Randy Pausch (1960-2008)

• Randy was born in Baltimore, Maryland

• He received a degree in Computer Science

• In 1988, Pausch received a PhD in Computer Science

• Pausch spent some time working for Disney

• He specialized in creating virtual worlds

• Pausch was diagnosed with cancer in 2006

• He became famous for his “Last Lecture”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ-IxbiI8Ts

Christa McAuliffe (1948-1986)• Christa was born in Boston,

MA • She received a degree in

education in 1970• Christa taught social studies

and history • She focused on “ordinary”

people in history• In 1985, Christa was selected

as the first Teacher in Space • On Jan 28, 1986, Christa

died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded

• McAuliffe was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4JOjcDFtBE

Anne Sullivan Macy (1866-1936)

• Anne was born in Massachusetts

• She dealt with great loss at an early age

• Anne lost nearly all her sight during her developing years

• She was most known for her work with Helen Keller

• Anne was Helen’s teacher for thirteen years

• Sullivan married in 1905-marriage split several years later

• Anne spent time working for the American Foundation for the Blind

Dian Fossey (1932-1985)• Dian was born in San Francisco • She graduated with a degree in

occupational therapy• After a trip to Africa in 1963,

Dian became interested in studying mountain gorillas

• Dian studied gorillas in Rwanda for 18 years

• She was the first person to have voluntary contact with a gorilla

• Her favorite gorilla, Digit, was killed by poachers

• After Digit’s death, Dian campaigned against poaching

• In 1985, Dian was killed by an intruder into her home

Otis Redding (1941-1967) • Otis was born in Dawson, GA• He got his start in church choirs• Redding was influenced by the

music of Little Richard• Redding began touring the south

in 1960• He had his first hit with “These

Arms of Mine” • Otis wrote many of his own

songs• Redding died in a plane crash on

Dec. 10, 1967• His number one hit, (“Sittin’ On)

The Dock of the Bay,” was released one month after his death

• Redding will forever be known as the “King of Soul”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzrXc68gNjQ

Todd Beamer (1968-2001)• Beamer was born in Flint,

Michigan • Growing up, Todd defined himself

by athletics • Beamer earned an MBA from

DePaul University • Todd married his college

sweetheart, Lisa in 1994 • Beamer worked as an account

manager for Oracle • He was a passenger on United

Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 • Along with several passengers,

Beamer tried to take control of the airplane away from terrorists

• Beamer is known for his famous “Let’s Roll” remark

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7arO6mTs5W0

Martha Washington (1731-1802)

• Martha was born in New Kent County, VA

• She was trained at home in “domestic arts”

• Martha lost two children and her first husband

• She married George Washington in 1759

• Martha often followed George out into battle

• She held numerous dinners once George became president

• The couple retired to Mount Vernon, where Martha died in 1802

Marian Anderson (1897-1993)• Born in Philadelphia• Marian’s vocal talent was

recognized early in life• Anderson found very few singing

roles in the US- due to her race• Went to England where she

became quite popular• In 1939, she was refused the

opportunity to sing at Constitution Hall

• First black woman to sing with the New York Metropolitan Opera

• Sang at the inaugurations of Eisenhower and Kennedy

• Anderson was appointed as an ambassador to the United Nations in 1958

Sandra Day O’Connor (1930- )• Sandra was born in El Paso, TX• She was considered a “child of the

frontier” • Sandra attended private school and

later attended Stanford University • She had a difficult time finding a job

due to her gender • O’Connor was elected to the

Arizona State Senate in 1970• In 1974, O’Connor left the

legislature in order to become a judge

• In 1981, President Reagan nominated O’Connor to the Supreme Court

• She became the first female to serve on the court

• O’Connor retired from the SC in 2005

Bobby Darin (1936-1973)• Darin was born in the Bronx, NY• He suffered from rheumatic

fever as a child, leaving his heart weak

• Darin taught himself to play the piano, drums, and guitar

• His first hit song was “Splish Splash”

• Darin was nominated for an Academy Award in 1963

• He won two Grammy Awards during his career

• Darin also served as a goodwill ambassador for the American Heart Association

• He died following heart surgery in December, 1973

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMCsc4Iqvqc

Babe Zaharias (1911-1956)• Zaharias was born in Port

Arthur, TX• She got the nickname “Babe”

from Babe Ruth• Babe was known for her

outstanding athletic abilities • She won two gold medals in

the 1932 Olympics • Zaharias especially showed

great skill in golf • She helped start the LPGA• Over a twenty-year career,

Babe won 82 golf tournaments

• She was the first woman to qualify for a men's’ golf event

George Reeves (1914-1959)• Born George Brewer in Iowa• George moves around a lot as

a child-ends up in California• Began acting and singing in

high school• George also boxed as a

heavyweight in amateur matches-his mom made him stop

• Began his film career in Gone With the Wind

• Most famous for his role as Superman in Adventures of Superman

• His death remains a mystery- dead at age 45

Ray Kroc (1902-1984)• Kroc was born in Oak Park,

Illinois • During WWI, Kroc trained to be

an ambulance driver• Kroc held many jobs after war:

paper cup salesman, musician, etc.

• He became well known for selling milkshake machines

• Kroc partnered with two brothers to open McDonald’s

• McDonald’s was known for assembly line production and standardization

• Kroc was responsible for opening the Ronald McDonald House

• He amassed a fortune of 500 million dollars during his lifetime

Henry “Hank” Aaron (1934- )• Aaron was born in Mobile,

Alabama• He grew up on a farm, working

in cotton fields• Aaron made his MLB debut in

1954• He was an all-star 24 times• Broke Babe Ruth’s home run

record in 1974• Aaron was the first player to hit

500 home runs and reach 3,000 hits

• Aaron was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1982

• He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002

Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)• Gaye was born in Washington,

DC• His father was a minister-strict

upbringing• After spending time in the

military, Gaye joined a band with his friend

• He joined Motown in 1961• Gaye achieved great success

with his friend, Tammi Terrell• He spoke out against war in

some of his music (What’s Going On)

• He also became famous for producing his own music

• Gaye was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg

Dottie West (1932-1991)• Born Dorothy Marie Marsh

outside McMinnville, TN• She had a tough childhood-

abusive father• Dottie studied music at TN Tech • In 1961, Dottie moved to

Nashville• West earned her first Top 40 hit

in 1963• She was the first female country

singer to win a Grammy award• West achieved great success

with the song “Country Sunshine”

• She was also known for her duets with Kenny Rogers

Dr. C. Everett Koop (1916- )• Koop was born in Brooklyn, NY• He received his M.D. degree in

1941• From 1946 to 1981, Koop was

surgeon-in-chief at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

• He helped establish the nation’s first neonatal surgical intensive care unit

• Koop performed groundbreaking surgical procedures on conjoined twins

• He became the first editor of the Journal of Pediatric Surgery in 1966

• Koop served as the Surgeon General of the US from 1982 to 1989

Bob Beamon (1946- )• Beamon was born in Queens, NY• His athletic abilty was discovered

while in high school• Beamon spent time on the All-

American Track and Field Team• He received a scholarship to the

University of Texas-El Paso• At the 1968 Olympic Games,

Beamon set a world record in the long jump (29 ft. 2 ½ in.)

• In 1972, Bob returned to school and completed his degree

• Beamon is a member of both the National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmrD3g7A90

Roy Orbison (1936-1988)• Orbison was born in Vernon, TX• His family moved around in order to

find work• He decided he would sing

professionally while in college• In 1960, Orbison became a

household name with “Only The Lonely.”

• He suffered several tragedies throughout his short life (death of wife, sons)

• After several unsuccessful years, Orbison’s career was revived in the 1980s

• Orbison was known for his powerful voice (even impressed Elvis)

• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll HOF in 1987

• Orbison died after suffering a heart attack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Skcm5WyTNE&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EiKPrAOHA

Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (1930- )

• Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey

• He attended West Point in NY

• During the Korean War, Aldrin served as a fighter pilot

• After the war, Aldrin worked as a test pilot instructor

• He was selected as an astronaut in 1963

• Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon

Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876-1977)• Ross was born in Andrew

County, Missouri • She attended a teacher-

training college and taught kindergarten

• Ross became governor of Wyoming after the death of her husband

• She was the first female governor in the history of the US

• Ross received several votes for the nomination of Vice-President in 1928

• In 1933, Ross was appointed as the first female director of the US Mint

Nellie Bly (1864-1922)

