@jbob

Some births and deaths on June 11

BORN ON JUNE 11

Richard Strauss: Musical Composer 1864-1949

Richard Strauss was a leading German classical composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras best known for his operas Der Rosenkavalier and Salome, based on the play by Oscar Wilde. Hitler was a strong supporter of Strauss' work and he was allowed to continue performing even while the works of Debussy, Mahler and Mendelssohn were being banned during the Nazi regime.

Jeannette Rankin: U.S. Representative, Women's Rights activist

Jeannette Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880. She successfully fought for a woman's right to vote in Washington State and Montana and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1916. The first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress, during her two separate terms Rankin helped pass the 19th Amendment and was the only Congressperson to vote against both WWI and WWII. She died in 1973.

Jacques Cousteau Filmmaker, Military Leader, Scientist, Photographer, Inventor, Explorer

Born on June 11, 1910, in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, Jacques Cousteau co-invented the Aqua-Lung, a breathing device for scuba-diving, in 1943. In 1945, he started the French Navy's undersea research group. In 1951, he began going on yearly trips to explore the ocean on the Calypso. Cousteau recorded his trips on the TV series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. In 1996, the Calypso sunk. Cousteau died on June 25, 1997, in Paris, France.

Charles Rangel: U.S. Representative, Civil Rights Activist

Born into a troubled family on June 11, 1930, Charles Rangel showed his heroic side during the Korean war, winning several medals for bravery. Back at home, he became a lawyer and civil rights activist before winning a seat in the House of Representatives. In 1987, Rangel led the effort to deny tax credits for taxes paid to South Africa, and increased the taxes on profits made there by 24 percent. The financial pressure forced many companies to end their business dealings with apartheid-supporters. Called the Rangel Amendment, the piece of legislation encouraged several Fortune 500 companies to leave South Africa.

Gene Wilder: Actor, Author, Comedian 1933-2016

Gene Wilder began his movie career in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde, but he became famous as a favorite of writer/director Mel Brooks. His wacky roles in films such as Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankensteineimade him an unforgettable comedy icon. In his later years, Wilder became a serious novelist, writing a memoir and several novels. He was married to fellow actor/comedian Gilda Radner, until her death in 1989. Gene Wilder died on August 28, 2016 at the age of 83.

Died on June 11

King George I: Great Britain’s first Hanoverian king

George I was born on May 28, 1660, in Osnabrück, Hanover to the elector of Hanover. He succeeded his father in 1697. When his mother, the granddaughter of King James I of England, died, he inherited the throne. He was part of the Whig Party, but was not popular in England. He forged an alliance with France, but narrowly escaped disgrace for questionable investments. He died of a stroke in 1727.

John Wayne: Actor

John Wayne was born May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa. He received his first leading film role in The Big Trail (1930). Working with John Ford, he got his next big break in in Stagecoach (1939). His career as an actor took another leap forward when he worked with director Howard Hawks in Red River (1948). Wayne won his first Academy Award in 1969. He died of cancer in 1979.

Ornette Coleman: Saxophonist, Songwriter

Ornette Coleman was born on March 9, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas. He began playing music as a teenager and eventually became a working musician. In the 1950s, Coleman developed a style of improvising called “free jazz.” The non-harmonic style was controversial, but he successfully recorded albums like Free Jazz and The Shape of Jazz to Come. In 2007, he received a Pulitzer Prize for his music. In June 2015, at the age of 85, Coleman died of cardiac arrest.

@Lookout

It's another beautiful day here - quite a contrast to last years hot and dry summer.

Wallace was quite the politician. After he lost his first political race he said he would never be out niggered again. As bad as his race related bias (He had a "change of heart" in later years), he was also a populist along the vein of Huey Long. He improved roads and built community colleges all over the state - lifting many (mainly white) folks out of poverty.

Sadly Alabama uses its prison system to enforce racism today. There is a movement working to combat this policy http://freealabamamovement.com/ I slide back and forth thinking we've made progress to we've gone backwards. I'm afraid the real goal is to make America like Alabama again. I hope for all our sake, they fail in that goal.