Died On This Date - Feb. 19

Mitchell, William 'Billy'
b. December 29, 1879 d. February 19, 1936
United States Army General, Aviation Pioneer, Special Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the start of the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in the Army as a Private, and rose rapidly in the Signal Corps, which at first, controlled the development of Army aviation. In 1916, he learned to fly, and became the air adviser to General John J. Pershing in World War I. At the end of the war, Mitchell was promoted to Brigadier General, and made assistant chief of the Air Service.

Jones, Louis Marshall 'Grandpa'
b. October 20, 1914 d. February 19, 1998
Actor, Comedian. Co-star of the long-running Hee Haw television show. Grand Ole Opry member since 1947. Country Music Hall of Fame Member since 1978.

Paycheck, Johnny
b. May 31, 1938 d. February 19, 2003
Country Western Singer. Born Donald Eugene Lytle, he began playing guitar by age 6 and his recording career in the when he was 15, later changing his name to Johnny Paycheck in the 1960s. Paycheck is best remembered for his 1977 hit song, "Take This Job And Shove It" which sold over 2 million copies and inspired a motion picture by the same name. In 1985 he was convicted of shooting a man in the head in Hillsboro, Ohio, and spent two years in prison and in 1982.

Haish, Jacob
b. March 9, 1826 d. February 19, 1926Jacob Haish, inventor, manufacturer, financier and philanthropist died less than a month before his 100th birthday. His invention of barbed wire changed the history of the United States, making settlement in the frontier regions possible. He was the son of Christian Haish and Christina Layman. He married Sophia Ann Brown on May 24, 1847 in Naperville, Illinois, however, they had no children.

Heileman, Gottlieb
b. January 6, 1824 d. February 19, 1878
Brewer. He founded the brewery that became the huge G. Heileman Brewing Co. Born in Kirchheim, Wurttemberg (Germany), he emigrated to the USA in 1852, working first in Philadelphia and then went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1853 where he helped Gottlieb Maier found a bakery. In 1857 he moved to La Crosse and was employed in Nicolai brewery and the C&J Michel Brewery until he formed a partnership with Johan Gund in 1858 and they established the City Brewing Co.

Bradham, Caleb D.
b. May 27, 1867 d. February 19, 1934
Inventor of Pepsi.

Julian, Hubert Fauntleroy
b. September 21, 1897 d. February 19, 1983
Aviation Pioneer. Often known by his nicknames "The Black Eagle" and "The Black Eagle of Harlem." Some say that he was the first person of color to get a pilot's licence in the United States, for which there are other claimants, though he was certainly one of the first. He was a supporter of Marcus Garvey and in 1922 flew his plane over parades in support of Garvey. In 1924, Julian garnered sufficient financial backing for an attempt at a Trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Africa.

Fisher, Joseph Lyman
b. January 11, 1914 d. February 19, 1992
US Congressman. He served as an economist with the United States Department of State, 1942 to 1943, and served with the United States Army, 1943 to 1946. He was a senior economist with the Council of Economic Advisers from 1947 to 1953. He was elected to the United States Congress from Virginia, and served from 1975 to 1981. He later was a professor of political economy at George Mason University.

Cole, Darrell Samuel
b. July 20, 1920 d. February 19, 1945
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 20 July 1920, Flat River, Mo. Entered service at: Esther, Mo. Other Navy award: Bronze Star Medal. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as leader of a Machinegun Section of Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima..

Papanicolaou, George
b. May 13, 1883 d. February 19, 1962
Creator of the Pap Smear test. Died while visiting his brother in Clinton, New Jersey, and Greece is still fighting to get his body back for burial in his homeland.

Rhodes, Julius Dexter
b. October 1, 1841 d. February 19, 1906Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was born in Monroe County, Michigan. He entered the Union Army at Springville, Erie County, New York. He died in Washington, D.C. His highest rank was Sergeant Major. He was awarded the CMOH as a Private in Company F, 5th New York Cavalry for action on August 28, 30 1863 at Thoroughfare Gap & Bull Run, Virginia. His citation reads "After having had his horse shot under him in the fight at Throughfare Gap, VA.

Schenck, Benjamin W.
b. August 12, 1837 d. February 19, 1916
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Butler County, Ohio, he served as a Corporal in Company D, 116th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, enlisting at Maroa, Macon County, Illinois, on September 6, 1862. He would go on to be awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 22, 1863. His citation simply reads "Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party." On the day in question 150 men were called to volunteer to make a "forlorn hope" diversionary.

Kramer, Stanley
b. September 29, 1913 d. February 19, 2001
Motion Picture Director. His credits include "The Defiant Ones," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Inherit the Wind," and numerous others.

Brown, Jeremiah Z.
b. November 7, 1839 d. February 19, 1916
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He enlisted in the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as 1st Sergeant of Company K on September 7, 1862. After receiving promotions to 1st Lieutenant (November 15, 1863) and to Captain and company commander (July 31, 1864), he went on to perform a feat of bravery on October 27, 1864 during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, that would see him awarded the CMOH. His citation for that act reads "With 100 selected volunteers.

Sieber, Al
b. February 29, 1844 d. February 19, 1907Western Frontiersman. A legendary United States Army scout and "Indian fighter, he was a native of Mingolsheim, Germany and later migrated to the United States. From his home in Minnesota, he enlisted at the age of 18 in Company B, 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and fought in the Civil War, including the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, At Gettysburg, he was seriously wounded in his regiments famous "forlorn hope" charge on the 2nd day of the engagement.

Basilone, John
b. November 4, 1916 d. February 19, 1945World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Known as "Manila John", he was one of the first Marines to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. On Sunday night October 25th, 1942, at Lunga Ridge on Guadalcanal, about 1,000 yards south of Henderson Field, Japanese troops attacked. One of the Marine section leaders facing them was Sergeant Basilone. Basilone stayed with his men, repairing guns and changing barrels in almost total darkness, while giving encouragement to his men.

Goshorn, Alfred T.
b. July 15, 1833 d. February 19, 1902
Baseball Pioneer. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1833, he graduated from Marietta College in 1854 and went on to earn a degree at the Cincinnati Law School in 1857. He also ventured into politics and served two terms as the head of the Cincinnati City Council. A few years after the Civil War started he left his law practice to enlist as a Captain in the Union Army with Company C of the 137th Ohio National Guard Infantry. He was promoted to the rank of Major before he was mustered out in 1864.