Who Died on this Date - Jan 20

Hepburn, Audrey
b. May 4, 1929 d. January 20, 1993
Actress. Her impressive career in film and theatre spanned 42 years, ending only with her death in 1993. A vastly influential person and notable humanitarian, she received over fifty awards and international distinctions for her work in film and, later, for her efforts on behalf of children everywhere. Born in Brussels, Belgium, as a child, she attended boarding school and took dancing lessons.


Stanwyck, Barbara
b. July 16, 1907 d. January 20, 1990
Actress, Films, Television and Broadway. She was a forerunner of a long line of actors and singers born in Brooklyn which at the time had many influencing live performance theatres and cultural centers which drew many with show business aspirations. Barbara Stanwyck was a four time Oscar-nominated motion picture actress whose career spanned from the 1920's beyond the 1980's.


Haney, Milton Lorenzi
b. January 23, 1825 d. January 20, 1922
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Civil War as Chaplain on the 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Atlanta, Georgia on July 22, 1864. His citation reads "Voluntarily carried a musket in the ranks of his regiment and rendered heroic service in retaking the Federal works which had been captured by the enemy". His Medal was awarded to him on November 3, 1896. He was one of nine 55th Illinois Infantry soldiers to be awarded.


Lord (Ryan), Jack (John Joseph Patrick)
b. December 30, 1920 d. January 20, 1998
Actor. Born John Joseph Patrick Ryan, but called himself Jack Lord when he began acting in the early 1950s. He was an accomplished artist. Two of his paintings were acquired by New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum of Modern Art by the time he was twenty. He became a member of the Actors Studio. He acted by night and sold cars by day.


Wheeler, George Huber
b. September 26, 1881 d. January 20, 1957
Interim Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was serving as a Shipfitter First Class in the United States Navy when he earned the CMOH. His citation reads: For bravery and extraordinary heroism displayed by him during a conflagration in Coquimbo, Chile, 20 January 1909. The CMOH was awarded on March 19, 1909.


Sigler, Franklin Earl
b. November 6, 1924 d. January 20, 1995
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. His citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on 14 March 1945. Voluntarily taking command of his rifle squad when the leader became a casualty, Pvt. Sigler fearlessly led a bold charge against an enemy gun..


Red Jacket (Sagoyewatha)
b. 1752 d. January 20, 1830
Seneca Indian Chief. A persuasive orator who defended other Iroquois brothers in court, he was a a peace-loving man who advocated peace between the United States and the Indian Nations. He was awarded a silver medal by George Washington. In the war of 1812 he joined and fought for the United States Army. In later life he began to express concerns about the future of his people, and began rejecting schools and churches and other things associated with civilization.


Mifflin, Thomas
b. January 10, 1744 d. January 20, 1800
Revolutionary War Continental Major General, Signer of U.S. Constitution, First Governor of Pennsylvania, member of the Continental Congress. In spite of being born into a Quaker family this Philadelphia native was one of the Revolution's most radical promoters. After graduating, at the age of sixteen, from what is today the University of Pennsylvania, he became a successful entrepreneur and socially excelled becoming a member of the prestigious American Philosophical Society.


Freed, Alan
b. December 15, 1922 d. January 20, 1965
Radio Disc Jockey. He is known as “The Father of Rock and Roll” for his efforts to promote that music style. In March 1952, as an emcee of a television program on rhythm and blues records for TV station WXEL in Cleveland, Ohio, he referred to the new music sound as "rock and roll," thus being the first to coin the term. He played himself in five films, in cameo roles and bit parts; all of the films were made between 1956 and 1958 with teenagers as the targeted audience, and the films made Rock.


Kalakaua, King David
b. November 16, 1836 d. January 20, 1891
King of Hawaii (1874-1891). Royal prince was elected King by the Hawaii legislature. Brother of Queen Liliuokalani. Husband of Queen Kapiolani. "The Merry Monarch" was a patron of the arts, encouraged the resurgence of Hawaiian dance and customs that had earlier been prohibited by missionaries. Forced to grant U.S. Navy the rights to Pearl Harbor.


Behrman, Hank (Henry)
b. June 27, 1921 d. January 20, 1987
Major League Baseball Player. The right-handed pitcher had his best season as a rookie with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946 with an 11-5 record, a 2.93 earned run average and 150 innings pitched. On May 3, 1947, he was traded with pitchers Kirby Higbe and Cal McLish, infielder Gene Mauch and catcher Dixie Howell to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Al Gionfriddo and $100,000. Then he was sent back to the Dodgers for cash on June 14 of that year.


King (Levy), Solomon (Allen Verner)
b. August 13, 1930 d. January 20, 2005
Country/Rock Musician. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, he was born Allen Verner Levy, but used the stage names of Solomon King, Levi Jackson, and Randy Leeds. He is best remembered for his hit songs, "She Wears My Ring", "My Oh My", "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die", and for his association with Elvis Presley's backing band, "The Jordanaires", of which he was a member. The 6'8, King was a true music fan from an early age.


Tinning, Joseph
b. January 10, 1970 d. January 20, 1972Victim of infanticide. One of nine siblings murdered by their mother, Mary Beth Tinning. She got away with it for years, using SIDS as a ruse. Finally caught , she was convicted in July of 1987 and sentenced to twenty years to life. She is still incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, NY. The case is the subject of a 1989 book by Joyce Egginton entitled "From Cradle to Grave."