| Allen Saunders | |
|---|---|
 Allen Saunders on Password (May 20, 1965). | |
| Born | John Allen Saunders April 24, 1899 Lebanon, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | January 28, 1986 (aged 86) Maumee, Ohio, U.S.[1] |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor |
Notable works | Big Chief Wahoo / Steve Roper and Mike Nomad Mary Worth Kerry Drake |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (1981) |
| Spouse(s) | Lois |
| Children | 4 |
Allen Saunders (April 24, 1899 – January 28, 1986)[2] was an American writer, journalist and cartoonist who wrote the comic strips Steve Roper and Mike Nomad, Mary Worth and Kerry Drake.
He is credited with being the originator of the saying, "Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans" in 1957.[3] The saying was later slightly modified and popularised by John Lennon in the song "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)".
His full name, John Allen Saunders, sometimes led to confusion with his son John (John Phillip Saunders, 1924–2003), who later continued two of his father's strips.
- ^ Associated Press. "Allen Saunders Dies; 'Mary Worth' Creator," New York Times (February 2, 1986).
- ^ "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J2LC-TZW : accessed 19 Mar 2013), John Saunders, January 1986.
- ^ "Life is What Happens To You While You're Busy Making Other Plans". Quote Investigator. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2015.