ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 25, 1996 TAG: 9605280041
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: Associated Press
Tom Forman, half of the creative team which produced the ``Motley's Crew'' syndicated comic strip for the past 20 years, has died. He was 60.
Forman, who wrote the strip drawn by Ben Templeton and signed Forman & Templeton, died Saturday of cancer in his home in nearby Agoura Hills.
The team also produced the comics ``Elwood,'' ``Prime Time'' and ``The Sporting Life.''
``Motley's Crew,'' printed regularly in 250 newspapers, is a satirical social commentary as seen through the eyes of blue-collar worker Mike Motley.
Born in Detroit, Forman earned a degree in government at California State University, Los Angeles, and taught government and history for four years. Then he switched to writing, producing and developing television documentaries, feature films and television plots.
Ever the teacher, Forman spent his life mentoring youngsters and other writers and cartoonists including Dave Miller and Stephen Bentley.
``As well as being very good at this job,'' Templeton said of his partner, ``Tom had the most human attribute of all, that of a natural-born teacher.''
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB