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  4. 24
  5. David A. Trampier

Deaths on March 24

2014Mar, 24

David A. Trampier

David A. Trampier, American illustrator (b. 1954)
David A. Trampier (April 22, 1954 – March 24, 2014) was an artist and writer whose artwork for TSR, Inc. illustrated some of the earliest editions of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Many of his illustrations, such as the cover of the original Players Handbook, became iconic. Trampier was also the creator of the Wormy comic strip that ran in Dragon magazine for several years.

At the height of his career in the late 1980s, Trampier suddenly withdrew from the gaming world and became a social recluse. Although the reasons for this break were unclear, a disagreement with TSR is possible; it is clear that later in life, Trampier wanted nothing to do with TSR or its successor, Wizards of the Coast. For many years, Trampier's location was unknown to anyone and rumors circulated that he had died; his brother-in-law Tom Wham denied this, although Wham admitted that even he did not know where Trampier was or what he was doing.

Trampier was rediscovered by accident, working as a taxi driver in Carbondale, Illinois, when a local reporter did a ride along and—without knowing Trampier's background—subsequently published Trampier's name and photograph. Several companies and individuals immediately approached Trampier to commission new pieces of art, re-publish some of his most iconic pieces, or have Trampier appear as a guest of honor at conventions; Trampier refused and indicated he wished to be left alone.

A decade later, when Trampier's taxi company went out of business and he discovered he had cancer, he began to entertain the idea of republishing some of his best known artwork in book form. He also agreed to end his long isolation from the gaming community by appearing as a special guest at a Carbondale gaming convention scheduled for April 2014, but he died three weeks before the convention.

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Events on 2014

  • 18Mar

    Treaty on the Adoption of the Republic of Crimea to Russia

    The parliaments of Russia and Crimea sign an accession treaty.
  • 21Apr

    Flint water crisis

    The American city of Flint, Michigan switches its water source to the Flint River, beginning the ongoing Flint water crisis which has caused lead poisoning in up to 12,000 people, and 15 deaths from Legionnaires disease, ultimately leading to criminal indictments against 15 people, five of whom have been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
  • 9Aug

    Shooting of Michael Brown

    Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African American male in Ferguson, Missouri, was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer after reportedly assaulting the officer and attempting to steal his weapon, sparking protests and unrest in the city.
  • 18Sep

    Scottish independence referendum, 2014

    Scotland votes against independence from the United Kingdom.
  • 30Oct

    International recognition of the State of Palestine

    Sweden is the first European Union member state to officially recognize the State of Palestine.

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