Died On This Date - Feb. 20

Douglass, Frederick
b. February 7, 1818 d. February 20, 1895
Social Reformer, Human Rights Leader. Black American who was one of the most eminent human rights leaders of the 19th century. His oratorical and literary brilliance thrust him into the forefront of the U.S. abolition movement and he became the first black citizen to hold hight rank in the U.S government. Separated as an infant from his slave mother, he never knew his white father, Frederick lived with his grandmother on a Maryland plantation until at the age of eight.

Nimitz, Chester W.
b. February 24, 1885 d. February 20, 1966
Fleet Admiral. He was born February 24, 1885 in Fredericksburg, Texas. He was accepted into the United States Naval Academy in 1901 and graduated in 1905. Submarines were his love, but he served on many kind of surface vessels as well. On December 31, 1941, he was appointed Commander-In-Chief in the Pacific (CinCPac). In 1944 he was promoted to the grade of Fleet Admiral. During the war he commanded more than two million men and thousands of ships and airplanes.

Dee, Sandra
b. April 23, 1942 d. February 20, 2005
Actress. Born Alexandra Zuck, she made her professional debut as a model at age four, was appearing in commercials by age twelve and at the age of fourteen made her first film, “Until they Sail.” In 1958 she won a Golden Globe Award for “Most Promising Newcomer.” She became known for her wholesome roles in such films as “Imitation of Life,” “Gidget” and “A Summer Place.” She had moderately successful film appearances in the 1960’s but never returned to the heights of popularity she enjoyed.

Peary, Robert Edwin
b. May 6, 1856 d. February 20, 1920
American explorer and Naval officer who led the first expedition to the North Pole. In 1909, Peary, Matthew A. Henson, and four Eskimos were the first people to reach the North Pole. In 1908, after having already attempted two trips to the North Pole, Peary and his party sailed to Ellesmere Island (at the far north of Canada) on the USS Roosevelt. In early March, 1909, the expedition (Matthew A. Henson, Dr. John W. Goodsell, Donald B. MacMillion, Ross G. Marvin, George Borup and Captain Robert.

York, Dick
b. September 4, 1928 d. February 20, 1992
Actor, most remembered for his role as Darrin Stephens, the often-frustrated husband of Elizabeth Montgomery, in the Television sitcom series, Bewitched. Born Richard Allen York in Fort Wayne, Indiana on 4 September 1928, he quickly found work in the entertainment industry. In 1943, at age 15, he became the star of the network radio program, "That Brewster Boy." Beginning in movies in 1947, with the role of Philip Norton in the film "Shy Guy" (1947), his roles were few and far between.

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant
b. May 28, 1818 d. February 20, 1893
Civil War General. Fought at Ft. Sumter, First Manassas, Shiloh, commanded the Army of the Tennessee after A.S. Johnston was killed, Cornith, defenses of South Carolina and Georgia, defenses of Richmond, Drewry's Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, defenses of Petersburg. Surrendered with General Joseph Johnston in late April, 1865.

Gowdy, Curt
b. July 31, 1919 d. February 20, 2006
Sportscaster. Began his career in 1944 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, broadcasting high school football games, then baseball and basketball in Oklahoma City, followed by work with Mel Allen and the New York Yankees in 1949 and then became the Boston Red Sox signature voice from 1951 to 1966. Left the Red Sox in 1966 for a 10-year stint as "Game of the Week" announcer for NBC and was also the longtime host of the "American Sportsman".

Ingram, Jack
b. November 15, 1902 d. February 20, 1969
Actor. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and died in Canoga Park, California. He often appeared in westerns in more than 200 films. Among others "Valley of Terror" (1937), "Ghost Valley Raiders" (1940), "Nevada City" (1941), "Man from Cheyenne" (1942), "The Bandit Queen" (1950) and "Lost in Alaska" (1952).

Pulaski, Casimir
b. March 6, 1748 d. February 20, 1779
Revolutionary War Continental Army Brigadier General. His bones were reinterred at Monterey Square on Bull Street.

Picton, Thomas
b. May 16, 1822 d. February 20, 1891
Journalist and Author. Founder and editor of the True American. Wrote the book "Paul Preston's Book of Gymnastics: or Sports for Youth." Real name was Thomas Picton Milner.

Standing Bear, Chief Luther
b. 1868 d. February 20, 1939
Author. Actor. Born Ota Kte, son of Standing Bear, an hereditary chief of the Lakota. Until the age of about ten, he lived a traditional life on the plains. At about age eleven in 1879, his father enrolled him in the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Once there, he was compelled to choose a name from a list on the wall. He randomly pointed at the symbols on a wall and named himself Luther. His father's name became his surname.

Mathies, Archibald
b. June 3, 1918 d. February 20, 1944
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps in the 8th Air Force. He was a Engineer and Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on February 20, 1944 over enemy occupied Europe. He was killed in action. His citation in part reads "After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, Sgt. Mathies' commanding officer decided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew.

Siskel, Gene (Eugene Kal)
b. January 26, 1946 d. February 20, 1999
Film Critic. One half of the famous Siskel and Ebert team. One of the most recognized film critics, Siskel joined the Chicago Tribune in 1969 as the film critic, a job he held for 19 years before his column was syndicated nationally. In 1975 he joined Chicago Sun Times critic Roger Ebert for a monthly PBS program called "Opening Soon at a Theater Near You". Shortly thereafter it became know as "At the Movies" and was shown every week.

Thomson, James McLean
b. February 4, 1834 d. February 20, 1893
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Served in the Civil War a Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the 107th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for “gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., and for faithful and meritorious services during the war”. He later became a school teacher.

Larimer, Smith
b. March 17, 1829 d. February 20, 1881
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Corporal in the Union Army in Company G, 2d Ohio Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia. His citation reads "Capture of flag of Major General Joseph Brezard Kershaw's headquarters."