Sylvia Pressler had a trailblazing ruling in 1973 which opened Little League baseball to girls. While serving as a hearings examiner with the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights, she ruled that a 12 year old girl should have been allowed to play on a Little League team.
Her ruling was protested by the organization, but upheld on appeal. New Jersey became the first state to prohibit sex bias in Little League. The following year, Little League amended its charter to allow girls and created a softball division.
Ms Pressler,75, died of lymphoma on February 15, 2010 at her home in Sparta, NJ.
She earned her law degree from Rutgers in 1959 and was one of the first women in the state to clerk for an appellate judge.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Pernell Roberts - "Bonanza" & "Trapper John" Star
Pernell Roberts, former star in the television series "Bonanza" and "Trapper John M.D." died on January 24, 2010 at his home in Malibu, California. He was 81 and suffering from cancer.
In 1959, he was cast as Adam Cartwright in the western "Bonanza". The show was a big hit, but Roberts felt that his character was stifled by the show's writers. He played one of three adult sons in the Cartwright family who owned a ranch in Nevada in the 1880's. After his original six year contract expired, he walked away from the show.
Many told him it would be a career killer. For the next 14 years, he appeared on various television shows including' Hawaii Five-O", "Mission Impossible" "Mannix" and "Marcus Welby M.D."
In 1979, he finally got a break when he got the lead role in "Trapper John M.D." The series aired until 1986. He played the role of chief of surgery in a San Francisco Hospital. He later narrated "FBI: The Untold Stories" from 1991-1993.
In 1959, he was cast as Adam Cartwright in the western "Bonanza". The show was a big hit, but Roberts felt that his character was stifled by the show's writers. He played one of three adult sons in the Cartwright family who owned a ranch in Nevada in the 1880's. After his original six year contract expired, he walked away from the show.
Many told him it would be a career killer. For the next 14 years, he appeared on various television shows including' Hawaii Five-O", "Mission Impossible" "Mannix" and "Marcus Welby M.D."
In 1979, he finally got a break when he got the lead role in "Trapper John M.D." The series aired until 1986. He played the role of chief of surgery in a San Francisco Hospital. He later narrated "FBI: The Untold Stories" from 1991-1993.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Glen Bell Jr. - Founded Taco Bell
Glenn Bell Jr, the founder of the Taco Bell food chain died at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, California at the age of 86 on January 17, 2010.
In 1948, Bell opened his first restaurant called Bell's Drive-In after seeing the success of MacDonald's. He felt California was the ideal place to take advantage of America's car culture by beginning to serve hot-dogs and hamburgers through a drive-in window.
He opened several other restaurants in the state before launching Taco Bell in 1962. He started selling franchises in 1964 before selling his 868 Taco Bell restaurants in 1978 to PepsiCo for $125 million in stock.
Taco Bell was later purchased by Yum!Brands and now serves over 37 million orders weekly in 5,600 locations across America.
In 1948, Bell opened his first restaurant called Bell's Drive-In after seeing the success of MacDonald's. He felt California was the ideal place to take advantage of America's car culture by beginning to serve hot-dogs and hamburgers through a drive-in window.
He opened several other restaurants in the state before launching Taco Bell in 1962. He started selling franchises in 1964 before selling his 868 Taco Bell restaurants in 1978 to PepsiCo for $125 million in stock.
Taco Bell was later purchased by Yum!Brands and now serves over 37 million orders weekly in 5,600 locations across America.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Art Clokey - Created "Gumby"
Art Clokey, who created the animated "Gumby" figure died at the age of 88 on January, 8, 2010. He died in his sleep at his home in Los Osos, California.
He created "Gumby" as part of a student project while attending the University of Southern California in the early 1950's. As a result, he started to create short features for the "Howdy Doody Show' using "Gumby" and his sidekick "Pokey".
"Gumby's" sloping head was based on the cowlick hairdo of his father. Clokey's wife came up with the idea of "Gumby" having the body of gingerbread man.
"Gumby" had a great surge in popularity in the 1980's after comedian Eddie Murphy portrayed the character on Saturday Night Live as a cigar-smoking show business primadonna.
Clokey enjoyed Murphy's character, especially because it created a large increase in the amount of licenced merchandise sales. This was the greatest financial windfall for Clokey in his career as he did not make a large amount previously.
He created "Gumby" as part of a student project while attending the University of Southern California in the early 1950's. As a result, he started to create short features for the "Howdy Doody Show' using "Gumby" and his sidekick "Pokey".
"Gumby's" sloping head was based on the cowlick hairdo of his father. Clokey's wife came up with the idea of "Gumby" having the body of gingerbread man.
"Gumby" had a great surge in popularity in the 1980's after comedian Eddie Murphy portrayed the character on Saturday Night Live as a cigar-smoking show business primadonna.
Clokey enjoyed Murphy's character, especially because it created a large increase in the amount of licenced merchandise sales. This was the greatest financial windfall for Clokey in his career as he did not make a large amount previously.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Tsutomu Yamaguchi - Survived Two Atomic Bombs
Tsutomu Yamaguchi was credited with being the only person to have survived the atomic bomb blasts on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. He Died on January 3, 2010 from stomach cancer.
Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip for his ship building company when the city was devastated by the first atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. He suffered serious burns to his upper body. After spending the night in the city, he returned to his home-town of Nagasaki about 190 miles away. That city was attacked three days later.