• She was born Elizabeth Cochran in Armstrong County, PA

• Bly attended boarding school, but dropped out due to lack of money

• She began her career writing for the Pittsburgh Dispatch

• Bly was most interested in investigative reporting

• She faked insanity in order to report on life in a mental institution

• Bly also traveled around the world in 72 days

• She had a strong interest in orphanages

Edward Brooke (1919- )• Brooke was born in

Washington, DC• After graduating, he spent

five years in the army• Brooke graduated from law

school in 1948• He was elected Attorney

General of Massachusetts in 1962

• Brooke was elected to the US Senate in 1967 (first African American)

• In 2004, Brooke was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Milton Hershey (1857-1945)

• Hershey was born in Derry Church, PA.

• He developed a love for candy after apprenticing in a candy shop.

• Hershey began the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1883.

• One of his goals was to develop a formula for milk chocolate and then sell it to the public.

• He opened his chocolate factory in his hometown, with the hopes of creating many jobs.

• Along with his wife, Hershey opened a school for orphan boys in 1909.

• Hershey also supplied soldiers with chocolate bars during WWII.

Dr. Ronald McNair (1950-1986)• McNair was born in Lake City,

SC• After high school, McNair

attended NC A&T• He received a PhD from MIT in

1976• In 1978, McNair was selected as

one of thirty-five applicants to train at NASA (out of 10,000)

• He was the second African American to fly into space (1984)

• McNair died onboard Space Shuttle Challenger (1986)

• McNair was an accomplished saxophonist and fifth-degree black belt (karate)

• Resnik was born in Akron, Ohio

• She was a graduate of Carnegie Mellon

• In 1977, Resnik earned her PhD in electrical engineering

• Resnik was selected to train as an astronaut in 1978

• She was the second woman to go into space (1984)

• Also, Resnik was the first Jewish woman in space

• She died while onboard space shuttle Challenger

Dr. Judy Resnik (1949-1986)

Robert H. Lawrence (1935-1967)

• Lawrence was born in Chicago, IL.

• At the age of 20, he graduated with a degree in Chemistry.

• Lawrence became a U.S. Air Force pilot at the age of 21.

• He earned his PhD in 1965• He accumulated over 2,5000

flying hours as a USAF pilot .• In 1967, Lawrence was

selected as an astronaut in the Air Force’s Manned Orbital Laboratory Program.

• He was killed in December of 1967 during a test flight .

Stevie Wonder (1950- )

• Wonder was born in Saginaw, Michigan

• He began playing instruments at an early age

• Wonder was signed to a contract at age eleven

• He is known for his hits “Superstition,” and “Sir Duke”

• Wonder has total creative control over his music

• He has recorded more than 30 US top ten hits

• Wonder has won 22 Grammy Awards

James Earl Jones (1931- )• Jones was born in Arkabutla,

Mississippi• As a child, Jones had difficulties

with stuttering-teachers allowed him to recite poetry

• Jones attended the University of Michigan-spent time in the army

• During his career, Jones has won two Tony Awards

• He was one of the first celebrities to appear on Sesame Street

• He was the first African American to portray the President of the US on film

• Jones is best known for providing his voice to several well-known movie characters (Darth Vader and Mufasa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxwrVw6Vsjw

Dr. Guion Bluford (1942- )• Bluford was born in Philadelphia, PA• He received a degree in aerospace

engineering in 1964• Bluford received his pilot’s wings in

1966-flew 144 combat missions in the USAF

• He served as a flight instructor after leaving the Air Force

• Over the span of four years, Bluford received both his master’s degree and his PhD

• In 1979, Bluford was selected as an astronaut for NASA

• He became the first African American in space in 1983

• Bluford flew four times into space

John Walsh (1945- )• Walsh was born in Auburn, NY• He received a degree from the

University of Buffalo• Walsh worked as a hotel marketing

executive in Hollywood, FL• His son, Adam, was murdered in 1981• Walsh and his wife established the

Adam Walsh Child Resource Center, a non-profit organization

• He helped start the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 1984

• In 1988, Walsh began hosting America’s Most Wanted

• In his career, Walsh has helped take down over 1,050 fugitives and he has helped bring home more than 50 missing children

