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.

James Ramseur - Shot By Bernard Goetz

A brief encounter on a New York City subway on December 22, 1984 changed the life of James Ramseur forever. He was one of the four teenagers who accosted Bernard Goetz and was subsequently shot by the "Subway Vigilante".

The shootings attracted world-wide attention and highlighted the problem of crime and danger on the subway system. All four teens were shot, including one who was paralyzed and suffered permanent brain damage.

In 1987, Goetz was acquitted of attempted murder,but found guilty of illegal possession of a gun, He served 8 1/2 months in prison.

Ramseur, 45, died on December 22, 2011 which was the 27th anniversary of the shootings. He was found dead in a Bronx motel room, the apparent victim of a drug overdose and possible suicide.

Ramseur was incarcerated at the time of Goetz's trail. He had been sentenced for raping and robbing a pregnant woman in 1986. He was released in 2002, but returned to prison in 2005 for a parole violation. He was released in July 2010.

Edie Stevenson- Created "Mikey" Commercial

Edie Stevenson spent her career as a copywriter for print and television ads. Her biggest hit was the "Mikey, He likes It" spot that she did for LIFE cereal in 1973.

The ad became a staple on television throughout the 70's and 80's and was selected in 1999 by TV Guide as number 10 in a list of the top 50 commercials.

Ms Stevenson, 81, died on December 19, 2001 at an assisted living facility in Westport, Mass. from complications resulting from Alzheimer's Disease.

She landed a job as a junior copywriter after her divorce in 1966. She also worked on commercials for Volkswagon, Cutty Sark scotch and Smirnoff vodka.

Paul Leka - Songwriter

Paul Leka was a song writer and producer who wrote and worked for many recording artists dunig the late 60's and early 70's. He wrote "Green Tambourine" for the Lemon Pipers. It went to # 1 in 1967. He also signed REO Speedwagon to their first record contact. He moved onto producing four albums for Harry Chapin, including his only #1 hit: "Cat In the Cradle".

He is best known for co-writing the song "Kiss Him Goodbye". It reached #1 in 1969. It included a long chorus of the band singing "Na, na, na, na, na,na,na, na hye, hye, goodbye."

In 1977, the organist for the Chicago White Sox starting to play the chorus to excite the home fans when the visiting players struck out or a relief pitcher came in. It soon became a staple at stadiums and arenas around the country. It became a way for the home to to taunt the losing visiting team. It continues to enjoy great success today.

Mr Leka died from the effects of lung cancer on October 12, 2011 at his home in Sharon, Conn. at the age of 68.

Peter Gent - Author

Peter Gent wrote a book about the seamier side of football which became the movie, "North Dallas Forty"died at the age of 69 on September 30, 20011 from a pulmonary illness. He was living at his boyhood home in Bangor, Michigan.

Gent was a basketball star at Michigan State University in the 1960's. He was drafted by the NBA Baltimore Bullets, but decided to tryout for the Dallas Cowboys in spite of not having played college football. He made the team as a receiver and spent five seasons with them.

He penned his novel in 1973 dealing with the drugs, sex and greed in professional football. The book was made into the 1979 movie starring Nick Nolte.

He wrote sevral other books including a sequel, "North Dallas After Forty".

Willie Susan Smith Stewart - Reagan Classmate

Willie Susan Smith Stewart was the last member of the class of 1932 of Eureka College that included future President Ronald Reagan. Ms Stewart died on August 17, 2011 at the age of 101 at a hospital in Tyler, Texas.

She spent her entire life in Texas after graduating from Eureka and receiving a master's degree in education from Texas A&M. Her career included decades as a grammar school teacher.

Arthur "Kit" Murray - Test Pilot

Arthur "Kit" Murray was one of the US Air Force test pilots immortalized in Tom Wolfe's 1979 book, "The Right Stuff". In 1954, he became the first person to fly 90,440 feet over the earth, subsequently seeing its curvature. He was considered America's first space pilot.

He died on July 25, 2011 at the age of 92 in a Texas nursing home. Many of his test flights, along with those of Chuck Yeager, laid the foundation for the American space program.

From 1958-1960, he was the flight manager of the X-15 program. One of his pilots, Neil Armstrong, flew the advanced rocket plane at an altitude of 100 kilometers, meeting the international definition of space flight. Armstrong would later become the first to walk on the moon.

Murray flew 50 combat missions during World War II before becoming a P-47 flight instructor. After becoming a test pilot, he was the first to be assigned to the base in California that would later be known as Edwards.

Alan Haberman - Father of the Bar Code

Alan Haberman lead a team of researchers who developed the bar code system seen on products throughout the world today. Back in 1971 when he was an chief executive with First National stores, he was given the assignment of developing a system to keep better track of inventory.

The team met for two years before deciding on the system in use today involving a series of vertical lines and numbers. The original technology, developed in 1949, involved bull's-eye design.

Mt Haberman died on June 12, 2011 in Newton, Mass at the age of 81.

For many years, he served on the Uniform Code Council which administers the universal product code.

George Ballas - Invented the Weed Wacker

George Ballas changed the way people take care of their lawns by designing a product he first called the Weed Eater. His device was initially a tin can with strands of fishing line attached to the rotary of a lawn edger. It performed very well and sales flourished during the 1970's. He later sold his product to Emerson Electric who re-named it the Weed Wacker.

Ballas died on June 25, 2011 ate the age of 85 in Houston,TX of natural causes.

He was also a very accomplished dancer. After serving in the military, he worked for Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire dance studios. He later opened his own studio, Dance City USA, which covered 43,000 square feet and employed 120 instructors. He sold it in 1964. Both of his sons were very accomplished dancers and were featured on "Dancing With the Stars".

He also developed a Houston hotel and was and adjunct professor at Rice University, teaching a course in entrepreneurship.

Mietek Pemper - "Schindler" Typist

Mietek Pemper was the man who typed the names that were on Oskar Schinder's list of Jews trying to evade Nazi persecution during the Holocaust. Schindler was able to save over 1,000 from eventual death in the Nazi Concentration Camps.

Pemper died on June 7, 2011 in Augsburg, Germany at the age of 91

Director Steven Spielberg adapted the book "Schindler's List" into the 1993 film which won seven Oscars. Pemper served as an advisor for the movie.