Clay Bennett was the winner of the 2007 Thomas Nast Award from the Overseas Press Club of America. Judges noted that "his cartoons do what all great cartoons do: make you laugh and groan at the same time." Bennett quipped, "I accept this honor not as any recognition of artistic talent, nor as a testament to any inherent wit or wisdom. I accept this award as a tribute to my neurotic insecurity and the obsessive work ethic that it inspires."

Bennett was also a finalist for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Cartooning. Judges complimented his "distinctive cartoons marked by sharp focus and pungent simplicity."

When Pulitzer Prize-winner Clay Bennett becomes the editorial cartoonist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press on January 1st, he'll also join The Washington Post Writers Group.

"When we heard Clay might be available, we jumped at the chance to be his syndicate," said Amy Lago, the Writers Group's comics editor. "He's one of the most inventive, creative and thoughtful editorial cartoonists out there."

Editorial Director Alan Shearer agreed that there was no hesitation, despite industry forces that are depleting the ranks of cartoonists and reducing the space for their work. "I've heard people in our business say editorial cartooning is in decline as newspapers slash and burn, and they are right to a degree," he said. "But creatively, cartooning is as strong as ever, and Clay is one of the brightest lights. His work will be a strong presence in the marketplace. And I'm pleased that we're adding yet another Pulitzer Prize winner to our roster."

Bennett stated, "I'm really thrilled about the opportunity that awaits me at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, but to now be working with The Washington Post Writers Group makes this transition just that much more exciting."

Bennett has been the editorial cartoonist for The Christian Science Monitor since 1998 and, while there, he was a Pulitzer finalist five consecutive years, winning it in 2002. He has also earned just about every other editorial cartoon award there is, including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the John Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition, the Overseas Press Club's Thomas Nast Award, the National Headliner Award, the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award, the National Journalism Award from the Scripps Howard Foundation, and the National Cartoonists Society Division Award for Best Editorial Cartoons. Bennett was also named Editorial Cartoonist of the Year by Editor & Publisher magazine in 2001.

Bennett was the editorial cartoonist at the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times from 1981 until he was fired in 1994, whereupon he spent more than three years in "professional oblivion" before being hired by The Monitor. "The Christian Science Monitor saved my career," said Bennett. "The editors there showed faith in me when few in this business seemed willing to." Before working in St. Petersburg, Bennett was a staff artist at both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Fayetteville (NC) Times. He is married to portrait artist, illustrator and cartoonist Cindy Procious, and they have three children, Matt, Ben and Sarah.