Working for the Cleveland, Ohio Plain Dealer, he won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning.
[5] His career at the Plain Dealer began in 1922 as understudy to editorial cartoonist Hal Donahey.
[2] Kuekes handled general art chores for the Plain Dealer, such as illustrating news events.
[2] Kuekes won the Pulitzer Prize for a Korean War cartoon called "Aftermath".
In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Kuekes won three Freedoms Foundation medals in 1949, 1950, and 1951, a Silver T-Square in 1953, and a Christopher Award in 1955.