in suit and tie while fraternity members yelled insults and that cocaine use
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2394-529: The ritual of Kappa Sigma. He created the Supreme Executive Committee (SEC), which now serves as the governing body of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity on an international level. Jackson also introduced the idea of a frequent, national convention of all Kappa Sigmas, a practice now continued by the biennial Grand Conclave and characterized the event as "the finest hour" of Kappa Sigma. In 1885, the publication of Kappa Sigma's quarterly magazine
2451-447: The strip through the years. As of 2016, the strip was being syndicated (by King Features ) in 1,800 papers in the United States and the rest of the world. In Sweden , the strip received a dedicated magazine in 1970, with a Norwegian version being added the following year, which is published to this day as of 2020. Denmark also has dedicated (albeit not exclusive) magazine, named "Basserne", first published in 1973. The early strip
2508-418: The strip's history. One daily strip had Sarge scare Beetle's hat off, but Beetle was wearing sunglasses. In a 3/27/1966 dream sequence by Sgt. Snorkel (a parody of the 1960s Batman , with Sgt. Snorkel as "Fatman" and Beetle as "Slobber"), the heroes try to stop the infamous "Pizza Pete"; Beetle/Slobber wears a mask but his eyes can be seen The only acknowledged picture of Beetle Bailey's eyes (two black dots on
2565-472: The strips in the mid-1990s. To see them, the reader had to view them through a "de-scrambling" plastic card. This was discontinued soon afterward, and the strips later were printed without scrambling. In Sweden , some of these strips were collected in the Alfapocket series. A television series based on the strip, consisting of 50 six-minute animated cartoon shorts produced by King Features Syndicate ,
2622-743: The titles included Warren Kremer and Ken Selig. Baker retained editorial control and continued to illustrate the covers of Sad Sack comics until his death in 1975. During the three decades Rhoads drew Sad Sack , he also did several spin-off features, including Gabby Gob and The Sarge . During the 1980s and early 1990s Fred Rhoads worked as an editorial cartoonist for the Tucson Citizen in Arizona. Rhoads, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died February 20, 2000, in Greenwood, South Carolina . This profile of an American cartoonist
2679-412: The traditions of the ancient order from Bologna , Italy. These five founders became collectively known as the "Five Friends and Brothers". In 1872, Kappa Sigma initiated Stephen Alonzo Jackson, who would go on to transform a struggling local fraternity into a strong international Brotherhood. The organization attributes much of its success to Jackson noting that, "Since his death in 1892, the success of
2736-427: The university, the driver, and the fraternity. In 2017, two civil lawsuits were filed against the fraternity and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) by the family of a deceased ULL student killed by a Kappa Sigma pledge in 2016. Rustam Nizamutdinova, an undergraduate engineering student from Uzbekistan , was walking down a street when he was struck by a car driven by a Kappa Sigma pledge who fell asleep at
2793-411: The wheel. The pledge was severely sleep-deprived due to his illegal and strenuous pledging process. The chapter's charter was revoked and five other Greek organizations received varying levels of disciplinary action after Nizamutdinova's death initiated thorough investigations into Greek culture on campus. In 2017, dozens of Kappa Sigma members initiated at Louisiana State University were expelled by
2850-560: The years, mostly unnamed, including an inspector general who looks like Alfred E. Neuman , and various officers and civilians. Among the few to be given names is Julian, a nondescript chauffeur eventually replaced by Julius. For the most part, Walker's relationship with the real-life US Army has been cordial. But not always. During the early 1950s, the strip was dropped from the Tokyo edition of Stars and Stripes because it allegedly encouraged disrespect for officers. The civilian press made
2907-403: Was .493. In 2016, the Kappa Sigma fraternity at California State University, Long Beach was suspended after a female student reported to authorities she was sexually assaulted while attending a party it hosted. The national leadership of the fraternity suspended the chapter as a result of the incident. In 2017, the Kappa Sigma chapter at the University of Connecticut was expelled following
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#17328009087072964-461: Was animated by Paramount Cartoon Studios in the U.S. and Artransa Film Studios in Sydney, Australia. The series was first broadcast in 1963 as part of The King Features Trilogy . 50 episodes were produced. The opening credits included the sound of a bugle reveille , followed by a theme song specifically composed for the cartoon. In the closing credits Geoff Pike was listed as Director. Beetle
3021-427: Was commissioned under the name The Quarterly This publication ran successfully for 5 years until it was reorganized to run bi-monthly and renamed The Caduceus, the name it holds to this day. In 1912, Wilbur F. Denious (who would later become Worthy Grand Master) struck upon the idea of establishing a charitable endowment for Kappa Sigma. As a result of his hard work he and many others, the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund
3078-545: Was established in 1919 "to support the charitable and beneficent purposes of the Kappa Sigma." In 2002, along with Phi Delta Theta , Kappa Sigma ended its involvement in the North American Interfraternity Conference . However, many individual chapters remain members of their host university's Interfraternity Conference, but no chapter is required to recognize or be involved with their university's IFC if they choose not to. In 2003,
3135-428: Was popular in the fraternity In 2023, the chapter at San Diego State University (SDSU) is facing a hazing lawsuit after it was discovered a 19-year-old pledge was beaten and challenged to drink large amounts of alcohol in an initiation ritual. Later, the pledge was dropped off at a hospital in a coma but survived. Seven of the nine fraternity members involved were suspended from SDSU. The fraternity had been in trouble
3192-492: Was set at Rockview University. When Beetle joined the army, all of the other characters were dropped (although both incarnations of the strip include a bespectacled intellectual named Plato). Four characters from the original cast ( Bitter Bill, Diamond Jim, Freshman , and Sweatsock ) made at least one appearance, in the January 5, 1963 strip. Beetle's family, etc.: Camp Swampy: Numerous one-shot characters have appeared over
3249-409: Was voiced by comic actor and director Howard Morris with Allan Melvin as the voice of Sarge. Other King Features properties, such as Snuffy Smith and Krazy Kat , also appeared in the syndicated series, under the collective title Beetle Bailey and His Friends . June Foray did the voice of Bunny, plus all of the female characters involved. Beetle and Sgt. Snorkel were featured prominently in
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