Thursday, December 27, 2012

Gail Harris - Ex New York Giant MLB PLayer

Gail Harris had a relatively undistinguished Major League baseball career. He spent three seasons with the New York Giants before they moved to San Francisco. He was the last player to hit a home run for the team when they played in New York City.

He was traded to the Detroit Tigers where he played through the 1960 season. He finished his career with a .240 batting average with 51 HR's and 190 RBI's. He remains as the answer to a trivia question regarding who hit the last home run hit for the New York Giants.

Harris, 81, died at his Gainesville, VA home on November 14, 2012. After his playing days were over, he spent a career as an insurance salesman. He also was an instructor in the Kansas City Royals farm system for a brief period.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Millie Parsons - Longest Tenured FBI Employee

Millie Parsons was the longest continually serving employee in the history of the FBI during a career which lasted 62 years, nine months and two days. During that time she never called in sick and was only late once when she got stuck in a stalled elevator.

She started as a junior-clerk typist in 1939. She later served as the secretary to the Special Agent in charge of the Washington D.C. field office under two dozen different bosses. Before the agency started hiring female agents in 1972, she occasionally posed as the companion to undercover agents.

Mrs Parsons, 99,  died on October 21, 2012 at her home in Silver Springs, MD from coronary heart disease. Her husband died in 1967 after 25 years of marriage. She left no immediate survivors.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Frank Wilson - Song Writer



Frank Wilson quote several hits for Motown stars during the 1960's and 70's. He worked with Marvin Gaye, the Supremes and Tempatations.

His biggest hits were "Love Child" for Diana Ross and the Supremes, "Chained" for Gaye and "All I Need" for the Temptations.

His biggest hit was probably "You Made Me So Very Happy" originally written for Brenda Halloway in 1967, but became even a bigger hit for Blood, Sweat and Tears.

Wilson, 71, died on September 27, 2012 from a lung infection. During the last couple of decades, Wilson was an active minister.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Scott McKenzie - Iconic Song From 1967

Scott Mckenzie sang the hit of his career when he recorded "San Francisco, Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair". It became the theme song of the counterculture movement during the "Summer of Love" in 1967.

He died on August 18, 2012 at the age of 73 after fighting a two year battle against Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease of the nervous system.

"San Francisco" was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, but McKenzie brought it to the top of the charts. McKenzie also co-wrote"Kokomo" which the Beach Boys brought to #1 in 1988.


Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Ignacy Skowron - Poish Veteran

Ignacy Skowron was a Polish soldier guarding a military depot near Gdansk along with 200 other troops when it came under attack from the German warship Schlezwig-Holstein on September 1, 1939. This was the opening battle of World War II. They fought 1,500 German troops ,but were eventually captured and became prisoners. Fortunately for Skowron, he was released in 1940 because of illness and he returned home.

Skowrow, 97, was the last surviving Polish soldier from the battle. He died on August 5, 2012 near his home in Kielce in the southern section of Poland.

After the war, he spent his career working for the Polish rail system until he retired in 1975. He participated often in the annual observance on September 1st to commemorate the battle. His last time was in 2009 before he suffered a variety of illnesses that lead to his death.

He spent time throughout his life retelling his story of the battle to younger generations.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Lesley Brown - "Test-tube Mother"

Lesley Brown attracted world-wide attention on July 25, 1978 when she gave birth to the first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization. Her daughter was known as the "test-tube baby". The procedure would be popularized to the extent that over 4 million babies have been born using that method.

She died on June 6, 2012 at the age of 64 in Bristol, England of complications from a gall bladder infection.

Her daughter's birth was quite controversial because it was in uncharted waters. Her neighborhood was surrounded by a huge media presence upon the birth. Four years later, she would conceive again using the same method.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Robert Kelleher - Oldest Federal Judge

Many members of the legal profession have served in the federal judiciary with great distinction. Robert Kelleher holds the record as the oldest to serve. He continued to hear cases until he died on June 20, 2012 at the age of 99.

