Early life Mauldin was born in Mountain Park, New Mexico, into a family with a tradition of military service. His father, Sidney Albert Mauldin (né Bissell, but adopted after being orphaned) served as an artilleryman in World War I. Bill's grandfather by way of his father's adoption, for whom Bill was named, had been a civilian scout in the Apache Wars. After his parents' divorce, Bill and his older brother Sidney moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1937 and attended Phoenix Union High School. It was there that he began his career in editorial journalismwriting for PUHS's Coyote Journal. Bill did not graduate with his class (he was later granted a diploma in 1945) and in 1939 he took courses at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts where he studied political cartooning with Vaughn Shoemaker. While in Chicago, Mauldin met Will Lang Jr. and became fast friends with him. Lang Jr. later became a journalist and a bureau head for Life magazine.
early life mauldin was born in mountain park new mexico into a family with a tradition of military service his father sidney albert mauldin (né bissell but adopted after being orphaned) served as an artilleryman in world war i bill's grandfather by way of his father's adoption for whom bill was named had been a civilian scout in the apache wars after his parents' divorce bill and his older brother sidney moved to phoenix arizona in 1937 and attended phoenix union high school it was there that he began his career in editorial journalismwriting for puhs's coyote journal bill did not graduate with his class (he was later granted a diploma in 1945) and in 1939 he took courses at the chicago academy of fine arts where he studied political cartooning with vaughn shoemaker while in chicago mauldin met will lang jr and became fast friends with him lang jr later became a journalist and a bureau head for life magazine