{{short description|American cartoonist (1906–2015)}} {{for|the political activist|Austin Petersen}} '''Harry Austin "Pete" Peterson''' (July 10, 1906 – June 11, 2015) was an American screenwriter, cartoonist, and radio program director.

==Early life and career== Austin Peterson was born in Palo Alto, California, on July 10, 1906, to Harry and Lillian Peterson. His journalistic career began in the late 1920s, when he worked as a cartoonist for newspapers such as ''San Francisco Call'' and ''Los Angeles Herald''.<ref name="AustinTCJ2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcj.com/pete-the-rookie/|title=Pete, the Rookie|publisher=The Comics Journal|date=October 16, 2014|accessdate=August 27, 2017}}</ref> Starting from 1933, he worked as a producer and writer for the now-defunct radio station KFRC. He also wrote for the show ''The Packard Show'', starring Hollywood actor and dancer Fred Astaire.<ref name="AustinDS2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/life/wellness/2014/05/27/austin-peterson-centenarian/9617217/|title=Austin Peterson, 107, is among rare centenarians|publisher=The Desert Sun|date=May 26, 2014|accessdate=August 27, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Austin1937">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/135506097|title=Putting Taps and Dead-Pan on The Air|publisher=Democrat and Chronicle|date=April 11, 1937|accessdate=September 5, 2017}}</ref>

He was the program director of the Armed Forces Radio during World War II. Other jobs include working on the television show ''The Colgate Comedy Hour''.<ref name="Austin1947">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-12-08-BC.pdf|title=Our Respects To|publisher=American Radio History|date=December 8, 1947|access-date=August 27, 2017|pages=50–52}}</ref>

==Later life and death== Peterson wrote an autobiography called ''Television is a young man's game? I'm 94. Why didn't somebody tell me?'', which was published in the year 2000.<ref name="AustinBio">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZl36z4e8BQC|title=Television is a young man's game? I'm 94. Why didn't somebody tell me?|publisher=iUniverse|author=Peterson, Austin|year=2000|isbn=978-0595142545}}</ref> He also wrote a travel guide on several Pacific islands, including Tahiti.<ref name="Austin1966">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/163030380|title=Club Will Hear Ad Council's Executive|work=Arizona Daily Star|date=February 7, 1966|accessdate=September 5, 2017}}</ref> His longevity was highlighted well into his centenarian years. He died on June 11, 2015, at the age of 108.

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterson, Austin}} Category:1906 births Category:2015 deaths Category:American men centenarians Category:American radio writers

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