Bob Cook was featured in a television spot for VISA during the NFL season. He was shown, along with three other fans, in the "Never Missed a Super Bowl" ad. The men had been to all previous 44 Super Bowls.
They commented about the extreme measures they had taken over the years to attend the game. Mr Cook fell ill shortly before the game this year and ended up watching his beloved Packers from a hospital bed in Milwaukee.
Mr Cook died on February 10, 2011 at the hospital from a blood infection at the age of 79.
He was the former owner of "Bob Cook's Vagabond Travel Service" in Brown Deer, Wisconsin.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tony Malinosky - Oldest Baseball Player
Tony Malinosky did not have much of a Major League Baseball career. He played three months in 1937 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, hitting .228 in 35 games. His career was cut short by a knee injury.
Malinosky held the distinction of being the oldest former MLB player. He died on February 9, 2011 at the age of 101 in Oxnard, California.
During World War II he served in the Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
He was honored at Dodgers Stadium during the 2009 season when he turned 100. He was a life-long Dodgers fan.
Malinosky held the distinction of being the oldest former MLB player. He died on February 9, 2011 at the age of 101 in Oxnard, California.
During World War II he served in the Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
He was honored at Dodgers Stadium during the 2009 season when he turned 100. He was a life-long Dodgers fan.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Milton Levine - Inventor
Milton Levine, who co-invented the classic Ant Farm toy, died on January 16, 2011 at the age of 97 in Thousand Oaks, California.
He first conceived of his toy in 1956 while watching ants during a Fourth of July picnic. It reminded him how he had collected them in jars when he was a kid.
He and his brother-in-law E.J. Cossman came up with the idea of a transparent habitat that allowed people to watch ants did tunnels in sand between two plastic panels.
More than 20 million units of "Uncle Milton's Ant Farm" have been sold over the years. He often joked about how the toy allowed him to finance the college education of his children.
He first conceived of his toy in 1956 while watching ants during a Fourth of July picnic. It reminded him how he had collected them in jars when he was a kid.
He and his brother-in-law E.J. Cossman came up with the idea of a transparent habitat that allowed people to watch ants did tunnels in sand between two plastic panels.
More than 20 million units of "Uncle Milton's Ant Farm" have been sold over the years. He often joked about how the toy allowed him to finance the college education of his children.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Larry Bruno - Coached Joe Namath
Larry Bruno, who coached Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath in high school, died at the age of 88 on December 26, 2010.
Bruno was a long-time high school football coach, but his greatest notoriety came from coaching Namath from 1959-1961 at Beaver Falls High School in Pennsylvania.
Bruno was a star football player in college. He was drafted in the 13th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1947, but opted to get into coaching. He spent 1948-1958 at Monaca (PA) HS before finishing his career at Beaver Falls (1959-1978). He compiled a 184-52-9 record including a 10-0 record in 1960 during Namath's senior year.
He was presenter for Namath when Broadway Joe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Bruno was a long-time high school football coach, but his greatest notoriety came from coaching Namath from 1959-1961 at Beaver Falls High School in Pennsylvania.
Bruno was a star football player in college. He was drafted in the 13th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1947, but opted to get into coaching. He spent 1948-1958 at Monaca (PA) HS before finishing his career at Beaver Falls (1959-1978). He compiled a 184-52-9 record including a 10-0 record in 1960 during Namath's senior year.
He was presenter for Namath when Broadway Joe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Danny McDevitt - Former MLB Pitcher
Danny McDevitt pitched in the Major Leagues from 1957-1962. He compiled a 21-27 career record with a 4.40 ERA.
In June of 1957, he was called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers. On September 24, 1957, he pitched a 2-0 shutout over the Pittsburgh Pirates. That would be the last game ever played at Ebbetts Field.
Two weeks later, team owner Walter O'Malley announced that he was moving the team to Los Angeles where the team played in the over-sized L.A. Coliseum.
Mr. McDevitt died in Covington, Georgia on November 20, 2010, two days after his 78th birthday.
Mr. McDevitt compiled a 10-8 record on the 1959 Dodgers team that beat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.
He spent the 1960 season with the New York Yankees before finishing his career in 1962 with the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City A's.
After baseball, he worked as a minor league umpire and held government jobs in Mississippi and Alabama.
