Died On This Date

June 5
Reagan, Ronald Wilson
b. February 6, 1911 d. June 5, 2004
40th United States President, Actor. Considered by many historians and political scientists as the one individual who most helped end the Cold War between the Western world and the Soviet Union and its allies (although this event occurred ten months after he left office). Born in the small town of Tampico, Illinois, he graduated from Eureka College, Illinois, in 1932 with a degree in economics and sociology. He landed a job as sportscaster for Radio station WOC in Davenport, Iowa. Cause of death: Pneumonia, complications of Alzheimer's Disease

Twitty, Conway
b. September 1, 1933 d. June 5, 1993
Musician. Born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in Friars Point, Mississippi. His father taught him guitar chords when he was just 4 years old. When he was 10 years old the family moved to Helena, Arkansas and he put together his first band, the Phillips County Ramblers that same year. By the time he was 12 he had his own Saturday morning radio show. He was also an excellent baseball player and turned down an opportunity to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies joining the Army instead. Cause of death: Surgery complications.

Torme, Mel
b. September 13, 1925 d. June 5, 1999
Jazz singer, Actor, Composer, Author. Nicknamed "The Velvet Fog," he was a performer almost from the beginning and always said his introduction and love of Jazz was acquired from his birthplace and exposure to music in the black section of Chicago. He was born Melvin Howard Torma to a musical family, his father, a Russian immigrant owned a dry goods store He began singing publicly at the age of four at a restaurant, then make his professional debut with the Coon-Sanders Orchestra.