Doris “Dorie” Miller (1919-1943)

• He was born in Waco, TX• Dorie worked on a farm until

joining the Navy in 1939• Miller served as a cook

onboard the USS West Virginia• During the attack on Pearl

Harbor, Miller fought back by firing at Japanese planes

• Miller was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross

• Miller died in 1943 when his ship, the USS Liscome Bay, was sunk by a Japanese submarine

Thomas Burnett, Jr. (1963-2001)

• Burnett was born in Bloomington, MN

• He was recruited to play college football- an injury ended his career

• Burnett received a degree in Finance

• On September 11, 2001, Burnett was a passenger on United Flight 93

• He came up with the idea of taking the plane back from the terrorists

• Burnett was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2002

Barbara Jordan (1936-1996)• Jordan was born in Houston, TX• During college, Jordan became skilled

in public speaking and debate• She attended Boston University Law

School • Jordan campaigned for Kennedy in

1960• In 1966, she became the first woman

elected to the Texas State Senate• Jordan served in the US Congress

from 1972-1979• She delivered the Keynote Address at

the 1976 Democratic National Convention

• After retiring, Jordan taught at the University of Texas

• She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994

John Wayne (1907-1979)• Wayne was born Marion Robert

Morrison in Winterset, Iowa• He attended USC on a football

scholarship (lost scholarship due to injury)

• Wayne’s breakthrough role came with the classic, Stagecoach

• In support of the military, Wayne made several movies about war

• Wayne won a Best Actor Oscar for True Grit

• He died from stomach cancer in 1979• Wayne has received both the

Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom

• In 1999, AFI named Wayne 13th among the greatest male stars of all time

Bing Crosby (1903-1977)• He was born Harry Lillis Crosby in Tacoma,

WA• Bing got his start as a member of the

Rhythm Boys • He made his solo radio debut in 1931• During WWII, Crosby was declared the

“most admired man alive”• In 1944, Crosby won a Best Actor Oscar• Crosby won the first Grammy Lifetime

Achievement Award in 1962• Crosby died after suffering a heart attack• Based on ticket sales, Crosby is the third

most popular actor in history (appeared in 79 films)

• Crosby’s most popular recording, “White Christmas,” has sold over 100 million copies

• In his lifetime, Crosby recorded 1,700 song. 383 of those were in the top 30, and of those, 41 hit #1

• Also, Bing is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame

Arthur Ashe (1943-1993)• Ashe was born in Richmond, VA• He began playing tennis at the age of six• Ashe was an NCAA champion at UCLA• After college, Ashe spent two years in

the army• Ashe won three Grand Slam titles during

his career (Wimbledon, US Open, Australian Open)

• He retired from tennis in 1980 after suffering a heart attack

• Ashe served as the national campaign chairman for the American Heart Association

• He was the first person named to the US Professional Tennis Hall of Fame

• Two months before his death, Ashe started the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health

• He died from AIDS on February 6, 1993

• Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi• His vocal abilities were recognized at

an early age• After moving to Memphis, Elvis

worked as a truck driver• He recorded his first song when he

was 18• Presley’s first number one song was

“Heartbreak Hotel”• Presley made national attention on the

Ed Sullivan Show• He served in the army for two years• Presley made 33 films during his

career• He won three Grammy Awards• Elvis died at his home, Graceland, on

August 16, 1977

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

Robert E. Lee (1807-1870)• Lee was born in Stratford, VA• He entered West Point in 1825-

graduated second in his class• Lee fought during the Mexican-

American War• He was asked by Lincoln to lead a

new Union army• He did not believe in secession or

slavery• Lee later became commander of

the Army of Northern Virginia• In 1865, Lee was put in command

of all Confederate troops• After the war, Lee served as

president of Washington College

Dr. Janet G. Travell (1901-1997)

• Travell was born in NYC• She got the inspiration to go into

medicine from her father • Travell graduated from Wellesley

College in 1922• She earned her M.D. from Cornell

University in 1926• Travell served as ambulance surgeon

on the NYC police force• She later returned to Cornell as a

professor• Travell’s major focuses were in

Cardiology and skeletal muscle pain• She helped develop new techniques for

treating painful muscle spasms (sprays used in sports medicine)

• JFK appointed Travell to the post of Personal Physician to the President (first female)

• She remained active teaching, writing, and giving lectures across the country, until her death in 1997

• Ryan was born in Refugio, TX• In second grade, Ryan began

working on a paper route• He possessed a natural gift for

baseball-drafted out of high school• He played his first MLB game in

1966• Ryan set a major league record in

1973 by striking out 383 players• He was the first pitcher to make one

million dollars in a season• Ryan is the all-time leader in

strikeouts• He retired in 1993 after playing a

record 27 seasons• Ryan is also the only pitcher to

throw seven no-hitters • Ryan’s fastball gave him the

nickname “The Ryan Express.”

