April 1st

Gaye Jr., Marvin
b. April 2, 1939 d. April 1, 1984
Famed R&B singer produced by Motown Records. The son of an Apostolic preacher, Gaye was born in Washington, D.C., and learned to sing and play the organ in his father's church. After a stint in the Air Force, he formed his own groups before Harvey Fuqua lured him into to the latest edition of the singing group, the Moonglows. Berry Gordy (founder of Motown) heard Gaye singing with the group in a Detroit club during 1961 and offered him a solo deal- though before recording his own songs. Cause of death: Murdered (gunshot) by his father.

Artoe, Lee Robert Reno
b. March 2, 1917 d. April 1, 2005
Professional Football Player. After growing up in Tacoma, Washington, he was recruited by Santa Clara University in California. After about a year, he got married. This was against the rules at the Jesuit institution and he was asked to leave. He became an All-American at the University of California at Berkeley, despite being too busy working in the oilfields to attend practice. He impressed NFL scouts, including Chicago Bears coach George Halas, in a collegiate all-star game in Chicago.

Williams, Roger
b. December 21, 1602 d. April 1, 1683
Religious Reformer and Founder of Rhode Island. Educated at Cambridge, Roger Williams was a Calvinist minister who left England because of his disagreement with English principle of an established state church. He emigrated to New England in 1631, but rejected an invitation to pastor the Boston church because of its continuing ties with the Church of England. He served in both Salem and Plymouth Colony before being banished from Massachusetts over his disagreement with the policies.

Drew, Charles Richard
b. June 3, 1904 d. April 1, 1950
Medical Pioneer. He developed a method for storing blood in plasma form: the technique, which is still in use today, has saved untold numbers of lives. After attending Amherst, where he was an All-American football player, he taught biology for a time at Morgan College. With the money he saved, he entered McGill University and earned his medical degree. In 1935, he joined the falculty of Howard Unversity, where he taught pathology. He left Howard for Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Joplin, Scott
b. November 24, 1868 d. April 1, 1917
Jazz Composer. The "King of Ragtime," he is best remembered for his tune, "The Entertainer", which was used in the movie "The Sting" (1973), for which it won an Oscar for Best Film Scoring. His opera "Treemonisha"(written in 1907), won a Pulitzer Prize in 1976 when it was brought to Broadway. Born near Linden, Texas, his family moved to Texarkana when he was age seven. Encouraged by his parents, he learned to play the banjo and piano, and in his late teens, began a career as a dance hall.

Jordan, Jim (James) Edward 'Fibber McGee'
b. November 6, 1896 d. April 1, 1988
Actor and Radio personality. He is best remembered in the comic role of Fibber McGee of "Fibber McGee and Molly" (1935-1959) fame. He and his real life wife, Marian Driscoll Jordan, would pair together for the rest of their life as comic actors. Born James Edward Jordan in Peoria, Illinois, he met his childhood sweetheart and future wife, Marian Driscoll, in the local church. During World War I, he joined the US Army, and served in France.

Hausner, Jerry
b. May 10, 1909 d. April 1, 1993
American motion picture and television actor of the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. His film roles consisted mainly of voicing the part of "Waldo" in the 'Mr. Magoo' animated shorts. Cause of death: Congestive heart failure.

Dineen, Daniel Patrick 'Gary'
b. December 24, 1943 d. April 1, 2006
Professional hockey player and Olympian. Played for the Canadian National Team at the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics. Minnesota North Stars (NHL) 1968-69 (4 games) Memphis South Stars (CHL) Iowa Stars (CHL) 1969-70 Salt Lake Golden Eagles (WHL) 1969-70 Springfield Kings (AHL) 1969-71 Became GM and coach with Springfield in 1971. Developed and operated the Gary Dineen Hockey School and was active in Springfield junior hockey for over thirty years.

Kulwicki, Alan
b. December 14, 1954 d. April 1, 1993
Race Car Driver. Born and raised in Greenfield, Wisconsin, he earned a degree in engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Greenfield. He won the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Rookie of the Year title in 1986, and the 1992 NASCAR championship. He was killed in a plane crash in 1993 in Bristol, Tennessee. Cause of death: Plane Crash.

Myers, Jacob H.
b. 1841 d. April 1, 1920
Inventor. He invented the voting machine.

Morton, John
b. 1724 d. April 1, 1777
Declaration of Independence Signer. Born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, his father died before he was born. When he was about seven years old, his mother remarried. John attended formal school only for about 3 months; most of his education he learned from his step-father, who taught him many subjects, including law and surveying. John Morton would grow up to become a farmer, a surveyor, lawyer, and judge. He married Ann Justis, and they would have five daughters and four sons.

Farnsworth, Addison
b. July 9, 1825 d. April 1, 1877
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he organized the 38th New York Volunteer Regiment and was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. Promoted Colonel in command of the 79th New York Regiment, he led his troops at the First Bull Run on July 21, 1861 and was severely wounded. Recovering from his wounds, he was appointed Commander of the First Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps and brevetted Brigadier General of US Volunteers.

King, Robert Henry
b. November 8, 1844 d. April 1, 1865
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served during the Civil War in the Union Navy as a Landsman on board a vessel designated "U.S. Picket Boat No. 1." He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in Commander William B. Cushing's October 27, 1864 action against Confederate ram "CSS Albemarle". His citation reads "The Albemarle had resisted repeated attacks by our steamers and had kept a large force of vessels employed in watching her.

McWade, Margaret
b. September 3, 1872 d. April 1, 1956
Vaudeville Actress. She appeared along with actress Margaret Seddon in an act billed as the 'Pixilated Sisters.'

Bank, Aaron
b. November 23, 1902 d. April 1, 2004
United States Army Officer. A Colonel in the United States Army, he was the founder of the elite Green Berets. He was a lifeguard for many years before World War II, but joined the Army in 1939. Because he was nearing 40, he was considered too old for combat, and was assigned as a Captain to the Office of Strategic Services, Special Operations branch. Being fluent in French, he led Operation Jedburgh in 1944, parachuting into France along with two Frenchmen, an officer and a radio operator.

Godfrey, Edward Settle
b. October 9, 1843 d. April 1, 1932
Indian Wars Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Indian Wars as a First Lieutenant in Company K, 7th United States Cavalry, during the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn, which he survived. The son of Charles and Mary Chambers Godfrey, he enlisted on April 26. 1861 in Company D, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was then appointed to the United States Military Academy in 1863, and graduated 53rd of 63 in the Class of 1867.

Carleton, Charles Arms
b. May 27, 1836 d. April 1, 1897
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Enlisted as a Private in the 12th New York State Militia at the outbreak of the Civil War. Later, he was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry before joining the staff of Brig. General Adelbert Ames. He served as on of General Ames' Assistant Adjutant Generals, and rose to the rank of Lieuteant Colonel of Volunteers. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865.