Overview

• Benson died on July 16, 2025, at age 71, prompting tributes from colleagues and readers who praised his fearless satire.
• He drew editorial cartoons for The Arizona Republic from 1980 to 2019 before joining The Arizona Mirror, where he continued publishing online.
• His work earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1993 after finalist nods in 1984, 1989, 1992 and 1994 for incisive commentary on national and international issues.
• Grandson of LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson, he resigned from the church in 1993 and evolved from conservative beginnings to champion transgender, abortion and Native American rights.
• The Arizona Mirror has preserved his legacy with a dedicated “Benson’s Corner” archive showcasing his four decades of influential cartoons.