Died On This Date

May 11
Marley, Bob (Nesta Robert)
b. February 6, 1945 d. May 11, 1981
Reggae Musician. He is best remembered for bringing mainstream cultural acceptance of reggae music outside of Jamaica. His music was especially popular in Africa due much to its smooth combination of Jamaican and African musical sources. Born in Saint Ann, Jamaica, as Robert Nesta Marley, his father was a British Army Officer, Norval St. Clair Marley, and his mother was a Jamaican grocer, Cedella Malcolm (Booker). He was raised in the belief of Rastafari, a religion strongest in Jamaica. Cause of death: Cancer.

Terry, Seymour W
b. December 11, 1918 d. May 11, 1945
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during World War II in the United States Army as Captain and commander of Company B, 382nd Infantry, 96th Infantry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Zebra Hill on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on May 11, 1945. His citation reads "1st Lt. Terry was leading an attack against heavily defended Zebra Hill when devastating fire from 5 pillboxes halted the advance.

Patterson, Floyd
b. January 4, 1935 d. May 11, 2006
Professional Boxer. Heavyweight champion from 1956-1959 & 1960-1962. He won the middleweight gold medal during the 1952 Summer Olympics. Trained and managed by Cus D'Amato from a teenaged amateur boxer to the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion and first in boxing history to successfully regain the heavyweight title. He became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion after knocking out Archie Moore in the fifth round on November 30 1956.

Adams, Henry A.
b. March 18, 1800 d. May 11, 1869
United States Naval Officer. Entering as a Midshipman on March 14, 1814, he would go on to serve 48 years in the United States Navy. He was promoted to Lieutenant on January 13, 1825, Commander on September 8, 1841, and Captain on September 14, 1855. He commanded the "USS Mississippi" in the East India Squadron, and it was at this post he had his greatest moment during his service, as he was second in command.

Stover, Russell
b. 1888 d. May 11, 1954
It was in Omaha that a fellow approached Stover with a chocolate-covered ice cream bar idea. Stover produced and sold it for a year. After the first mad surge for the novelty, sales dropped off and the Stovers bailed out with $25,000. This novelty was the Eskimo Pie. The Stover's moved to Denver where they began "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies." In 1931 they moved their business to Kansas City. Many Kansas Citizens will remember the company headquarters at 1206 Main street in downtown Kansas.

Flatt, Lester
b. June 19, 1914 d. May 11, 1979
Bluegrass Musician. A native of the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennesse, he ranks as one of the all-time preeminent lead singers of Bluegrass music. Born in Sparta,Tennessee, he left school in 1931 at an early age to work in the local textile mills. While working in the mill, he got a part time job at radio station WDBJ to perform with "The Charlie Scott Harmonizers". Later he would team up with Clyde Moody and perform a few shows in and around Burlington,North Carolina.

Rambo (Luttrell), Dottie (Joyce Reba)
b. March 2, 1934 d. May 11, 2008
Gospel Singer, Songwriter. Born Joyce Reba Luttrell. She was a prolific composer in the Christian music industry and credited with up to 2500 songs that she wrote and co-wrote. Many of her songs have been recorded by various artists. She was awarded the Grammy in 1969 for her album, "It's The Soul of Me". She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and received many honors over her career, including Songwriter of the Century, the GMA Dove Award, ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award.

Miller, Frederick Edward John
b. November 24, 1824 d. May 11, 1888
Brewery founder. Founder of the Miller Brewing Company. He came to Milwaukee in 1855, and opened the Plank Road Brewery. Cause of death: Cancer.

Rice, James Clay
b. December 27, 1828 d. May 11, 1864
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Graduating from Yale in 1853, he taught at Natchez, Mississippi before traveling to New York City, where he took a position in the law office of Theodore Sedgwick, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. Upon the start of the Civil War, he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant with the 39th New York Volunteer Infantry (the "Garibaldi Guard") and was engaged in action at the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run). He was promoted to Captain in August 1861.

