Died On This Date - Feb. 10

Wilder, Laura Ingalls
b. February 7, 1867 d. February 10, 1957
Pioneer, Author. Born Laura Elizabeth Ingalls in Pepin, Wisconsin, the second daughter of Charles and Caroline Quiner Ingalls. The Ingalls family traveled by covered wagon to short residences in Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas, before settling in DeSmet.

Scheider, Roy Richard
b. November 10, 1932 d. February 10, 2008
Actor. Born the son of Anna Crosson and Roy Bernhard Scheider in Orange, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers and Franklin and Marshall College from which he was graduated with a history major. He earned his distinctive broken nose in the New Jersey Diamond Gloves Boxing Competition. After military service, he debuted with the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1961. He then appeared in a pair of television soap operas before making his film debut in 1963's 'Curse of the Living Corpse.'

Varney, Jim (James)
b. June 15, 1949 d. February 10, 2000
Actor. Comic figure who appeared in motion pictures, television, and in commercials. Fondly remembered for his role of 'Ernest P. Worrel' in the "Ernest Goes to ..." movies and in numerous TV commercials. He also played the voice of 'Slinky Dog' in the "Toy Story" movies. He was also "JedClampett" in the Beverly Hillbillies movie.

Miller, Arthur
b. October 17, 1915 d. February 10, 2005
Playwright. Born in New York City, he was best known for his play "Death of a Salesman." His works focused on family, morality and personal responsibility and decried the growing fragmentation of American society. He won the Pulizer Prize in 1949 at age 33. He was briefly married to actress, Marilyn Monroe. He died at the age of 89 in Roxbury, Connecticut.

Haley, Alex
b. August 11, 1921 d. February 10, 1992
Author. Best remembered for his books, "Roots," which was turned into a television mini-series, which inspired a generation of black Americans to search for their genealogical ancestors. In 1977, he received the Pulitzer Prize for his book. Born the oldest of three sons in Ithaca, New York, his family moved back to their hometown of Henning, Tennessee, where young Alex was raised.

Davis Jr., George Andrew
b. December 1, 1920 d. February 10, 1952
Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. While leading a flight of four F-86 Saberjets on a combat aerial patrol mission near the Manchurian Boarder (Korea), he observed 12 enemy MIG-15 aircraft. He attacked the formation, shot down two, and then slowed his speed to attack a third when his aircraft received a direct hit and crashed. His attack disrupted the enemy formation.

Tibbits, William Badger
b. March 31, 1837 d. February 10, 1880
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Hoosick, New York, he was an 1859 graduate of Union College in Schenectady. He studied law and engaged in manufacturing. On April 15, 1861, when President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to suppress the Southern rebellion, he recruited a company of the 2nd New York, a 2-year command. A month later he was commissioned Captain and seen his first action on June 10 at Big Bethel, Virginia. The regiment then participated in the major campaigns of 1862.

Pius XI, Pope
b. May 31, 1857 d. February 10, 1939
He was born Achille Ratti in Descio, Italy near Milan, the son of a silk merchant. Becoming a priest at age 22, he worked many years in Milan's Ambrosian Library and the Vatican Library. He was named cardinal-archbishop of Milan in 1921. At the death of Pope Benedict XV, Ratti was elected pope on February 6, 1922 and chose the name Pius XI. His ascension coincided with Mussolini's rise to power in Italy, causing constant conflict with the Facist government.

Hammerberg, Owen Francis
b. May 31, 1920 d. February 10, 1945
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Served as Boatswain's Mate Second Class, Deep Sea Diver in the Pacific Fleet Salvage Force, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On February 10, 1945, during salvage operations in West Loch, Pearl Harbor 2 fellow drivers became trapped. Aware of the danger when the divers were hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling under an LST sunk in 40 feet of water and 20 feet of mud, he went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue.

Kaufman, Loren R.
b. July 27, 1923 d. February 10, 1951
Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Kaufman served as a Sergeant First Class, United States Army, Company G, 9th Infantry Regiment. He was awarded his medal for service Near Yongsan, Korea, on September 4-5, 1950. His citation reads-Sfc. Kaufman distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. On the night of 4 September the company was in a defensive position on 2 adjoining hills.

Harding, Chester
b. October 16, 1827 d. February 10, 1875
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Served in the Civil War first as a Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General on the Staff of Brig. General Nathaniel Lyon, then as Colonel and commander of three successive regiments - the 10th, 25th and 43rd Missouri Volunteer Infantries. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on May 27, 1865 for "faithful and meritorious services during the war". Although a brevet brigadier general, his tombstone reads simply "Colonel, 75th Missouri.

Kelly, P. Dan
b. September 17, 1936 d. February 10, 1989
After doing play-by-play for the Canadian Football League, Kelly hosted Hockey Night in Canada in 1968 & became a national figure in Canada. Dan Kelly became the voice of the St. Louis Blues hockey team for over 20 years & was noted for his trademark phrase "he shoots...he scores!" He was given the Lester Patrick Award for his service to hockey & named to the broadcasters wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame a month before his death.