Died On This Date

June 30

Atkins, Chet (Chester Burton)
b. June 20, 1924 d. June 30, 2001
Country Musician. Known as "Mr. Guitar" and considered the most-recorded solo instrumentalist in music history, he was born in the small town of Luttrell, Tennessee in 1924. His guitar style influenced such pop greats as Mark Knopler, George Harrison, Duane Eddy, George Benson and many other recording artist. As head of RCA Records in Nashville, he propelled an entire generation of country music stars to fame, such as Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, and Charley Prides. Cause of death: Cancer.

McFarland, George Robert Phillips 'Spanky'
b. October 2, 1928 d. June 30, 1993
Actor. Fondly remembered for playing 'Spanky' in the Our Gang/Little Rascals serial comedies. He was featured in many of the one-reelers from the 1930s and 40s. He appeared on the television show "Cheers" shortly before his death. Cause of death: Heart attack.

Hackett, Buddy
b. August 31, 1924 d. June 30, 2003
Comedian. Legendary rubber-faced comic, actor, and entertainer. He is fondly remembered for his half-century comedy career. Described as a comic's comic, he appeared in motion pictures such as "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963), and "The Love Bug" (1968)." Television appearances include "What's My Line?," "The Hollywood Squares," and "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In," among many others. Cause of death: Natural causes.

Died On This Date

June 8
Jackson, Andrew
b. March 15, 1767 d. June 8, 1845
7th United States President. When he threw his hat in the ring and decided to run for the presidency, Andrew Jackson the "Hero of New Orleans" was the most popular man in the country and even received a "favorite son" endorsement from Tennessee delegates. Detractors had a field day after his marriage to Rachel Donelson seizing on a marriage technicality to tarnish both their images.

Paige, Satchel (Leroy Robert)
b. July 7, 1906 d. June 8, 1982
Hall of Fame Negro and Major League Baseball Player. Gaining his nickname as a railroad porter was a boy, he became a legendary right-handed pitcher while playing for the Chattanooga Black Lookouts (1926 to 1927), Birmingham Black Barons (1927 to 1930), Baltimore Black Socks (1930) Cleveland Cubs (1931), Pittsburgh Crawfords (1931 to 1937) Kansas City Monarchs (1935 to 1936, 1939 to 1948, 1950, 1955), Santo Domingo (1937), Santo Domingo All Stars (1937), Newark Eagles (1938), and Mexican League.

Cochise, Chief
b. 1823 d. June 8, 1874
Actual date of birth unknown. "Cochise," derived from the Apache word "cheis," or "oak," led his Chokonen Apaches (rising sun people), often called Chiricahuas, through their first conflicts and dealings with the United States. He was among the most powerful and respected of Apache leaders and his influence extended far beyond his own band. He was one of the few Apache leaders whose influence transcended his own band and could bring together many of the diverse family groups that made up the group.

Paine, Thomas
b. January 29, 1737 d. June 8, 1809
Author of "Common Sense." American Revolutionary War patriot, agitator and pamphleteer. He was born in Thetford, England the son of a corset maker. Adulthood found him with many trades, master of none. He met Benjamin Franklin, who convinced him to emigrate to America in 1774, where he became editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine and anonymously published his pamphlet Common Sense; in language of the common man urging immediate separation from England.

Died On This Date

June 7
Harlow, Jean
b. March 3, 1911 d. June 7, 1937
Actress. While only in the spotlight for ten short years, life was cut short by her untimely death and one can only speculate as to what might have transpired had she had a normal lifespan. Jean Harlow was married three times with a fourth on the horizon in William Powell. She appeared in forty one movies, was voted to the American Film Institute's list of the greatest actresses of the Golden Age. Cause of death: Complications of uremic poisoning.

McKay (McManus), Jim (James Kenneth)
b. September 24, 1921 d. June 7, 2008
Sports Journalist and Announcer. Fondly remembered for hosting ABC's "Wide World of Sports" and 12 Olympic Games. He won 13 Emmy's during his career. He was also the first American network sports commentator to visit mainland China.

Died On This Date

June 6
Henry, Patrick
b. May 29, 1736 d. June 6, 1799
American Patriot. He is best remembered for his stirring phrase "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death." Born in Hanover County, Virginia, he attended public school for only a short time, and was taught by his father, who had a good education. He began a career as a shopkeeper, but was a poor businessman and soon deeply in debt. He then studied law and received his attorney's license in 1760, which helped his oratory skills when he had to argue cases in court.