In June of 1957, he was called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers. On September 24, 1957, he pitched a 2-0 shutout over the Pittsburgh Pirates. That would be the last game ever played at Ebbetts Field.
Two weeks later, team owner Walter O'Malley announced that he was moving the team to Los Angeles where the team played in the over-sized L.A. Coliseum.
Mr. McDevitt died in Covington, Georgia on November 20, 2010, two days after his 78th birthday.
Mr. McDevitt compiled a 10-8 record on the 1959 Dodgers team that beat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.
He spent the 1960 season with the New York Yankees before finishing his career in 1962 with the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City A's.
After baseball, he worked as a minor league umpire and held government jobs in Mississippi and Alabama.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Eugenie Blanchard - World's Oldest Person
Eugenie Blanchard was the world's oldest person when she died at the age of 114 on November 4, 2010 on the French Caribbean Island of St Bart's. Up to her last days, she was said to be in good health, but could no longer talk.
She was born on Feb 16, 1896 and lived most of her life in a convent on the island of Curacao before returning home in the 1950's. She was the last surviving member of a family with 13 siblings.
She was born on Feb 16, 1896 and lived most of her life in a convent on the island of Curacao before returning home in the 1950's. She was the last surviving member of a family with 13 siblings.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Leona Gage - Miss USA
Leona Gage was named Miss USA in 1957, but had the title taken away from her a day later when pageant officials discovered that she was married and a mother of two children. She also lied about her age for the contest. She was actually 18, instead of the required 21.
Ms. Gage, 71, died on October 9, 2010 at a hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. Her cause of death was ruled heart failure.
He controversy lead to a number of television appearances, including a noted one on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Ms. Gage, 71, died on October 9, 2010 at a hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. Her cause of death was ruled heart failure.
He controversy lead to a number of television appearances, including a noted one on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Leonard Skinner - Name Inspired Rock Band
Leonard Skinner was a high school basketball coach and physical education teacher at a Jacksonville, FL high school in the late 1960's. One day, he sent a group of students to the principals office because of their long hair. The students had their own rock band and decided to name themselves after Mr. Skinner. The resulting group, Lynyrd Skynyrd scored some big hits in the 1970's with "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird".
Mr Skinner,77, died on September 19, 2010 at a nursing home in Jacksonville from complications related to Alzheimer's Disease.
Initially, Mr Skinner was not impressed with the band using a variation of his name. He later embraced the idea. The band even played a gig at a bar he owned.
Over the years, he became friends with many of the band's followers who were intrigued by who he was and his past relationship to the band.
Mr Skinner,77, died on September 19, 2010 at a nursing home in Jacksonville from complications related to Alzheimer's Disease.
Initially, Mr Skinner was not impressed with the band using a variation of his name. He later embraced the idea. The band even played a gig at a bar he owned.
Over the years, he became friends with many of the band's followers who were intrigued by who he was and his past relationship to the band.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Bille Mae Richards - Voice of "Rudolph"
Billie Mae Richards played the voice of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in the 1964 television animated classic.
She died on September 10, 2010 at her home in Burlington, Canada at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke.
Her ability to talk in a high pitched voice won her the title role. She obscured her gender further when she was called Billy Richards in the credits.
She died on September 10, 2010 at her home in Burlington, Canada at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke.
Her ability to talk in a high pitched voice won her the title role. She obscured her gender further when she was called Billy Richards in the credits.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
David Rowland - Chair Designer
David Rowland designed a widely acclaimed chair that is used all over America. His unique design allowed chairs to be stacked to save space in contrast to folding ones. His initial chair was called the 40/4 because it allowed 40 chairs to be stacked only measuring four feet tall.
Mr Rowland, 86, died at his home in Marion, Virginia on August 13, 2010. The cause of death was not released.
His original model sold for $16 in 1963. The chair is now manufacturesd in various models by OSI Furniture in the United States and Howe Furniture in Denmark.
In 1964, the chair won a prestigious design award from Milan Triennale. It is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
The chairs are used all over the world and were featured in the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
Mr Rowland, 86, died at his home in Marion, Virginia on August 13, 2010. The cause of death was not released.
His original model sold for $16 in 1963. The chair is now manufacturesd in various models by OSI Furniture in the United States and Howe Furniture in Denmark.
In 1964, the chair won a prestigious design award from Milan Triennale. It is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
The chairs are used all over the world and were featured in the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
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