Nolan Ryan (1947- )

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933- )

• Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, NY

• She attended Cornell-graduated from Columbia Law School

• Ginsburg was a professor at both Rutgers and Columbia

• In 1970, Ginsburg helped create a law journal focused on the rights of women

• In 1980, President Carter named Ginsburg to a federal court of appeals

• Ginsburg became the second woman on the US Supreme Court in 1993

• She is the first Jewish person to serve on the court

Hiram L. Fong (1906-2004)

• Fong was born in Honolulu, Hawaii-son of Chinese immigrants

• As a young man, he worked shining shoes and selling papers

• Fong graduated from the University of Hawaii• He saved up enough money to attend

Harvard Law School• Fong started the first multiracial law firm in

Honolulu • In 1938, Fong was elected to Hawaii’s

territorial House of Reps.• Fong fought hard for Hawaii to achieve

statehood• He served four terms as the nation’s first

Chinese American senator• Fong was the first Asian American to receive

votes for president at a major party convention

• He was the first man from Hawaii to run for President of the US

Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950)

• Woodson was born in New Canton, VA-the son of former slaves

• He did not attend school regularly as a child

• Woodson entered high school at the age of 20

• He would eventually go on to attend college- received his PhD from Harvard in 1912

• Woodson felt that the history of African Americans was often ignored

• In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History

• Woodson began publication of the Journal of Negro History in 1916

• He strongly believed in self-reliance and racial respect for all

• Woodson led the push for establishing Black History Week

• Williams was born in Flushing, NY• In 1948, Williams moved to California with

his family-attended UCLA• He was drafted into the U.S. Air Force in

1952• After his service ended, Williams moved to

NYC and entered Julliard • He got his start as an orchestrator for the

film studios • From 1980 to 1993, Williams served as

conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra• Williams has composed music for such

movies as Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones, Superman, and three Harry Potter movies

• He has also composed music for four different Olympic Games, NBC Nightly News, and the rededication of the Statue of Liberty

• Williams has won five Academy Awards and 21 Grammy Awards

• His 45 Academy Award nominations is second all-time, after Walt Disney

• Williams won Kennedy Center Honors in 2004

John Williams (1932- )

Deborah Sampson (1760-1827)• Sampson was born in Plympton, MA• As a child, Sampson’s family was forced

to become indentured servants• After ending her service, Sampson

became a school teacher• She is most famous for pretending to be

a man so she could fight during the Revolution (Robert Shurtliff)

• Sampson was wounded during her first battle

• In 1783, Sampson was promoted and served seven months as a waiter to General John Patterson

• Sampson had a difficult time receiving payment for her military service, because she was a woman

• In 1802, she began giving lectures about her experiences in the military

• Onassis was born in Southampton, NY• She graduated in 1951 with a degree in

French Literature• Following graduation, Onassis worked

as a photographer for The Washington Times-Herald

• In 1953, she married John F. Kennedy• When Kennedy was elected in 1960,

Onassis became one of the youngest First Ladies in history

• One of her first major projects involved restoring the White House

• In 1962, she took American viewers on a tour of the White House

• In 1968, Jacqueline married Aristotle Onassi

• Prior to her death, Onassis worked as a book editor

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994)

• Riperton was born in Chicago, Illinois

• She studied at the Lincoln Center and at Chicago’s Junior Lyric Opera

• Riperton started singing professionally at the age of fifteen

• She dropped out of college to pursue a music career

• In 1972, Riperton got married. She would have two children

• Over the course of her career, Minnie recorded five albums-achieved fame with her hit, “Lovin’ You”

