Chuck Ayers part of Kent State Homecoming events

Former Beacon Journal editorial page cartoonist Chuck Ayers, Kent State Class of 1971, will join Medina’s Tom Batiuk, Class of 1969, in hosting the art auction and reception that will be part of Kent State’s Oct. 20 Homecoming events.

Chuck (see photo) and Tom co-created the “Crankshaft” comic strip, a 1987 spinoff of the school bus driver in “Funky Winkerbean.” Batiuk writes both comic strips. Chuck illustrates them.

Characters from both comic strips adorn the Kent State student lounge.

The Kent State-Western Michigan football game at 3:30 p.m. is among the other Homecoming events on the schedule.

Chuck and newsroom retiree Russ Musarra partnered for the Walks Around Akron series that appeared in the Beacon Journal and, since 2000, in Akron City magazine and that became a book in 2007.

Chuck’s brother, Michael Ayers, was in the BJ community relations and marketing department till being downsized in 2007.