William Backer - Created TV Ads

William Backer spent his career developing some of the most iconic television ads. It began in 1971 with an ad for Coca Cola featuring a chorus singing "I'd Like To Buy The World a Coke". It became a cultural icon.

He also developed the "Miller Time" theme as well as the Miller Lite "Tastes Great, Less Filling" banter. Lowenbrau beer featured his "Here's to friends, tonight is kind of special".

Backer died On May 15, 2016 after complications for colon cancer surgery. He was 89.

He spent many years working on ads for Coke, Buick and Exxon before he started his own company in 1979.

Jerry Dior - Logo Designer

Jerry Dior was a free-lance artist who worked on designing packaging for various companies including Nabisco, Kellogg's and Howard Johnson's. His most well known work was the logo for Major League Baseball in 1969 to commemorate 100 years of the game.

The trademark has remained unchanged over the years. Fans see it all the time on all player uniforms, hats, jackets, sanctioned merchandise and anything else dealing with the corporate identity of baseball. It prompted other sports to create their own logo.

Dior was paid a flat fee for his work and never got any royalties. Many of his designs changed over the years, but MLB stayed the same.

Mr Dior died on May 10, 2015 at his home in Edison, NH. He was 82.

Noreen Corcoran - "Bachelor Father" Actress

The acting career of Noreen Corcoran was rather brief. Her greatest role was playing the niece of John Forsythe in the 1960's comedy "Bachelor Father" which aired from 1958-1962.

In 1965, she had a lead role in the movie "The Girls on the Beach" and appeared in a number of television shows before she retired in the late 60's.

Ms Corcoran died on Friday, January 22, 2016 from cardiopulmonary disease at the age of 72 in Van Nuys, California.

After leaving acting, she worked for the Lewitzky Dance Company behind the scene for more than a decade. She later faded away from public view.

Mary Keefe - Rockwell Model

Mary Keefe was the model for Norman Rockwell's iconic "Rosie the Riveter" painting in 1943. It symbolized the millions of American women who went to work in factories during World War II.

She died on April 21, 2015 in Simsbury, CT after a brief illness at the age of 92.

Ms Keefe met Rockwell when they both lived in Vermont. She was a 19 year old telephone operator when the painting appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on May 23, 1943. Rockwell exaggerated some of her physical features, giving her large arms, hands and shoulders. He later apologized to her. She was paid $5 for the two morning sessions needed to photograph her for the painting.

The magazine cover was used extensively in ads to sell war bonds to the general public. She spent her career as a dental hygienist in Vermont and later in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Betty Willis - Sign Maker

Betty Willis spent her career as a commercial artist, but will always be remembered for the iconic "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada" neon sign that sits on Las Vegas Boulevard, south of the strip. When she created the sign in 1959, few thought it would become such a popular tourist attraction and symbol of the city. It was added to the National Historical Register in 2009. She passed away on April 21, 2015 at the age of 91. She spent her career in Las Vegas in an industry dominated by men. Several of her signs appear at various casinos.

Luke Martin JR - Son of Ex-slave

Luke Martin Jr was the son of an ex-slave and former Union soldier who fought in the Civil War. Martin died on January 25, 2015 at the age of 97 at his home in New Bern, NC.- 179 years after his father was born.

Martin Sr was a slave at a plantation near Plymouth, NC. During the war, he became a member of 35th US Colored Troops. He fathered Martin Jr when he was 84 years old.

Martin JR spent his entire lifetime in the house his father built in the 1890's.

Two Left

Over the next two weeks, we will se the final NFL playoff schedule fall into place. So many teams are on a short leash this weekend. It will end very badly for some.

All you can ever hope as a fan is for your team
to make the playoffs.

Who knows what happens after that.

Ken Weatherwax - Child Actor

Ken Weatherwax appeared as "Pugsley" on the "Adams Family" television series which ran from 1964-1966. He would spend the rest of his career in show business, working as a grip on several Hollywood productions.

Mr Weatherwax passed away on December 7, 2014 at his home in Box Canyon, CA from a heart attack. He was forced to retire a few years ago due to medical reasons.

