Untitled (Ty Cobb)

William Thomas Bushman

In an article that appeared in Life Magazine, March 8, 1948 titled 'Minnesota has a Writing Boom,' page 125 the author wrote as a caption to a photograph on page 127: "William T. Bushman, a 30 year old ex-GI who attends the university writing course given by Novelist Saul Bellow. Bill Bushman, who for years was a hobo, still haunts Minneapolis' Skid Row to pick up local color for his short stories and talented drawings."

This ink drawing is signed by Bushman at the lower right as well as his nom de plume 'Heine Busch.' It depicts a face at the upper right which faces a chaotic structure of lines and haphazard verbage that form profiles and references to Baseball icon Ty Cobb and other sports stars of his era; "Willie Hoppe Master of Billiards," "Tinker to Evers to Frank Chance," "I Hate Crooks and Chances" etc.

William Thomas Bushman died on February 1, 1998 in Duluth, Minnesota.