Died On This Date - Feb. 3

Holly (Holley), Buddy (Charles Hardin)
b. September 7, 1936 d. February 3, 1959
Musician. Born in Lubbock, Texas, by junior high school he had turned his attention to the guitar, and formed a western duo with his friend Bob Montgomery. Gaining popularity in the Lubbock area, during the mid 1950s they opened for the likes of Bill Haley, Elvis, and Marty Robbins. In 1956 he signed a contract with Decca Records, and recorded a number of songs. Through 1957 and 1958 he released a number of records, and began to sing as well.

Wilson, Woodrow (Thomas)
b. December 28, 1856 d. February 3, 1924
28th US President. Wilson began his career as a lawyer and was later a professor of political economy at Wesleyan University and then Princeton. He was elected president in 1912 and served until 1921. A democrat, Wilson was a strong advocate of anti-trust laws and voting rights for women. He first defended the position of neutrality in the First World War, but later was forced to declare war on Germany. He is best known for his "Fourteen Points" and for his advocacy of the League of Nations.

Washington, John P.
b. July 18, 1908 d. February 3, 1943
One of the four Army chaplains who lost their lives when the USS Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on February 3, 1943. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out. The chapel was dedicated on February 3, 1951 by President Harry S. Truman to honor these soldiers of different faiths (one was Jewish, one Catholic and two Protestant). (230 men of the 902 aboard survived the attack.)

Valens, Ritchie
b. May 13, 1941 d. February 3, 1959
Rock Musician, Singer. Born Richard Steven Valenzuela in a largely Hispanic community north of Los Angeles known as the San Fernando Valley, his father was a devotee of flamenco music and blues and instilled his love of music to Ritchie. At the age of eleven he started playing guitar and took it with him everywhere. During lunchtime at school he would sit on the bleachers and practice or entertain his friends with his music. When he entered High School he was already an accomplished musician.

Lewis, Al
b. April 30, 1923 d. February 3, 2006
Actor. Best known for the role of Grandpa Munster on the classic 1960s television series "The Munsters." Born Albert Meister in NYC, he worked as a circus performer in the late 1920s before earning a Ph.D. in child psychology from Columbia University in 1941. In 1949, Lewis returned to acting, working in burlesque and vaudeville theaters before appearing on Broadway in the 1950s. Lewis' first well-known television role was as Officer Leo Schnauser on Car 54,

Cooke, Joseph Platt
b. January 4, 1730 d. February 3, 1816
Continental Congressman. Served as a Colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Served as a Delegate from Connecticut to the Continental Congress. Also served as a Probate Judge from 1776 to 1813, as a member of the Connecticut State House of Representatives in 1776, 1778, 1780 to 1782, and 1784, and as member of the Connecticut State Council in 1808.

Meadows (Cotter), Audrey
b. February 8, 1926 d. February 3, 1996
Actress. Born to Episcopal missionary parents in WuChang, China. She was the youngest of the four children of Ida (Taylor) and the Rev. Francis James Meadows Cotter. She was five years old when she returned home to America speaking only Chinese. She made her debut as a coloratura soprano at Carnegie Hall when she was only sixteen. Her older sister, Jayne and she made several records as The Meadows Sisters for RCA Victor. They cut an album of famous college songs which included Aurelee.

Mitscher, Adm. Marc Andrew
b. January 26, 1887 d. February 3, 1947
Admiral (4 stars), United States Navy. An Aviation Pioneer, he is best remembered for commanding Task Force 58 during World War II. Born in Hillsboro, Wisconsin, he grew up and attended high school in the Washington DC area. In 1906, he received an appointment to the US Naval Academy. Graduating in 1910, he then served at sea for two years, as required by law at the time, before being commissioned an Ensign on March 7, 1912. Following commissioning, he served on the Battleship USS California.

Goode, Alexander D.
b. May 10, 1911 d. February 3, 1943
One of the four Army chaplains who lost their lives when the USS Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on February 3, 1943. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out. The chapel was dedicated on February 3, 1951 by President Harry S. Truman to honor these soldiers of different faiths (one was Jewish, one Catholic and two Protestant). (230 men of the 902 aboard survived the attack.)

Richardson Jr., J. P. (Jiles Perry) 'Big Bopper'
b. October 24, 1930 d. February 3, 1959
Rock Singer. He is best remembered for his song "Chantilly Lace" (1958), and for dying in the plane crash that killed rockers Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, along with pilot Roger Peterson. Born Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr, in Sabine Pass, Texas, he was the son of Jiles P. and Elise Stalsby Richardson. His father worked as a driller in the oil fields. To distinguish him from his father, he was called JP or Jape by his friends. When he was very young, his family moved to Beaumont, Texas.

Lindstrom, Floyd K.
b. June 21, 1912 d. February 3, 1944
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during World War II as a Private First Class in the 3rd Infantry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery near Mignano, Italy, on November 11, 1943. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 11 November 1943, this soldier's platoon was furnishing machinegun support for a rifle company attacking a hill near Mignano, Italy.

Blackwood, James
b. August 4, 1919 d. February 3, 2002
Last surviving member of the legendary gospel group the Blackwood Brothers Quartet and one of the giants of Southern gospel music. The quartet recorded more than 200 albums, toured the world and helped form the Gospel Music Association. They won 8 Grammies from 1966-1982. James is in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as an individual and also as part of the Blackwood Quartet.

Kulp, Nancy
b. August 28, 1921 d. February 3, 1991
Actress. She is best known for playing 'Miss Jane Hathaway' on the 1960s television comedy series "The Beverly Hillbillies."

Casey, Levi
b. 1752 d. February 3, 1807
US Congressman, He served in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, and as a Brigadier General of the South Carolina Militia. Elected as a Representative from South Carolina to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1803 to 1807, when he died in office.

Starr (Shirley), Belle (Myra Belle)
b. February 5, 1848 d. February 3, 1889Folk Figure. She was born Myra Maybelle Shirley (parents called her Belle) on a farm near Carthage, Missouri one of six children but the only daughter of dirt farmer parents, John and Elizabeth (Hatfield) Shirley. Her parents moved into Carthage and her father became a prosperous innkeeper and slave holder. Frank and Jessie James and the Younger brothers were customers. Belle attended Carthage Female Academy then Cravens a private school and had a talent for music.

Fox, George L.
b. March 15, 1900 d. February 3, 1943
One of the four Army chaplains who lost their lives when the USS Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on February 3, 1943. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out. The chapel was dedicated on February 3, 1951 by President Harry S. Truman to honor these soldiers of different faiths (one was Jewish, one Catholic and two Protestant). (230 men of the 902 aboard survived the attack.)

Heindorf, Ray
b. August 25, 1908 d. February 3, 1980
Composer. Longtime Hollywood music director for Warner Brothers. He was born in Haverstraw, New York, USA and grew up in a town called Mechanicville, New York. In 1926 he graduated from Mechanicville High School. Many local residents remembered the house on North Third Street where Ray lived. His interests were cars and machinery. Ray played the piano at the State Theatre (now demolished) to earn extra money.

Averell, William Woods
b. November 5, 1832 d. February 3, 1900
Civil War Union Brigadier General, U.S. Diplomat, Industrial Inventor. Born in Cameron, Steuben County, New York, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1855, 26th in his class. He became a 2nd Lieutenant, was assigned to the U.S. Army Mounted Rifles, and served in the Indian Wars on the Western frontier. He was severely wounded in a fight with Navajo in 1859.