Remembering David Thouless

David Thouless was the brilliant theoretical physicist who was awarded one-third of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz, for his work on topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter. Using the concepts of topology, a branch of mathematics, he described phase transitions in thin layers at low temperatures and stepwise shifts of electrical conductivity in thin layers. These concepts can be employed for applications in electronics including making computing more energy efficient.

Remembering Technician Fifth Grade Robert D. Maxwell

Technician Fifth Grade Maxwell was awarded the Medal of Honor in May 1945 in one of the last pronouncements President Franklin Roosevelt made before his death. Technician Maxwell was part of Operation Dragoon, the landing in Southern France by the Allies in June 1944. In their sweep through Eastern France they encountered stiff resistance as they headed toward Germany, and in September 1944, Technician Maxwell saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers by falling on a live grenade right before it was about to explode. His heroism also prevented the destruction of a vital military communications installation.

Remembering Master Sgt. Wiburn K. Ross

Master Sgt. Wilburn K. Ross was awarded the Medal of Honor in April 1945 for his heroic action during the Allied invasion of Southern France in 1944. Master Sgt. Ross held off a German assault with a machine gun after his comrades had run out of ammunition. After eight assaults he killed at least 40 of the enemy before they withdrew, saving the remnants of his company form destruction. He is a hero in his native state of Kentucky and in his adopted state of Washington.

Remembering Doris Day

Doris Day was one of the great female entertainers of the 20th Century. Her beautiful voice, her acting ability and wholesome image made her the most popular female star in America in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. As a singer she made memorable recordings, especially her recording of Sentimental Journey with the Les Brown Band, which became the most popular song of 1945. She scored several other million selling records. In movies, she co-starred with many of the greatest male actors including Jimmy Cagney and Jimmy Stewart. Her best-known movie roles are in romantic comedies with Rock Hudson, Tony Randall, and James Garner.

Remembering Norma Miller, David Winters, Red Kelly

Norma Miller was the dancer from Harlem who helped popularize the 1920’s dance, The Lindy Hop. She spent a lifetime dancing, doing choreography and telling stories of the fabulous Savoy Ballroom where she first made her name. David Winters was a dancer and choreographer who first came to attention as a gang member in the stage and film versions of West Side Story. He went on to choreograph on television for stars such as Elvis and Ann-Margret. Red Kelly was the Hall of Fame hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs who won eight Stanley Cups and was also a member of the Canadian Parliament.

Remembering John Singleton, Gino Marchetti, Peter Mayhew, Jo Sullivan Loesser

John Singleton was the director of the classic inner city movie Boyz n the Hood (1991). He was the youngest director ever to be nominated for an Academy Award as Best Director, and also the first African-American to earn such a distinction. Gino Marchetti was the legendary defensive end for the great Baltimore Colt teams of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Peter Mayhew was the British actor who portrayed the character Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series. Jo Sullivan Loesser was the wife of Broadway legend Frank Loesser. She was nominated for a Tony Award in 1957 for her role in Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella.

Remembering Les Reed, Henry Bloch, David Brion Davis, Bibi Andersson, Chet Coppock

Les Reed was the English songwriter who wrote, among others “It’s Not Unusual” (1965) for Tom Jones and “The Last Waltz” (1967) for Engelbert Humperdinck. Henry Bloch was the founder, along with his brother of H&R Bloch in Kansas City in 1955, the largest tax preparation business in North America. David Brion Davis as the Yale professor, who was a leading authority on slavery. He was awarded two Pulitzer Prizes for nonfiction and a National Humanities Medal in 2014. Bibi Andersson was the beautiful Swedish actress best known for her roles in the films of Ingmar Bergman. Chet Coppock was the bombastic Chicago sportscaster who reveled in controversy.

Remembering John Havlicek, Mark Medoff, Fay McKenzie

John Havlicek was one of the all-time great Boston Celtics. He could play either guard or forward, and is the Celtics career leading scorer. He is best known for his stamina on the court and his penchant for making clutch plays, including a famous steal in the final five seconds of a 1965 Game 7 and a lean-in shot with one second in a Game 5 Final to send the game to triple overtime which the Celtics won. Mark Medoff was the New Mexico playwright who authored Children of a Lesser God, which won the 1980 Tony Award as the best play. It was made in to a movie starring William Hurt and Marlee Maitlin, who won the 1987 Academy Award as the Best Actress. Fay McKenzie was the actress/singer who starred along with Gene Autry in many of the Republic Westerns of the 1940’s.

Remembering Forrest Gregg, Georgia Engel, Dan Robbins

Forrest Gregg was the top offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers during their glory years of the 1960’s. Equally adept at tackle or guard, he was one of the cornerstones of Vince Lombardi’s “Packer sweep” that was the key to five Green Bay championships. Georgia Engel was the ditzy blonde actress on The Mary Tyler Moore Show who played Georgette Franklin Baxter from 1972-1977, a comic character who played off all the leads. Dan Robbins was the man who popularized paint by numbers, the craze of the 1950’s and 1960’s. His work might be more widely displayed than that of any other artist.

Remembering Michel Bacos, Rafael Eitan, Joe Bellino, David White

Michel Bacos was the French pilot of Air France flight 139, which was hijacked to Uganda by Palestinian and German terrorists. Bacos refused to leave the Jewish passengers on the flight until a rescue operation by Israeli commandos freed them. Rafael Eitan was the high-level Mossad agent who was responsible for the seizure of Adolf Eichmann from Argentina and his transport back to Israel for trial. He also had a key role in Israel’s attack on Iraq’s nuclear reactor facility. Joe Bellino was the halfback and all-purpose player from the Naval Academy who won the 1960 Heisman Trophy. David White was a member of the 1940’s group Danny and the Juniors. He was also a songwriter and penned several classics including “At the Hop” (1958).