Former BJ artist John "Derf" Backderf, a graphic novelist ("My Friend Dahmer") and pioneer underground cartoonist (visual arts), on Sunday received the Cleveland Arts Prize’s Mid-Career Award at the Cleveland Museum of Art ceremonies.

“My Friend Dahmer” was made into a movie released in 2017. Alex Wolff played Derf. Ross Lynch played Derf’s classmate at Revere High School.

Derf is married to former BJ reporter Sheryl Harris, who migrated to the PD as a business writer.

Former national poet laureate and Akron native Rita Dove, author of "On the Bus With Rosa Parks," was the Lifetime Achievement Award.