He was appointed by President Nixon in 1970 and continued to serve in the Central District of California. He maintained an active docket of cases.

He was also an outstanding tennis player and was a member of the 1963 US Davis Cup team. He and his late wife won the mixed-doubles championship in 1947. He was inducted into the tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.

Monday, May 28, 2012

George Blackburn - Led Zeppelin II

George Blackburn,64, died of a heart attack on May 18, 2012. Last fall, he changed his name to Led Zeppelin II in a tribute to his favorite rock band. He did it following his divorce, although his daughter said he had spoken about it for years.

He appeared to live a very ordinary life. He was born in Milwaukee in 1947, but was raised in Chicago. He spent 32 years with TWA before he retired in 1997.

His passing went viral on the Internet. His name change to Led Zeppelin II became an interesting story and was picked up by the media.  

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Charles Pitts - Guitarist in "Shaft"

Charles Pitts was a longtime Memphis guitar player who recorded with some of the biggest soul and blues artists including Al Green, Wilson Pickett, Same & Dave and Albert King.

His biggest musical moment came when he played the distinctive wah-wah pedal guitar on the soundtrack for the movie "Shaft". The theme song, recorded by Isaac Hayes was a huge hit and has maintained its place in pop culture over the last four decades.

Pitts,65, died on May 2, 2012 in Memphis after a long battle with cancer. He first recorded when he was 15 after being taught by neighbor Bo Diddley while growing up in Washington D.C. He would later play in Hayes' band over the next four decades after their huge 1971 hit.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Jack Balestreri - Bridge Worker

Jack Balestreri was considered to be the last surviving worker from the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in California. He began his job in 1933 when he was 17 on the south tower of the bridge in San Francisco Bay and continued for three years until the project completion.

Mr Balestreri,95, died of natural causes at his home in San Francisco on April 21, 2012.

After the completion of the project, he played professional baseball and worked in a shipyard during World War II. He later spent 40 years working as a draftsman for a company in San Francisco.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

William Pace - Gunshot Survivor

William Pace led a very nondescript life until it was learned in 2006 that he was longest surviving person with a bullet lodged in his head. This dubious distinction was confirmed by the Guiness Book of World Records.

Mr Pace, 103, died in his sleep on April 23, 2012 at a nursing home in Turlock, California. He survived for 94 years and six months with .22 caliber bullet that entered his head, behind his ear.

The accidental shooting by his older brother in 1917 left him with damage to his eye and facial nerves. Doctors thought it was too dangerous to perform surgery out of fear of causing permanent brain damage.

In spite of his injury, Pace spent his career as a cemetery custodian.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Dick Clark - Music Icon

Dick Clark lived a life filled with accomplishments. He will be remembered for many things, including his 30 year run with American Bandstand. He was an absolute giant in the music industry. His influence can never be measured.

He died on April 18, 2012 from a heart attack at 82 after a medical procedure. His stroke in 2004 had a huge impact on his life. He was able to make it back to hosting his New Year's Eve gala in Times Square after missing the show in 2005.

He will forever be associated with New Year's Eve. It was his idea to have the ball drop at the stroke of midnight. He started hosting the celebration in 1972 and never looked back.

New Year's Eve will never be the same without him

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Robert Ayres - Created "Bonanza" Map`

Robert Ayres designed the map of the Ponderosa Ranch that appeared in the opening credits for "Bonanza which had a 13 year run on NBC starting in 1959. The map was shown for seconds and then burst into flames revealing the "Cartwrights" played by Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon. The show followed the lives of Ben Cartwright and his sons on their Ponderosa Ranch in Nevada in the late 1800's.

Illustrators made copies of it to before filming the burning scene. The original map was in the home of the show's creator and producer for 50 years. After David Dotort died in 2010, his family donated the map to the Autry Center of the American West.

Ironically, Mr Ayres visited the Center three days before his death on February 25, 2012. He was 98 and lived in Cherry valley, CA.

