As the Baltimore Sun’s editorial cartoonist for 17 years, Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher had a complicated, love/hate relationship with Schaefer , calling him in a tribute post last night “a flamboyant, dynamic, zany and utterly unique politician” who was also “incredibly thin-skinned.”

“Thus, I was a feature of many of his public tirades and recipient of poison pen letters inked by the great man himself,” Kallaugher wrote.

KAL lovingly reproduced in pen-and-ink drawings Schaefer’s high-domed forehead, verdant jowls and hammed-up moods: sentimental, supremely bored, pugnacious, lecturing, jolly, showman-like and benign.

“His wacky persona was complimented by a rubbery face, which had more expressions than Baskin Robbins had flavors,” Kallaugher wrote.

KAL even had an opportunity to render Schaefer’s mug in three dimensions. One of the holes at the Baltimore-themed mini-golf course erected briefly on Rash Field at the Inner Harbor was made from a KAL drawing of The Don.

“It was sooo much fun to make,” Kallaugher recalled last night in an email. “I have a picture of him and me on the hole together…. he is decked out 1930’s golf gear… and looking singularly grumpy!”

Check out Kallaugher’s blog post to read more of his recollections of his favorite subject and see several cartoons he pulled from the KAL archives.