• She was known for her range of over five octaves

• Riperton was diagnosed with cancer in 1976- she continued to tour the country

• She was very open about her cancer-became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society in 1978

Minnie Riperton (1947-1979)

Dr. Sally Ride (1951- )• Ride was born in Encino, CA• Growing up, Ride was a nationally ranked

tennis player• She graduated from Stanford University• Ride later received her master’s degree

and and PhD in Physics• She joined NASA in 1978• Ride was the first American woman to go

into space • She is the first woman to use the robot arm

in outer space• After retiring from NASA, Ride became a

professor• Ride is the only person to serve on bot the

Challenger and Columbia accident panels • She currently serves as President and

CEO of Sally Ride Science, a program geared at teaching science in elementary and middle schools

Carl Brashear (1931-2006)• Brashear was born in Tonieville,

Kentucky• In 1948, he enlisted in the Navy• Brashear graduated from the U.S. Navy

Diving and Salvage School in 1954• Upon graduation, Brashear became the

first African American diver in the history of the Navy

• In 1966, Brashear lost one of his legs during the recovery of a bomb

• After receiving a prosthetic leg, Brashear would eventually return to the Navy

• After a rehabilitation period of two years, Brashear was the first amputee to be certified as a diver

• In 1970, he would become the first African American U.S. Navy Master Diver

Eva Adams (1910-1991)• Adams was born in Wonder, Nevada• Eva moved around as a child because

of her father’s work • She graduated from high school at the

age of 14• By the age of 19 she was teaching at

Las Vegas High School• Adams went on to teach English at the

University of Nevada • In 1940, Senator Pat McCarran hired

Eva to work in his office• While working for the senator, Adams

attended law school and passed bar exams in Washington, D.C. and Nevada

• In 1961, President Kennedy asked Eva to become the director of the U.S. Mint

S. Truett Cathy (1921- )• Cathy was born in Eatonton, GA

• After graduating from high school, Cathy worked for the US Civil Service

• Cathy opened a restaurant with his brother in 1946

• Truett spent a great deal of time perfecting the chicken sandwich

• The Astrodome in Houston, TX signed a licensing agreement to sell the sandwiches in 1965

• In 1967, Cathy opened his first Chick-fil-A in an Atlanta mall

• Cathy began his WinShape Foundation in 1984 (scholarships and foster homes)

• As of February 2010, there were more than 1,480 Chick-fil-A restaurants in the US

• Cathy has led his business on a record of 42 consecutive years of annual sales increases.

• From the beginning, Cathy made sure that his business would not operate on Sundays.

Grace Kelly (1929-1982)• Kelly was born in Philadelphia, PA• Grace began acting at the age of 12 • She attended the American

Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC-did not go to college

• Kelly made her film debut in 1951• Working with Alfred Hitchcock

helped put Kelly in the spotlight• She won a Best Actress Oscar for

The Country Girl • In 1956, Kelly married Prince Rainier

III of Monaco-retired from acting• The Princess Grace Foundation was

started in 1964 to help people with special needs

• Kelly died in 1982 after driving off the side of a mountain (stroke)

• Kelly was the first U.S. actress to appear on a U.S. postal stamp

• Dean was born in Marion, Indiana • After the death of his mother, Dean

was raised by his aunt• He attended UCLA, but never

graduated• Dean’s first television appearance

was in a Pepsi advertisement• While living in NYC, Dean gained

admission to the Actors Studio• Dean’s first starring role was in the

movie East of Eden• He was probably most recognized for

his work in Rebel Without a Cause (teenage angst)

• Dean died in a car accident before his final film, Giant, was released

• He was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (only actor to have two posthumous nominations)

James Dean (1931-1955)

Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974)

• Lindbergh was born in Detroit, Michigan

• He entered the University of Wisconsin to study engineering

• In 1925, Lindbergh graduated from the Army’s flight training school

• He first work was as a mail carrier between St. Louis and Chicago

• In 1927, Lindbergh became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic

• He has been credited with developing an artificial heart

• In 1932, Lindbergh’s son was abducted and murdered

• Lindbergh was awarded a German medal of honor in 1938

• During WWII, Lindbergh flew 50 combat missions

• He campaigned for the protection of humpback and blue whales

Maya Lin (1959- )• Lin was born in Athens, Ohio• She is the niece of Lin Huiyin, who is

said to be the first female architect in China

• Lin graduated from Yale in 1981 (received her Master’s degree in 1986)

