Senior's Day

Today is commonly celebrated as National Senior Citizen’s Day.  In 1988, Presidnet Ronald Reagan (kiddies, he’s the one that used to be an actor, you know, back in the olden days before people had invented dye and make up and everything was black, white and grey.) I plan on celebrating by spending time with a senior citizen today… I hope Mom enjoys my company.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

Alicia Witt, 1975 – This red-haired actress was cast as Zoe, Cybill Shepherd’s daughter in the TV series Cybill.

Steve Case, 1958 – Co-founder of AOL.

Jackie DeShannon, 1944 – Top 10 hits for this singer include What the World Needs Now and Put a Little Love in Your Heart.

Kenny Rogers, 1938 – Country singer known for his silver hair and growlly voice has popped out 36 albums in 30 years (not including compilations) featuring singles such as Lucille, Ruby, Lady, The Gambler, Coward of the County, Daytime Friends and Islands in the Stream. (21 went to #1 on US charts.)

Wilt Chamberlain, 1936 – 7’1” tall basketball player with the nickname “The Stilt” who began is basketball career with The Harlem Globetrotters before playing for Philadelphia and then LA Lakers.

Chris Schenkel, 1923 – Sportscaster for ABC. Most often heard on the Pro Bowler’s Tour, college football, Major League Baseball, NBA basketball, Golf, Tennis, Auto…oh heck, almost everywhere.

Christopher Robin Milne, 1920 – Most known as the model as the child in the book Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by his father, A.A. Milne.

William James Basie, 1904 – Jazz musician and bandlleader who gained his nickname “Count” at the age of 24.

1986 – Cameroon’s Lake Nyos spewed out a cloud of carbon dioxide gas killing nearly 2,000 in 4 villages.

1959 – Hawaii becomes the 50^th US state.

1911 – Mona Lisa, one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, was discovered missing. The painting was recovered 3 months later, unharmed.

1897 – Ransome Eli Olds founded Olds Motors Works in Lansing, MI. A fire destroyed his stock of cars in 1900 except a small, one-cylinder, curved-dash model. He took this car to the NY Auto Show in 1901 and it became a commercial sensation. Welcome to the world Oldsmobile.

1858 – The first of seven debates between Senator Stephen Douglas and his opponent, Abraham Lincoln. Although he lost the senate election, he would win the Republican presidential nomination two years later (and then the Presidency in November).

1841 – Venetian blinds patented by Edward and Frederick Bopp in Kansas City, MO.

1831 – Nat Turner, a slave in Southampton County, VA, launched an insurrection to capture the county’s armory in Jerusalem, VA. This plan did not succeeed, however, he and his followers did kill about 60 whites before he was captured. He was tried, convicted and then hanged on November 11^th for heading up the largest slave revolt in US history.