He spent his career as an illustrator, landing a gig at MGM where he did illustrations for "Ben Hur" and other movies. He also did drawings for set builders, using their blue prints.

When he saw the map before his death, he remarked that he had not seen it in over 50 years.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Maxwell Keith - Attorney In Manson Case

Maxwell Keith spent his career as a defense attorney in California, but the biggest case of his career was in 1970 when he became the court-appointed defender for two members of the Charles Manson Family.

The murders of actress Sharon Tate and several others by the Manson Family became one of the biggest stories in 1969. He was selected to represent Leslie Van Houton and Charles "Tex" Watson.

Mr Keith attempted to use a defense based on the theory that his clients were brainwashed into following the orders of Manson. All of the defendant were convicted and received life sentences.

Mr Keith, 87, died on March 6, 2011 at his home in Templeton, CA of complications from pneumonia.

After serving in World War II, he received a degree from Princeton University and attended law school at Loyola College. He passed the bar in 1953, beginning his career in the Los Angeles area.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Charles Anthony - Opera Ironman

Charles Anthony, 82, was the ironman of the New York City Metropolitan Opera. In a career that spanned from 1954-2010, he sang in 2,928 performances at the Met. It included 11 roles in 69 operas. He died on February 15, 2012.

He was born Calegero Antonio Caruso in New Orleans in 1929. In 1952, he entered a Met competition called "Auditions of the Air" and secured a spot. The Met general manager changed his name 30 minutes before air time because he didn't want the audience to think he was related to Enrico Caruso.

Steve Kordek - Developed Pinball Flippers

Steve Kordek spent his career designing pinball machines for various game manufacturers. In 1947, flippers were first introduced to players.

Mr Kordek was working for Genco at the time. His firm wanted to compete with the others in this new design. He changed the design from six flippers down to two which he located at the bottom of the playing field before the balls fall into he drain. He debut his design at the 1948 pinball trade show where it became an immediate hit with players.

Mr Kordek, 100, died on February 19, 2011 in Park Ridge Illinois.

He left Genco in 1960 and began working at Williams, one of the top pinball game manufacturers. He led a group of designers who developed some of the most popular arcade games that continue to enjoy success.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

John Faifax - Rower

John Fairfax became the first person to row across the Atlantic Ocean back in 1969. His achievement made him an international celebrity at the time. Two years later he rowed across the Pacific Ocean with his girl friend. They were the first two-person crew to accomplish the feat.

Mr Faifax, 74, died of a heart attack at his home in Las Vegas on February 8, 2011.

His Atlantic Ocean crossing started on January 20, 1969 from the Canary Islands to Miami. It took 180 days, covering 5,300 miles. He was blown off course many times, ending up along the west coast of Africa before he was able to get back on track.

His Pacific Ocean attempt started April 26, 1971 from San Francisco with the goal of reaching Australia's Great Barrier Reef. His journey, accompanied by his girl friend lasted 361 days.

He spent the rest of his years living a life of adventure. At various times, he was a shark fighter, ocelot hunter, mink farm operator and authority on baccarat.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dick Turfield - Voice of Robot

From 1965-1968 Dick Tufield was the voice of the robot on the television show "Lost in Space". He often uttered the phrase "Danger Will Robinson.

Tufield, 85, died on January 22, 2012 at his home in Los Angeles.

He made a career of doing voice-overs in hundreds of commercials as well as sporting events and news programs. His other tv shows included "Zorro" and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea".

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Cecil Pond - Popularized Riding Lawn Mowers

Cecil Pond will be known for introducing the riding lawn mower to the American family. He founded Pond Tractor Co, later named Wheel Horse Products, which built two-wheeled tractors that the operator could walk behind.

After World War II, his company developed a riding lawn-mower. With the growth of suburbs, sales increased every year. The company made a total of 22 attachments, including those for snow plowing, and plows for backyard gardens.

Mr Pond, 87, died on December 30, 2011 at a hospital in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana.

In 1975, Pond's company had over 500 employees when he sold it to American Motors Company. AMC later sold it to Toro.