• While a student at Yale, Lin won a public design contest for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

• Lin received a great deal of opposition to her design-she had to defend it before Congress

• She went on to design the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama

• Lin would also design “Groundswell” and “The Wave Field”

• She was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 2009

Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993)• Marshall was born in Baltimore,

Maryland• He was denied entrance to the

University of Maryland Law School because of his race

• Marshall graduated from the Howard University School of Law in 1933

• In 1936, Marshall began working for the NAACP

• He is most known for arguing Brown vs. Board of Education

• In 1965, Marshall was appointed as the Solicitor General

• Marshall was the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court

• In 1993, Marshall received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, posthumously, From President Clinton

• Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama• He received national attention when

he equaled the world record for the 100 yd dash

• Owens attended Ohio State University• He won a record eight individual

NCAA championships • On May 25, 1935, Owens set three

world records and tied a fourth • In the 1936 Olympics, Owens won

four gold medals • Owens would eventually run a dry-

cleaning business and he would work as a gas station attendant

• In 1976, Owens was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

• After his death, Owens was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal

Jesse Owens (1913-1980)

Dr. Jonas Salk (1914-1995)• Salk was born in New York City, NY• He began college at the age of 16, with

the hopes of becoming a lawyer • After working in a laboratory, his passion

changed to medicine• In 1939, Salk graduated from medical

school • While in school, Salk and a fellow

researcher created an immunization for the flu

• In 1947, Salk began researching the polio virus

• After a great deal of research and testing, Salk created the first effective polio vaccine

• In 1954, nearly 2 million children, called “Polio Pioneers,” were given the vaccine as a test-proved to be successful

• He refused to patent the vaccine so that anyone in the world could receive it for free

• In 1963, Salk opened the Salk Institute for Biological Studies

• Dr. Salk was awarded the Presidential Medal o f Freedom in 1977

Tammi Terrell (1945-1970)• Terrell was born Thomasina

Montgomery in Philadelphia, PA • She suffered from severe migraines

early in life• As a child, Tammi won numerous

talent shows and competitions• Prior to her fifteenth birthday, Tammi

was signed to Scepter Records• In 1962, she began touring with

James Brown• Terrell signed with Motown in 1965 • She gained great success by singing

with Marvin Gaye • In 1967, Terrell collapsed onstage

during a concert with Gaye• She went through eight operations

to treat a brain tumor• Terrell died six weeks before her

25th birthday

Rose O’Neal Greenhow (1817-1864)

• Greenhow was born in Port Tobacco, MD• As a teenager, Greenhow moved to

Washington, DC• In 1835, Rose married Dr. Robert

Greenhow• After her husband’s death, Rose was

recruited to be a spy for the Confederacy • She has been credited with helping the

Confederacy win the First Battle of Bull Run

• While in prison, Rose continued to pass along messages to the South

• After being released from prison, Greenhow went to Europe on a diplomatic mission for the Confederacy

• In 1864, Greenhow drowned off the coast of Wilmington, NC

• She is buried at Oakdale Cemetery, in downtown Wilmington

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)• Harriet was born in Litchfield, CT• She received a traditionally “male”

education in the classics • At the age of 21, Harriet moved to

Cincinnati to live with her father• In 1836, she married Calvin

Stowe, a professor• The Stowes supported the

Underground Railroad, housing several fugitive slaves in their home

• Stowe is most famous for writing the anti-slavery classic Uncle Tom’s Cabin

• She has been credited with starting the Civil War, as Uncle Tom’s Cabin made people aware to the horrors of slavery

• Ballou was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island

• He lost both of his parents at a young age and was forced to fend for himself

• Ballou studied at Brown University- he also attended law school

• In 1853, Sullivan began practicing as a lawyer

• He also served as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives

• When the Civil War began, Ballou volunteered his services

• He lost his life at the First Battle of Bull Run

• Sullivan is most famous for the letter he wrote to his wife just a week before his death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa2hv8U8cWU

Sullivan Ballou (1829-1861)

