Karl Kae Knecht

Karl Kae Knecht (December 4, 1883 – July 28, 1972) was an American artist who was the cartoonist for the Evansville Courier (now Courier & Press) from 1906 to 1960 and was instrumental in the founding of Evansville's Mesker Park Zoo.

His work was the subject of a book, The World of Karl Kae Knecht Through His Cartoons by Philip C. Ensley, published in 1979 by University of Evansville Press.

[1] Knecht was born in 1883 in Dakota Territory and grew up in Illinois.

He enjoyed circuses and performing as a clown,[2] and was a founding member of the "Circus Fans' Association", serving as its first secretary-treasurer starting in 1926.

In 1906, Knecht became the cartoonist for the Evansville Courier and later served as staff photographer.