For the past quarter of a century, one of the more lovable, enduring, and certainly most human-thinking cats in the world has brought a tremendous amount of pleasure to literally millions worldwide. Garfield, created by Hoosier native, Ball State alumnus, and Delaware County resident Jim Davis, celebrates his 25th birthday this June, and what a bash is being planned in Muncie! There will be a birthday celebration unlike others, to include a Fat Cat Walk/Run, A Fur Ball (this one's a dance, if you're curious), birthday parade, lasagna lunch, and other festivities to round out three days of events that should draw thousands of participants. Ball State and numerous community organizations have taken on a project that will culminate with 25, four-foot-high Garfields decorated to carry out themes to suit the respective groups that have adopted the feline likenesses and placed strategically around the campus and community during the festivities. The Alumni Association will own one of the cats, any or all of which will eventually be made available to the general public through auction.

While it is exciting to be a tangible part of the celebration this year, it is indeed an honor to have been able to work with Jim Davis and his staff at Paws, Inc., a number of whom are also Ball State graduates, and to witness much of the two-and-a-half decades of success of the cat and his company.

I remember when Garfield was just five years old. At that time we wrote: "In his brief life, Garfield the Cat has compiled such a glittering list of accomplishments that there is almost a rational answer for his cynical attitude and arrogant air. Few five-year-olds can boast both Emmy and Grammy nominations, 11 best-selling books, international acclaim, two highly rated television specials, more than 5,000 items bearing their likeness, and induction into the Smithsonian Institution. But, that isn't all. The fat, lazy cat also is listed as one of the Top Ten personalities with the Sexiest Lips, as well as being among the Top Ten Most Boring peoplehonors Garfield himself most likely places near the top of his list of achievements."

Two decades later, Garfield, like that Energizer bunny, just keeps going. The most widely syndicated Sunday comic in the United States, Garfield also has more than 220 million readers daily throughout the world. Not bad for a comic strip that began syndication in June 1978 in 41 newspapers. The lasagna-loving cat has amassed a lion's share of accolades that have come by leaps and bounds, have stretched well beyond the numbers listed 20 years ago, and have broadened borders to now include a feature-length movie currently in the making. An update on Jim Davis, the man and his cat, begins on page 20 of this issue. Thank you, Jim, for a great 25 yearsand Happy Birthday, Garfield.