Pollard, Frederick Douglass
b. January 27, 1894 d. May 11, 1986
"Fritz" Pollard was the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl with Brown University in 1915 and was named the first African-American head coach in NFL history with the 1921 Akron Pros. He began his NFL career as a halfback with Akron in 1919 as one of two African-Americans in the league. He led the Pros to the first NFL championship in 1920. He also played for the Milwaukee Badgers, Hammond Pros and Providence Steam Roller in the NFL between 1919-26.

Barker, Lex
b. May 8, 1919 d. May 11, 1973
Actor. Born Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr. Died of a heart attack at the age of 54. Ex-husband of actress Lana Turner and actress Arlene Dahl. Married to actress Irene Labhardt until her death in 1962. Appeared in "Doll Face" (1945), "Tarzan's Magic Fountain" (1949), "Tarzan and the She Devil" (1953), and "Jungle Heat" (1957).

Howells, William Dean
b. March 1, 1837 d. May 11, 1920
Writer.

Smith, Maynard 'Snuffy'
b. May 19, 1911 d. May 11, 1984
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a Sergeant in the 423rd Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bomber Group. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery over Europe on May 1, 1943. Eighth Air Force bombers and fighters began arriving in England during the spring of 1942. The first heavy bomber mission against targets in Occupied Europe was flown on August 17, 1942.

Rockefeller Jr., John D.
b. January 29, 1874 d. May 11, 1960
Philanthropist, Social Reformer. The only son of John D. Rockefeller, he was born in Cleveland, Ohio, into one of the wealthiest American families of his time. His father had founded and was President of Standard Oil Company. His parents' strict discipline and frugal lifestyle were impressed upon him from the first day. His father's attitude could be explained with the question: "Is it right, is it duty?" From this, he admitted, he took responsibility early, and was serious.

Puller, Lewis B.
b. August 18, 1945 d. May 11, 1994
Author, and First Lieutenant, USMC (retired). He won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography, "Fortunate Son." His military awards include the Silver Star, the Purple Heart (2 awards), and the Navy Commendation Medal. Cause of death: suicide (by gunshot). One of the last victims of the Vietnam War. His father was the legendary Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in US History.

Lincoln, Evelyn Norton
b. June 25, 1909 d. May 11, 1995
She was the personal secretary to President John F. Kennedy. She was known for visiting Kennedy's grave at Arlington Cemetery every year on the anniversary of his death. In 1988 on the 25th anniversary, she went alone to the grave and laid three red roses near the eternal flame. Mrs. Lincoln also was the author of two best selling books, "My 12 Years with John F. Kennedy" and "Kennedy and Johnson."

Gould, Chester
b. November 20, 1900 d. May 11, 1985
Cartoonist. He is best known for creating the "Dick Tracy" cartoon strip. Born in Pawnee, Oklahoma, he spent 10 years working on various comic strips at the Chicago “Tribune”-New York “News” Syndicate under editor Joseph Medill Patterson before creating "Dick Tracy" in 1931. (Patterson shortened the first name from his original "Plainclothes Tracy" to the then nickname for detective, and the result was comic strip immortality.)

Terry, Dewey
b. 1938 d. May 11, 2003
R&B/Rock Musician. He was one-half of the musical group duo, 'Don & Dewey.' Born and raised in Pasadena, California, Dewey Terry and Don Harris, were high school friends. They first joined the musical group, 'The Squires' and recorded for the Vita Record Label before leaving and forming 'Don & Terry' and recording for the Specialty Record Label. The band was formed in Pasadena, California, in 1957, and had Dewey on keyboards/vocals and Don playing guitar and sometimes violin.

Blassie, Michael Joseph
b. April 4, 1948 d. May 11, 1972
United States Army Vietnam Veteran. A 1970 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he served in the Viet Nam War as a 1st Lieutenant the 8th Special Operations Squadron. He was shot down and killed while piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the vicinity of An Loc, in South Vietnam. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknowns as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War.