Elsie Hix was best known as the writer and editor of the nationally syndicated "Strange as It Seems" cartoon feature from 1948-63. At its peak, the feature was printed in 1,300 newspapers, was on the radio and was published in book form.
A native of Allentown, PA, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Lowe) Huber. She was a 1924 Cedar Crest graduate, majoring in business education. She was a member of its basketball team and associate editor of the student newspaper. In later years, she was a Cedar Crest trustee and a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Literature degree in 1960.
After graduation, she taught secretarial courses at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol for two years. She then became an office business manager for Remington-Rand Co., Washington, D.C., until her marriage in 1932 to Ernest Hix, who wrote "Strange as It Seems," the syndicated cartoon feature started by his brother, John. The couple established their home in Hollywood.
In the fall of 1948, her husband was killed in a plane crash.
The responsibility of continuing "Strange as It Seems" fell to her. At the time, "Strange as It Seems" appeared in about 175 newspapers in the country.
She wrote one hardback and three paperback book editions of "Strange as It Seems," the first appearing in 1945 and the last in 1962. The first two each sold more than a half million copies. Strange as It Seems was in direct competition with Ripley's Believe It or Not! for many years. Elsie claimed, "utmost care is exercised in verifying and authenticating all of the material."
In 1963, she passed the feature on to her son, Ernest Jr., who continued it into the 1970s. He also had a career as the coach of USC Men's Volleyball.
Elsie had a second career from 1939 to 1964 as executive secretary for George E. Kinsey, Los Angeles real estate investor, philanthropist and former president of the Coliseum Commission. In 1964, she married Donald Lee Chamberlin, He died in 1976. She was born Elsie Huber in 1902, and went by Elsie Huber Chamberlain for several years. For the last 10 years of her life, she resided in Glendora, CA.
Besides her son, she is also survived by a daughter, Dixie Ann Fraley; two stepsons, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services were Dec. 13, 1995, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.
(Summarized from an obituary in the The Morning Call, Allentown, PA)
A native of Allentown, PA, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Lowe) Huber. She was a 1924 Cedar Crest graduate, majoring in business education. She was a member of its basketball team and associate editor of the student newspaper. In later years, she was a Cedar Crest trustee and a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Literature degree in 1960.
After graduation, she taught secretarial courses at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol for two years. She then became an office business manager for Remington-Rand Co., Washington, D.C., until her marriage in 1932 to Ernest Hix, who wrote "Strange as It Seems," the syndicated cartoon feature started by his brother, John. The couple established their home in Hollywood.
In the fall of 1948, her husband was killed in a plane crash.
The responsibility of continuing "Strange as It Seems" fell to her. At the time, "Strange as It Seems" appeared in about 175 newspapers in the country.
She wrote one hardback and three paperback book editions of "Strange as It Seems," the first appearing in 1945 and the last in 1962. The first two each sold more than a half million copies. Strange as It Seems was in direct competition with Ripley's Believe It or Not! for many years. Elsie claimed, "utmost care is exercised in verifying and authenticating all of the material."
In 1963, she passed the feature on to her son, Ernest Jr., who continued it into the 1970s. He also had a career as the coach of USC Men's Volleyball.
Elsie had a second career from 1939 to 1964 as executive secretary for George E. Kinsey, Los Angeles real estate investor, philanthropist and former president of the Coliseum Commission. In 1964, she married Donald Lee Chamberlin, He died in 1976. She was born Elsie Huber in 1902, and went by Elsie Huber Chamberlain for several years. For the last 10 years of her life, she resided in Glendora, CA.
Besides her son, she is also survived by a daughter, Dixie Ann Fraley; two stepsons, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services were Dec. 13, 1995, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.
(Summarized from an obituary in the The Morning Call, Allentown, PA)
Elsie Hix was best known as the writer and editor of the nationally syndicated "Strange as It Seems" cartoon feature from 1948-63. At its peak, the feature was printed in 1,300 newspapers, was on the radio and was published in book form.
A native of Allentown, PA, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Lowe) Huber. She was a 1924 Cedar Crest graduate, majoring in business education. She was a member of its basketball team and associate editor of the student newspaper. In later years, she was a Cedar Crest trustee and a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Literature degree in 1960.
After graduation, she taught secretarial courses at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol for two years. She then became an office business manager for Remington-Rand Co., Washington, D.C., until her marriage in 1932 to Ernest Hix, who wrote "Strange as It Seems," the syndicated cartoon feature started by his brother, John. The couple established their home in Hollywood.
In the fall of 1948, her husband was killed in a plane crash.
The responsibility of continuing "Strange as It Seems" fell to her. At the time, "Strange as It Seems" appeared in about 175 newspapers in the country.
She wrote one hardback and three paperback book editions of "Strange as It Seems," the first appearing in 1945 and the last in 1962. The first two each sold more than a half million copies. Strange as It Seems was in direct competition with Ripley's Believe It or Not! for many years. Elsie claimed, "utmost care is exercised in verifying and authenticating all of the material."
In 1963, she passed the feature on to her son, Ernest Jr., who continued it into the 1970s. He also had a career as the coach of USC Men's Volleyball.
Elsie had a second career from 1939 to 1964 as executive secretary for George E. Kinsey, Los Angeles real estate investor, philanthropist and former president of the Coliseum Commission. In 1964, she married Donald Lee Chamberlin, He died in 1976. She was born Elsie Huber in 1902, and went by Elsie Huber Chamberlain for several years. For the last 10 years of her life, she resided in Glendora, CA.
Besides her son, she is also survived by a daughter, Dixie Ann Fraley; two stepsons, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services were Dec. 13, 1995, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.
(Summarized from an obituary in the The Morning Call, Allentown, PA)
A native of Allentown, PA, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Lowe) Huber. She was a 1924 Cedar Crest graduate, majoring in business education. She was a member of its basketball team and associate editor of the student newspaper. In later years, she was a Cedar Crest trustee and a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Literature degree in 1960.
After graduation, she taught secretarial courses at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol for two years. She then became an office business manager for Remington-Rand Co., Washington, D.C., until her marriage in 1932 to Ernest Hix, who wrote "Strange as It Seems," the syndicated cartoon feature started by his brother, John. The couple established their home in Hollywood.
In the fall of 1948, her husband was killed in a plane crash.
The responsibility of continuing "Strange as It Seems" fell to her. At the time, "Strange as It Seems" appeared in about 175 newspapers in the country.
She wrote one hardback and three paperback book editions of "Strange as It Seems," the first appearing in 1945 and the last in 1962. The first two each sold more than a half million copies. Strange as It Seems was in direct competition with Ripley's Believe It or Not! for many years. Elsie claimed, "utmost care is exercised in verifying and authenticating all of the material."
In 1963, she passed the feature on to her son, Ernest Jr., who continued it into the 1970s. He also had a career as the coach of USC Men's Volleyball.
Elsie had a second career from 1939 to 1964 as executive secretary for George E. Kinsey, Los Angeles real estate investor, philanthropist and former president of the Coliseum Commission. In 1964, she married Donald Lee Chamberlin, He died in 1976. She was born Elsie Huber in 1902, and went by Elsie Huber Chamberlain for several years. For the last 10 years of her life, she resided in Glendora, CA.
Besides her son, she is also survived by a daughter, Dixie Ann Fraley; two stepsons, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services were Dec. 13, 1995, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.
(Summarized from an obituary in the The Morning Call, Allentown, PA)
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