The Associated Press

Santa Rosa, Calif.

Monday, January 03, 2000

Santa Rosa, Calif. – With his last daily ”Peanuts” comic strip appearing in newspapers today, cartoonist Charles Schulz had to stifle the tears.

”There are so many things I’m going to miss,” Schulz told the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat on Sunday, his voice crackling with emotion. ”I’ve been thinking about this, and I think what I’m going to miss the most is Lucy holding the football and looking up and then the big bonk when Charlie comes down.”

Schulz, 77, was diagnosed with colon cancer in November. He said some of his physical problems have left him at a loss, ”but the big thing I lost is my job,” he said with a laugh.

Today’s final farewell strip is primarily a text message signed by Schulz. In it, he thanks fans and editors for their love and support through the nearly 50-year run of ”Peanuts.”

In the corner sits a ponderous Snoopy atop his doghouse, with the typewriter that so often tapped out: ”It was a dark and stormy night…”

”Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy … how can I ever forget them,” the strip reads.

Schulz has written, drawn, colored and lettered every ”Peanuts” strip since its debut Oct. 2, 1950. His contract stipulates that no one else will ever draw the strip.

His beloved cast of characters appear in 2,600 newspapers, reaching an estimated 355 million readers daily in 75 countries.

His final Sunday strip is scheduled to appear in newspapers on Feb. 13.