Theodore Van Kirk - Crew Memeber of Enola Gay

Theodore Van Kirk was the last surviving member of the crew of the Enola Gay, the B-29 airplane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. He died on July 28, 2014 in Stone Mountain, GA at the age of 93. Van Kirk was selected for the secret mission after distinguishing himself as a navigator during 58 combat missions in Europe. The devastation caused by the bomb forced Japan into ending World War II. He left the military with the rank of major. He enrolled at Bucknell University, graduating with a bachelor's and master's degree in chemical engineering. He spent his working years at Dupont where he became a marketing executive.

Conrado Marrero - Oldest Major League Player

Conrado Marrero of Cuba held the distinction of being the oldest former Major League Baseball player until his passing last week in Havana at the age of 102. He missed his 103rd birthday by two days.

He was a star pitcher in the Cuban League before making his MLB debut with the Washington Senators in 1950 at the age of 39. He compiled a 39-40 record over five seasons with an ERA of 3.97 and 296 strikeouts.

After he was released by the Senators in 1955, he returned to Cuba where he played through the 1957 season. He continued to work into his 80's as an instructor and coach and was honored as a Hero of the Republic of Cuba.

Alice Herz Sommer - Holocaust Survivor

Alice Herz Sommer was the oldest Holocaust survivor until she died in London on February 23, 2014 at the age of 110.

She was a classic pianist who mastered the works of Chopin. That allowed her to survive the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp run by the Nazis during World War II.

She was sent there in 1943 after her family was rounded up in Czechoslovakia. A certain death awaited her until her musical talent was discovered. She was forced to perform in over 100 concerts for prisoners and guards during her ordeal that saved her from the fate suffered by so many other prisoners.

After the war, she emigrated to Israel where she taught music until moving to London in the 1980's.

Ruth Robinson - Munchkin

Ruth Robinson was the last of the female Munchkins from the 1939 blockbuster movie "The Wizard of Oz". She died on January 16, 2014 at a hospice facility in Las Vegas at the age of 95. Her death leaves Jerry Marren as the only surviving Munchkin from the movie.

She was part of a cast of 124 little people who played one of the iconic roles in the movie. While working at MGM, she met her future husband.

During World War II, she worked as a riveter at an aircraft facility. Her small stature allowed her to work in small spaces.

She spent the rest of her life appearing at festivals and screenings celebrating the movie. Back in September, she appeared in Los Angeles at the world premier of the "Wizard of Oz 3D".

Walter H Stern - Fiscal Cliff

We have heard the expression "fiscal cliff" on numerous occasions to point out the dire economic consequences of the federal budget. The expression was dormant for decades until its use exploded in recent years.

Walter Stern, a former real estate writer for the New York Times, first used the expression on Oct 20, 1957 during a front page story in the paper. He referred to a home buyer as having the potential to be pushed off the fiscal cliff as a result of the purchase.

Sterns was with the Times from 1942-1961 before he left to pursue a career in public relations. He spent the 1970's and 80's doing media work for Mobil Oil.

He died on November 2, 2013 at the age of 88 while living in Florida.

James Vaught - Army Ranger

James Vaught was a distinguished Army commander who was a veteran of the Korean and Viet Nam wars as well as a graduate of Army Ranger school.

His biggest challenge came on April 24, 1980 when he lead an aborted rescue mission of 52 American hostages being held in Iran. It was a risky attempt and had the approval of President Jimmy Carter and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.    

Problems developed very early when a couple of helicopters became disabled. An accidental crash lead to the death of eight Americans. The mission was scrubbed after that.

The military took a big hit in the eyes of the public. As a result of the mission failure, an elite group of Navy fighters was formed to focus on counter terrorism. Thus began the history of the Navy SEALS.

Mr Vaught, 86, died on September 20, 2013 in Conway S.C. from an accidental drowning after falling out of his boat. It was revealed that he suffered from cardiac disease which most likely caused his death.

