As it happens, I knew the man who gave Gary Larson his first big break. He was Phelps Dewey, the longest-tenured SF Chronicle executive of the 20th century. Phelps (RIP, he passed not long ago at 93) had a ranch up here and flew his Piper Comanche up here often, well into his eighties. In his bathroom were some framed original Larson drawings and first prints of "The Far Side". He told me that he felt that recognizing Larson's talent and signing him on to the Chron was one of his greatest personal achievements. I could only agree.