Died On This Date - Feb. 23

Laurel, Stan
b. June 16, 1890 d. February 23, 1965
Legendary comic actor, he found his greatest success when paired with equally legendary Oliver Hardy. Born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in Ulverston, England, the second of five children. His father, A. J. Jefferson managed a number of vaudeville theaters, and his mother was an actress. He lived with his grandparents until age six, then moved in with his parents to begin his education.

Keats, John
b. October 31, 1795 d. February 23, 1821
Poet. John Keats, whose rich romantic poetry was so misunderstood and attacked in his own short lifetime, is now one of the best loved, and most admired of all English poets. His odes, sonnets, and narrative poems always find a place in modern anthologies of English poetry, and continue to delight and entertain. Keats died in Rome at the age of 25, from the great killer of the time, tuberculosis, which he had probably contracted from his younger brother Tom, whom he had helped nurse.

Adams, John Quincy
b. July 11, 1767 d. February 23, 1848
6th United States President, Presidential Cabinet Secretary, US Congressman. The son of 2nd United States President John Adams, he was born less than 75 feet from the birthplace house of his father in Braintree, Massachusetts. As a youth he was extremely fearful for the life of his father who had signed his name to the Declaration of Independence thusly committing an act of treason against England.

Franklin (English), Melvin (David)
b. October 12, 1942 d. February 23, 1995
R/B singer, born David English in Montgomery, Alabama, his stage name Franklin came from his mother's surname, Franklin. Nicknamed "blue" by friends and fellow singers because he liked everything blue. He was a member of many local singing groups in Detroit, including The Voice Masters. He attended Northwestern High, where he met Otis Williams, and this would be the beginning of a relationship between Otis and Melvin that would last for over thirty years. Melvin joined The Distants.

Parker, Quanah
d. February 23, 1911
Native American Folk Figure. He is often referred to as the last Chief of the Comanches, but the truth of the matter is that the Comanche people never elected him as a chief. In fact there was no such thing as Chief of the Comanches. Each band of Comanches had their own chief. After the surrender of the Comanche people and their placement on the reservation, Colonel Ranald S Mackenzie appointed him Chief of Comanches.

Howland, John
b. 1591 d. February 23, 1673
American history legend from the voyage of the Mayflower and founding of Plymouth Rock in 1620. American children discover John Holland when they learn of the Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, and the first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims' leader Governor William Bradford wrote a first hand account of the Pilgrim history from 1620 to 1647. This account was first published in 1952, and is considered one of the best first hand accounts of any kind on American history. In Bradford's account of the voyage over,

Payton, Corse
b. December 18, 1866 d. February 23, 1934
Theatrical Producer. Named Corse was given him by his father who had served in the Civil War under General John M. Corse in the Sixth Iowa Infantry, he received his education in Centerville Schools. At a young age he left home in search of excitement and joined a traveling circus. A few months later he decided to return home and with his brother organized a theater stock company, known as Corse Payton’s Comedy Company.

Hurst, Fannie
b. October 18, 1889 d. February 23, 1968
American novelist, dramatist & screenwriter. Her first book, Just Around the Corner, a collection of short stories, appeared in 1914. She went on to write more than 40 novels & story collections. A number of her books were turned into successful motion pictures ("Imitation of Life" 1959) while for others she wrote the screenplays ("Back Street" 1961).

Hartsock, Robert Willard
b. January 24, 1945 d. February 23, 1969
Viet Nam Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Hartsock, distinguished himself in action while serving as section leader with the 44th Infantry Platoon. When the Dau Tieng Base Camp came under a heavy enemy rocket and mortar attack, S/Sgt. Hartsock and his platoon commander spotted an enemy sapper squad which had infiltrated the camp undetected.

Donohue, Pete
b. November 5, 1900 d. February 23, 1988
Major League Baseball Player. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander was a three-time 20-game winner with the Cincinnati Reds. The product of Texas Christian University joined the Reds in 1921 and was soon a star pitcher. He was 18-9 in 1922 with a 3.12 earned run average for 242 innings and 18 complete games in 30 starts. The following year he went 21-15 with a 3.38 ERA for 274 innings and 19 complete games in 36 starts. He was 16-9 and a 3.60 ERA in 1924 and led the league with 27 complete.

Dahl, Larry Gilbert
b. June 10, 1949 d. February 23, 1971
Vietnam Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He was a Specialist Fourth Class of the U.S. Army, 359th Transportation Company, 27th Transportation Battalion, U.S. Army Support Command and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism at An Khe, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam. His official CMOH citation reads as follows: Sp4c. Dahl distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a machine gunner on a gun truck near An Khe, Binh Dinh.

Lunsford, Jessica Marie
b. October 6, 1995 d. February 23, 2005
Nine-year-old Jessica was kidnapped and killed by a registered sex offender who was living near her home. A massive manhunt had been underway, spearheaded by her father Mark, her grandparents, local authorities, volunteers, and the media. Her body was found after her killer confessed to the crime and told police of her whereabouts. Jessica is the namesake of the Jessica Lunsford Act, a Florida law that strengthened penalties against sex offenders, signed into legislation by Florida Governor Jeb Bush.