Jeff Knurek in his Fishers home office.
Writer / Kara Kavensky Photographer / Amy Unger
Jeff Knurek and David L. Hoyt share a unique partnership. Over the past eight years, Jeff took over illustrating the Jumble puzzle and was joined by David in 2011, becoming the most syndicated puzzle team on the planet. With a distribution through more than 600 newspapers via the Tribune syndicate, they reach more than 70 million people each day. The popularity of the Jumble puzzle has led to several books and games celebrating their syndicated puzzles. Jeff and David headlined an event honoring the history of the Jumble to a sold-out crowd at Tribune Tower last year in Chicago. When Jeff began cartooning for the Jumble, he became the most syndicated puzzle creator on the planet. “Anyone is fair game of being featured in the cartoon,” shares Jeff who finds inspiration everywhere. “My daughter and son are swimmers (at HSE), and I have featured their coach, the team, people at my gym…” One such featured caricature was of yoga and spin instructor Greta Wilson whose inspired image graced the cover of one of Jeff and David’s books. “Jeff and Kathy attended my cycle class, and we subsequently became great friends,” shares Greta. “It was a fun surprise that my likeness inspired a Jumble cartoon. My husband and I remain close friends with Jeff and Kathy. They are just great people.” Originally, Jeff ’s agent introduced the duo. The agent suggested that Jeff connect with David regarding a game idea of Jeff ’s. A poker fan,
Jeff had designed a new take on the game, Hi/Lo. David interrupted and said, “I know what you are going to show me. Come here.” David led Jeff to his computer where he showed him something he was working on which was basically the exact same idea Jeff had. “Clearly we are like-minded in our thought processes,” says Jeff. David asked Jeff if he could draw cartoons. David, who is known as “The Man Who Puzzles America,” tested him on the spot, having Jeff sketch something on a napkin. David loved the impromptu illustration, even though to Jeff, it was a poor rendering. “That drawing was awful,” confesses Jeff, but David thought it was great. “I was offered $10 per sketch. I created over 3,000 sketches for Dave,” shares Jeff. Those 3,000 sketches accompanied David’s Jumble puzzles in a bar top gaming system. Not long after this joint venture, they began their syndication with Tribune with Boggle BrainBusters. While the Jumble puzzle became their bread and butter, David and Jeff keep busy creating and designing additional games, both together and independently. Both are award-winning game designers. Each has created board games, electronic games and apps. The two also manage licensing for Comedy Magician Mac King who has a popular show in Vegas. Jeff and David help market and license for Mac’s Magic in a Minute magic kits and other merchandise. A lesser-known fact about Jeff is that while he worked at his first job as a toy inventor in Chicago years ago, he created the game, Spikeball. Spikeball, which has become a sport, was featured on Shark Tank last year. “It was wild watching my invention on Shark Tank,” says
18 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2016 / atFishers.com