Jack Bechdolt

{{Short description|American writer and journalist (1884–1954)}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = John Ernest Bechdolt

| image = Bechdolt.jpg

| caption = Jack Bechdolt of the Seattle Cartoonists' Club shown in caricature, in the club's 1911 book The Cartoon; A Reference Book of Seattle's Successful Men. The club made its members look like pirates.

| pseudonym = Jack Bechdolt

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1884|7|13}}

| birth_place = Mankato, Minnesota, U.S.[http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/newspapers/doc/v2:114175180414EFE8@GBNEWS-121002CC14AF8458-120D72F6368E4348-12144B3D321BBA70/?search_terms=Bechdolt|Jack&s_dlid=DL0112031603375315225&s_ecproduct=SUB-Y-6995-R.IO-30&s_ecprodtype=RENEW-A-I&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=daddezio02&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2004%2F14%2F2012%208%3A28%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=04%2F14%2F2012%208%3A28%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=&s_accountid=AC0112031600283823523&s_upgradeable=no Aberdeen Daily News, 1954-12-31 page 6, Aberdeen, South Dakota.]

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1954|12|28|1884|7|13}}

| death_place = Pinebluff, North Carolina, U.S.

| occupation = {{flatlist|

• Novelist
• short story writer
• journalist

}}

| spouse = Mabel G.from 1910 Seattle Census

| children =

| relatives =

| period =

| genre = Science fiction, Fantasy

}}

John Ernest Bechdolt (July 13, 1884 – December 28, 1954) was an American short story writer, novelist, and journalist. He wrote under the name Jack Bechdolt as well as his full name. He worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer from 1909 to 1916, after which he moved to New York City, where he worked for Munsey Publications for a year before freelancing. His first novel, The Torch, was serialized in the magazine Argosy in 1920. Several of his stories were adapted into films.

image:Jack Bechdolt illustration.png

Bechdolt served as a solicitor for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1910. During that time, he was also drawing; he was listed as a member of the Seattle Cartoonists' Club in their 1911 book The Cartoon; A Reference Book of Seattle's Successful Men. He signed one of the illustrations in the book, a caricature of a painter.

Bechdolt was born in Mankato, Minnesota. His father, Adolph F. Bechdolt (1846–1938), was an educator and university professor. His older brother, Frederick R. Bechdolt (1874–1950), was also a journalist and writer.{{cite news |author= |title=Pioneer Educator Resigns After Nineteen Years of Service at Whatcom High School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121668756/the-bellingham-herald/ |newspaper=The Bellingham Herald |location=Bellingham, Washington |date=May 3, 1923 |page=1 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} Bechdolt died on December 28, 1954, at Pinebluff Sanitarium in Pinebluff, North Carolina.{{cite news |author= |title=Jack Bechdolt, 70, Short-Story Writer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121671127/obituary-for-jack-bechdolt/ |newspaper=The Evening Star |location=Washington, D.C. |agency=Associated Press |date=December 31, 1954 |page=6 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} He was buried in Southern Pines, North Carolina.{{cite news |author= |title=Jack Bechdolt Rites |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121673526/the-san-francisco-examiner/ |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner |location=San Francisco, California |agency=Associated Press |date=December 31, 1954 |page=3 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}