Kennedy, Robert Francis
b. November 20, 1925 d. June 6, 1968
US Senator, US Attorney General. He was the third son of Joseph Kennedy, Sr. and the brother of both US President John F. Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy. Known as 'Bobby,' he started his career as an attorney in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice in 1951. Cause of death: Assassinated.

Bancroft (Italiano), Anne (Anna Maria)
b. September 17, 1931 d. June 6, 2005
Actress, Stage, Screen, Television. Her career spanned half a century. Anne Bancroft was a prolific award winner for her excellent acting. Nominated for an Academy Award four times, she won once then was a two time winner of both Tony and Emmy Awards. However, her role as 'Mrs. Robinson' in the "Graduate" was her defining performance resulting in great fame and recognition. She toiled to the very end furnishing the voice for "Delgo" currently in post production. Cause of death: Cancer.

Chevrolet, Louis
b. December 25, 1878 d. June 6, 1941
This monument has been established in honor of race car driver and automobile designer Louis Chevrolet. The monument features a large bust of Chevrolet and smaller plaques that feature his brother Gaston, who drove a car Louis designed to victory in the 1920 Indianapolis 500, Henry Ford, W.C. Durant, who made the Chevrolet an integral member of General Motors Corporation and Tommy Milton, who drove a car Louis designed to victory in the 1921 Indianapolis 500. Cause of death: Medical complications following a leg amputation.

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.

Died On This Date

June 4
Casanova, Giacomo
b. April 2, 1725 d. June 4, 1798
Famous Lover. He was born to Venetian actors and is known more for his amorous adventures than for his experiences as a secret agent, author, businessman and musician. During his life, he served as a spy for King Louis XV, began a business selling printed silk and played the violin for the theater in Venice. However, he is best known as the “world’s most famous lover.” He went to school to be a priest but was expelled because of his profligate activities. He eventually returned to Venice.

Died On This Date

June 3
Quinn, Anthony (Antonio Rudolfo)
b. April 21, 1915 d. June 3, 2001
Actor, writer, artist, Sculptor. This naturalized American's career would span over sixty years with appearances in more than 150 films the winner of two Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Viva Zapata (1952) and Lust for Life (1957) along with two nominations as Best Actor in a leading role: Wild is the Wind (1957) and Alex Zorbas (1964). Quinn appeared in many movies which today are classics such as "Zorba the Greek" and "Lawrence of Arabia." Cause of death: Pneumonia.

Died On This Date

June 2
Gehrig, Lou (Henry Louis)
b. June 19, 1903 d. June 2, 1941
Legendary Baseball Player. Despite his numerous baseball athletic records, he is best remembered for his farewell speech of July 4, 1939 in Yankee Stadium, in which he said goodbye to his fans. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939, shortly after his retirement, and he was the first baseball player to have his number (4) retired. Born Heinrich Ludwig (Henry Louis) Gehrig in New York City to poor German immigrants, he was the only one of four children to survive to adulthood. Cause of death: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Diddley (Bates), Bo (Elias)
b. December 30, 1928 d. June 2, 2008
Musician. Legendary guitarist and vocalist, he is best known for such hits as "I'm a Man", "Who Do You Love?" and "Pretty Thing". He was born Elias Bates McDaniel in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Chicago. In 1955, he signed with Checkers Records and had hits with "Mona", "Say Man", "Before You Accuse Me" and "Road Runner". Many artists including The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and The Doors covered his songs. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Harrison (Carey), Rex (Reginald)
b. March 5, 1908 d. June 2, 1990
Actor. Born in Reginald Carey Harrison in Huyton, Lancashire (now Merseyside), England, he adopted the nickname “Rex” at an early age. He spent an apprenticeship with the Liverpool Repertory Theatre (legend has it that the first time he had a line, he forgot it), and made both his London stage and film debuts in 1930. He served as a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF during World War II.

Coca, Imogene
b. November 18, 1908 d. June 2, 2001
She was the elfin actress and satiric comedienne who co-starred with Sid Caesar on television's 1950s classic "Your Show of Shows." Her saucer eyes, fluttering lashes, big smile and boundless energy lit up the TV screen and brought her an Emmy as best actress in 1951. A talented singer and dancer, her spoofs of opera divas and prima ballerinas tiptoed a fine line between dignity and absurdity until she pushed them over the edge. Cause of death: Natural causes.