Died On This Date - Feb. 7

Evans (Smith), Dale (Frances Octavia)
b. October 31, 1912 d. February 7, 2001
Actress, singer, writer of songs and books. She was born Lucille Wood Smith in Uvalde, Texas to a farmer father who also operated a hardware and general store in nearby Italy, Texas. Married at 15, divorced at 16. Her excellent singing voice launched her career. From many performances on local radio shows, she was summoned to Hollywood for a screen test resulting in a contract with 20th Century-Fox. After many name changes she settled on Dale Evans.

Davis, Edmund Jackson
b. October 1, 1827 d. February 7, 1883
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Governor of Texas. Edmund Davis was born to a respected family in St Augustine, Florida. He started his education there, moving in January of 1848 with his family to the boom town of Galveston, Texas where he studied law and worked as a clerk. The following year he moved to Corpus Christi and was admitted to the bar, then transferred to Laredo where he worked as a deputy customs collector until he was elected district attorney of the Twelfth Judicial District.

Lang, Walter
b. August 10, 1896 d. February 7, 1972
Motion Picture Director. Formerly an illustrator and a supporting actor in stock theatre, he entered films as an administrative clerk for Cosmopolitan Pictures and worked his way up to assistant director. Lang was given his big break by producer Dorothy Davenport (Mrs. Wallace Reid), for whom he directed his first film, "The Red Kimona" (1925). In 1929, discouraged by the crudeness of early talkies, he went to Paris to become a painter, but his canvases did not sell and he returned to Hollywood..

Ashley Jr., Sgt. Eugene
b. October 12, 1930 d. February 7, 1968
Viet Nam Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. His birthplace was New Hanover County, Wilmington, NC and his death place is Quang Tri, Vietnam. Served in the United States Army during the War in Viet Nam as a Sergeant First Class in Company C, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery near Lang Vei, Republic of Vietnam, on February 6th and 7th, 1968.

Lindbergh, Anne Morrow
b. June 22, 1906 d. February 7, 2001
Author, Poet. She was the wife of famed aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh. Born in Englewood, New Jersey, her father was Dwight Whitney Morrow, an American diplomat and United States Senator. In 1927, her father was the American Ambassador to Mexico when Charles Lindbergh made his famous solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Ambassador Morrow then wrote Lindbergh, inviting him to make a good will tour of Mexico and South America, which Lindbergh accepted.

Le Fanu, Joseph Thomas Sheridan
b. August 28, 1814 d. February 7, 1873
Irish writer of fourteen books, mostly historical fiction. Today he is primarily known for his ghost stories. Son of a clergyman, Le Fanu spent his whole life in Dublin. He attended Trinity College and jointly owned numerous newspapers and magazines. After his wife died, Le Fanu shut himself up in his Merrion Street home to write. He was well-known around Dublin and given the nickname 'The Invisible Prince' for his habit of nocturnal book shopping.

Firestone, Harvey
b. December 20, 1868 d. February 7, 1938
American industrialist and inventor, best known for his pioneering work in the development of pneumatic car and truck tires and as founder of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. He was born Harvey Samuel Firestone in the small town of Columbiana, Ohio on December 20, 1868, the son of a prosperous farmer. Harvey Firestone had a vision: To develop and mass-produce a tire to reduce the jar and jolt of the steel-shod wheel.

Gilmore, Howard Walter
b. September 29, 1902 d. February 7, 1943
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Born at Selma, Alabama and served as a US Navy Commander. From January 10 to February 7, 1943, he was commanding officer of the submarine USS Growler (SS-215), on her forth patrol in the Southwest Pacific. Striking at the enemy in spite of continuous hostile air and antisubmarine patrols, he sank one Japanese freighter and damaged another with torpedo fire.

Radcliffe, Ann
b. July 9, 1764 d. February 7, 1823
Novelist. Famed for her Gothic tales of terror and romance, she was England's best known and highest-paid woman author of her era. The plots of her novels invariably centered on an innocent damsel shut up inside a gloomy castle and menaced by evil men; supernatural elements are introduced and later debunked with rational explanations. "The Mysteries of Udolfo" (1794) was her most popular book. Radcliffe's other Gothic novels are "The Castles of Athlin and Dubayne" (1789), "A Sicilian Romance".

James, Tommy
b. September 16, 1923 d. February 7, 2007
Professional Football Player. He was a all Ohio State Buckeyes college stand out when he was drafted in the 17th-round by the Detroit Lions in 1947. His Lion career lasted only two games due to injury and he joined the Cleveland Browns the next season. His career took off as a cornerback in Cleveland's defense from 1948 to 1953 and as a safety in 1954 and 1955. He intercepted nine passes in 1950, to set a club record that stood until 1978. He was also a star defensive back at the 1953 Pro Bowl.

Little, Henry F. W.
b. June 27, 1842 d. February 7, 1907
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the Union Army as a Sergeant in Company D, 7th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action near Richmond, Virginia in September 1864. His citation reads "Gallantry on the skirmish line."

MacDiarmid, Alan Graham
b. April 14, 1927 d. February 7, 2007
Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist. One of three recipients for the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, MacDiarmid was awarded the prize for his work in the development of conductive organic polymers (plastics that conduct electricity). He collabored with Japanese chemist Hideki Shirakawa and the American physicist Alan Heeger, with whom he shared the prize. He was also awarded the 1999 American Chemical Society Award in Materials Chemistry, and the 2000 Rutherford Medal, New Zealand's highest science.

Charrette, George
b. June 6, 1867 d. February 7, 1938
Spanish American War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He was a Gunner's Mate First Class with the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism. Official Citation: In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 2 June 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, Charette displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation. Rank and Organization: Gunner's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy.

Sisler, George Kenton
b. September 19, 1937 d. February 7, 1967
Vietnam veteran. Recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. First Lieutenant George K. Sisler was the first member of the Military Intelligence Branch to receive the Medal of Honor. He was a member of the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces in Vietnam. On February 7, 1967, He was the platoon leader/advisor to a special United States/Vietnam exploitation force.

Henning, Douglas James
b. May 3, 1947 d. February 7, 2000
Magician, Entertainer. He is best remembered for his Broadway musical, "The Magic Show" (1974 to 1976), for which he was nominated for a Tony Award in 1974. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, he attended the McMaster University, graduating with honors in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Following graduation, he pursued a career as a magician, and created Broadway's first musical containing magic, called "The Magic Show," which was televised in 1974.

MacDonald, Betty
b. March 26, 1908 d. February 7, 1958
Author. Best known for her book "The Egg and I," which later became a movie. She also wrote the "Miss Piggle Wiggle" childrens' book series.