Jim Valvano (1946-1993)• Valvano was born in Corona, NY• He graduated with a degree in English

from Rutgers (1967)• Valvano began his coaching career at

Johns Hopkins • He led the NC State Wolf pack to a

National Championship in 1983 • After coaching, Volvano worked as a

commentator for ESPN and ABC Sports• He was diagnosed with bone cancer in

1992• In 1993, Valvano was awarded the

Arthur Ashe Award for Courage• He established the V Foundation, an

organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer

• Valvano will forever be known for the speech he gave at the 1993 ESPY Awards

• King was born in Long Beach, California• She won her first tennis tournament at the age

of fourteen • King won her first Wimbledon in 1966• In 1971, she became the first female athlete to

win $100,000 in a single year • King defeated Bobby Riggs in a “Battle of the

Sexes” match (1973)• Over the course of her career, King won 39

Grand Slam titles • She was ranked in the top ten from 1960-1977• King helped start the Women’s Tennis

Association • In 1987, she was inducted into the

International Tennis Hall of Fame• She served as the tennis coach for the US

Olympic team in 2000 • King received the Presidential Medal of

Freedom in 2009

Billie Jean King (1943- )

• Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans, LA

• Louis’s neighborhood was called the “Battlefield,” because of frequent fighting between gangs

• Armstrong began working at the age of seven

• After dropping out of school, Armstrong was sent to a school for troubled boys

• Louis possessed strong musical ability early in life (cornet)

• Armstrong started playing professionally on steamboats

• After moving to NY, Louis began playing the trumpet

• Louis was also known for his “scat singing”

• He is the oldest singer to have a number one song on the charts (“Hello Dolly”)

• Armstrong died in 1971, after suffering a heart attack

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

• King was born in Heiberger, Alabama • As a child, Coretta would walk five miles to

school• She graduated as valedictorian of her high

school class• King studied music at Antioch College• While studying in Boston, Coretta met Martin

Luther King, Jr. • She wanted to take an active role in the Civil

Rights Movement with her husband• King performed a series of Freedom

Concerts to promote Civil Rights• She led the campaign to establish her

husband’s birthday as a national holiday• Coretta ran the King Center for 27 years• In the last years of her life, King promoted

Aids Awareness and the dangers of gun violence

• She died in 2006, after suffering both a stroke and cancer

Coretta Scott King (1927- )

Harland Sanders (1890-1980)

• Sanders was born in Henryville, Indiana

• He dropped out of school during the seventh grade

• Sanders served as a member of the US Army

• He held various jobs, including: steamboat pilot, insurance salesman, railroad fireman, and farmer

• Sanders began cooking chicken for his service station customers

• He has been credited with inventing “home meal replacement”

• In 1935, Sanders was made a Kentucky Colonel for his contribution to the state’s cuisine.

• By 1964, he had more than 600 KFC franchises in the US and Canada

• Prior to his death, the Colonel traveled 250,000 miles a year visiting KFC restaurants around the world

• Rockwell was born in NYC• He transferred from high school to art

school at the age of 14• Rockwell ‘s work was first published in

1912• In 1913, Rockwell became the art

editor for Boys’ Life • During WWI, he served as a military

artist • Over the span of 47 years, Rockwell

would publish 322 covers for The Saturday Evening Post

• He was often called the “People’s Painter”

• Rockwell was commissioned to paint the portraits of Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon

• He died from emphysema in 1978

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)

Fred Astaire (1899-1987)• Astaire was born in Omaha,

Nebraska • Fred got his start in show

business with his sister • In 1933, Astaire made his first

film • Astaire became most famous for

his work with Ginger Rogers • He believed that song and

dance routines should be part of a film

• Astaire started his own dance studio in 1947

• In a career that spanned 76 years, Astaire made 31 musical films

• He was named the 5th Greatest Male Star of All Time by the AFI

• Sonia was born in the Bronx, a borough of NYC

• She was diagnosed with diabetes at age eight

• Sotomayor graduated from Princeton in 1976

• She would go on to attend law school at Yale

• Sonia became an assistant district attorney in 1979

• Besides serving as a lawyer, Sonia taught at both Yale and Columbia

• She was first nominated to be a judge in 1991

• Sotomayor was voted onto the Supreme Court in 2009

• She is the third woman to serve and the first Hispanic on the Supreme Court

Sonia Sotomayor (1954- )