He spent his later years speaking out against nuclear weapons. He spoke at the United Nations in 2006, wrote books and appeared in a documentary about the bombings.
Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip for his ship building company when the city was devastated by the first atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. He suffered serious burns to his upper body. After spending the night in the city, he returned to his home-town of Nagasaki about 190 miles away. That city was attacked three days later.
He spent his later years speaking out against nuclear weapons. He spoke at the United Nations in 2006, wrote books and appeared in a documentary about the bombings.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Jeanette Scola Trapani - 1906 Earthquake Survivior
Jeanette Scola Trapani was one of the oldest survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. She died on December 28, 2009 at the age of 107 at her home in El Dorado Hills, California.
Although she was only four years old at the time of the quake and fire, she had life-long memories of the smell of smoke that permeated the city as it burned.
She was born in the Telegraph Hill part of the city and spent most of her life in the city.
Although she was only four years old at the time of the quake and fire, she had life-long memories of the smell of smoke that permeated the city as it burned.
She was born in the Telegraph Hill part of the city and spent most of her life in the city.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Ann N. Cooper - Praised By Obama
Ann Cooper was lauded by President Obama in his election night speech. Mrs Cooper was 106 when she cast her vote for Obama. In his speech, Obama mentioned that she was born during a time when women and Blacks could not vote.
She died at her home in Atlanta, Georgia on December 21, 2009 at the age of 107. The President issued a statement in honor and testimony to her life saying that he was inspired by her.
On his Inauguration Day, she hosted a party at her home for guests and the media. She felt that she played a part in helping him become President.
She first registered to vote in 1941, but did not exercise her right for years due to the segregation and sexist nature of the South at the time.
She was a very active woman, performing aerobics until she was 100. She claimed friendship with Andrew Young, former mayor of Atlanta who was also a member of her church.
She died at her home in Atlanta, Georgia on December 21, 2009 at the age of 107. The President issued a statement in honor and testimony to her life saying that he was inspired by her.
On his Inauguration Day, she hosted a party at her home for guests and the media. She felt that she played a part in helping him become President.
She first registered to vote in 1941, but did not exercise her right for years due to the segregation and sexist nature of the South at the time.
She was a very active woman, performing aerobics until she was 100. She claimed friendship with Andrew Young, former mayor of Atlanta who was also a member of her church.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Robert Heft - Flag maker
Robert Heft was credited with designing and sewing the first American flag with 50 stars. He died on December 12, 2009 at the age of 67 at a hospital in Saginaw, Michigan.
Heft made the flag in 1958 as part of a high school history project while school student in Lancaster, Ohio. He spent more than 12 hours sewing the design on his mother's sewing machine.
He entered his design into a contest to determine the new flag design after the admission of Alaska and Hawaii into statehood. President Dwight Eisenhower chose Heft's design to replace the 48 star flag.
He spent his career as a professor at Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio before returning to his hometown of Saginaw in recent years.
Heft made the flag in 1958 as part of a high school history project while school student in Lancaster, Ohio. He spent more than 12 hours sewing the design on his mother's sewing machine.
He entered his design into a contest to determine the new flag design after the admission of Alaska and Hawaii into statehood. President Dwight Eisenhower chose Heft's design to replace the 48 star flag.
He spent his career as a professor at Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio before returning to his hometown of Saginaw in recent years.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Jack Pitchford - POW with John McCain
Retired Air Force Colonel Jack Pitchford, 83, died December 2, 2009 after battling a brain tumor.
He survived seven years of torture after being shot down over North Vietnam on December 20, 1965 during a dangerous combat mission. He was taken to Hoa Lo prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton," where he was tortured along with John McCain. He was released in 1973, but never fully recovered from his brutal incarceration.
He was a veteran of World War II and Korea, but missed combat assignments in both wars. While in Vietnam, he flew low altitude missions to hunt down and destroy surface-to-air-missile sights. On the day of his capture, he was shot in the arm three times. His co-pilot was killed in the gun battle.
After his retirement, he returned to his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi where he enjoyed horse racing.
He survived seven years of torture after being shot down over North Vietnam on December 20, 1965 during a dangerous combat mission. He was taken to Hoa Lo prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton," where he was tortured along with John McCain. He was released in 1973, but never fully recovered from his brutal incarceration.
He was a veteran of World War II and Korea, but missed combat assignments in both wars. While in Vietnam, he flew low altitude missions to hunt down and destroy surface-to-air-missile sights. On the day of his capture, he was shot in the arm three times. His co-pilot was killed in the gun battle.
After his retirement, he returned to his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi where he enjoyed horse racing.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Ward Hussey - Drafted Congressional Bills
Ward Hussey spent 43 years in the Congressional Office of Legislative Counsel. During that time, he was chief legislative draftsman of bills being presented to Congress. With his specialty in tax law, he had a part in drafting nearly all tax law legislation passed during his time. From 1962-1979 he supervised the staff of lawyers who drafted the bills.
Mr Hussey,89, died on November 16,2009 in Fairfax ,VA from complications from a fall at his house.
He began his federal service in 1936. He received an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a master's degree in political science from Columbia University and was a graduate of Harvard Law School.
Mr Hussey,89, died on November 16,2009 in Fairfax ,VA from complications from a fall at his house.
He began his federal service in 1936. He received an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a master's degree in political science from Columbia University and was a graduate of Harvard Law School.
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