Margaret Pellegrini - Munchkin

Margaret Pellegrini parlayed a small movie bit into the roll of her life when she appeared in the 1939 classic, "The Wizard of Oz". She was one of the 124 Munchkins who appeared in the movie.

Ms. Pellegrini, 89, died on August 7, 2013 at a Phoenix area hospital after suffering a stroke two days earlier. Her passing leaves only two of the original Munchkins.

She was 16 when she appeared in the movie as a "sleepy head" youngster who wore a flower pot on her head. She spent the rest of her life doing guest appearances in her costume and telling stories about her time as a Munchkin.

Jiroemon Kimura - Oldest Man Ever

Jiroemon Kimura was recognized by Guinness World Records as being the oldest man in recorded history. He achieved that feat on December 28, 2012. He died at the age of 116 on June 12, 2013 in a Japanese hospital.

He was born on April 19, 1897 when Queen Victoria stilled reigned in the British Empire. Life expectancy in Japan was 44  years at that time. He was able to dodge tuberculosis and pneumonia, two of the bigger killers at that time.

He worked at post offices for 45 years before retiring in 1962 at the age of 65. He spent his remaining years reading and watching sumo wrestling on television. He also helped his son with his farm until he was 90.

He missed the record of the oldest person ever. Jeanne Calmet was 122 when she died in France in 1997.

Alan Wood - Provided Flag at Iwo Jima

Former US Marine Alan Wood was at Iwo Jima during the bloody conflict in the final months of World War II. He was a 22 year old Navy officer in charge of communications on a landing ship off the island's shore when he was asked by a Marine for a large flag. Wood had a 37 square foot one that he previously procured from a Pearl Harbor Navy depot.

Later that day on February 23, 1945, the flag was hoisted by five Marines and a Navy corpsman on Mt Suribachi. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment in the iconic picture that has become the symbol of the US Marines.

Mr Wood died on April 18, 2013 at the age of 90 of natural causes at his Sierra Madre, California home.

After the war, Mr Wood worked as a technical artist and later as the spokesperson for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, CA.

George Lowe - Mountain Climber

George Lowe was the last surviving member of the expedition that made the first successful conquest of Mount Everest. He was one of two New Zealanders with the 1953 British group that made the historic ascent.

Lowe,89, died on March 20, 2012 at a nursing home in Ripley, England after lengthy illness.

During the climb, he helped establish the final camp 1,000 feet below the Everest summit. The next day on May 28, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the peak. Since then, over 4,000 have conquered the mountain.

He spent the rest of his life making documentaries of various climbing expeditions around the world. He directed the film "The Conquest of Everest" which was highly acclaimed.

Shadow Morton - Songwriter

Shadow Morton was a songwriter who could not read music or play an instrument. However, that never stopped him from writing hit songs in the 1960's. The all girl group the "Shangri-Las recorded hits with "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember Walking In The Rain".

Mr Morton died on February 14, 2013 from cancer at the age of 71 in Laguana Beach, California.

"Leader of the Pack" reached #1 on the hit chart and was also recorded by Bette Midler, Twisted Sister and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

He was also the producer for Janis Ian's "Society's Child" in 1967 and was involved with the three albums for Vanilla Fudge.

Andre Cassagnes - Inventor of Etch A Sketch

Andre Cassagnes was an electrical technician in the 1950's when he stumbled upon the Etch A Sketch idea. When he peeled a translucent decal from a light switch plate, he found that pencil mark images were transferred to the opposite face.

He created the toy with the gray screen, red frame and two white knobs which were twisted back and forth to create various images. He exhibited his creation at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 1959 and developed a partnership with the Ohio Art Co based in Bryan, Ohio. The toy became the biggest seller during the 1960 holiday season. Since then, over 100 million have been sold worldwide.

Mr Cassagnes died on January 16, 2013 at the age of 86 in a suburb of Paris.

The toy gained considerable attention during the 2012 Presidential election when one of Mitt Romney's  advisers made a reference to it regarding the candidate's political views.

The toys were made in Ohio until 2000 before the firm moved their production to China.