Welcome to Today In Black History for Thursday, February 9, 2012.

On this day in Black History ..

• 1940 - Joe Louis beats Arturo Godoy in 15 for heavyweight boxing title
• 1956 - R Lacoste follows Catroux as premier of Algeria
• 1962 - Jamaica signs agreement to become independent
• 1971 - Satchel Paige becomes 1st negro-league player elected to baseball HOF
• 1979 - Nigeria amends constitution
• 1986 - Tomb of Tutanchamon's treasurer Maya found in Egypt
• 1989 - Kevin Johnson (Phoenix) ends NBA free throw streak of 57 games
• 1989 - Michael Manley's Socialist Party wins Jamaica parliamentary election
• 1990 - Namibia's constitution ratified
• 1991 - Terry Norris knocks down Sugar Ray Leonard twice & beats him

Famous Birthdays for this day ..

• 1404 - Constantine XI Dragases, last Byzantine Emperor
• 1441 - Ali Sjir Neva'i [Fani], Turkish poet/author (Mahbub al-kulub)
• 1578 - Giambattista Andreini, Italian playwright/actor (L'adamo)
• 1579 - John Meursius, [van Meurs], Dutch historian
• 1602 - Franciscus van de Enden, Flemish jesuit/free thinker/tutor of Spinoza
• 1607 - Abraham Megerle, composer
• 1708 - Egidio Romoaldo Duni, composer (op‚ra-comique)
• 1735 - Adriaan Kluit, Dutch historian
• 1741 - Henri-Joseph Rigel, composer
• 1744 - Amos Bull, composer
• 1756 - Karel Blazej Kopriva, composer
• 1771 - Daniel Belknap, composer
• 1772 - Frans Mikael Franz‚n, Finnish-Swedish poet (Abo)
• 1773 - William Henry Harrison, Va, (Whigs) 9th Pres (March 4-April 4, 1841)
• 1775 - Farkas/Wolfgang Bolyai, Hungary, mathematician (parallel axiom)
• 1780 - Walenty Karol Kratzer, composer
• 1783 - Vasili A Zjukovski, Russian folk poet/translator (Homer) [OS=Jan 29]
• 1808 - Francesco Gomez da Rocha, composer
• 1814 - Samuel Jones Tilden, philanthropist for NY Public Library
• 1822 - Charles T Stork, Dutch industrialist
• 1826 - John Alexander Logan, Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1886
• 1830 - Abdl Aziz, Istanbul Ottoman, 32nd sultan of Turkey (1861-76)
• 1834 - Felix Dahn, writer
• 1834 - Franz Xaver Witt, composer
• 1846 - Wilhelm Maybach, German engineer, designer of 1st Mercedes
• 1853 - Leander Starr Jameson, PM of South African Cape colony
• 1854 - Aletta [Henri‰tte] Jacobs, 1st Dutch female physician
• 1854 - Edward Carson, 1st Baron Carson, lawyer/leader (Irish Unionist Party)
• 1857 - Johannes T de Visser, theologist/Dutch 1st minister of Education
• 1863 - Anthony Hope [Hopkins], London, novelist
• 1865 - Erich von Drygalski, Germany, geographer/glaciologist/Antarctic expl
• 1865 - Mrs [Beatrice] Patrick Campbell, England, actress (Pygmalion)
• 1866 - George Ade, US, journalist/playwright/humorist (Fables in Slang)
• 1867 - Edward Naylor, composer
• 1867 - Natsume S“seki [Natsume Kinnosuke], Japanese author (Kokoro)
• 1871 - Franc S Finzgar, Slovenian clergyman/writer (Our Blood)
• 1871 - Howard T Ricketts, US pathologist (studied typhus fever)
• 1874 - Amy Lowell, US poet/critic (Patterns, Sword Blades & Poppy Seed)
• 1874 - Vsevolod Meyerhold, Russian theatrical director/actor (Houligan)
• 1875 - Sidney Hugo Nicholson, composer
• 1876 - Alo‹s Walgrave, Flemish writer/pastor (Silent hours)
• 1876 - Martin Stixrud, Norway, figure skater (Olympic-bronze-1920)
• 1879 - Carl Natanael Berg, composer
• 1879 - Jacques Bainville, French historian/essayist/journalist
• 1882 - Thomas Campbell, S African cricket wicketkeeper (5 Tests 1909-12)
• 1884 - Frederik Gerretson, [Geerten Gossaert], Dutch poet/politician)
• 1885 - Alban Maria Johannes Berg, Vienna Austria, a Lulu of a composer!
• 1887 - Henry Zimmerman, baseball player (1912-batted .372 with 14 HRs)
• 1887 - Vital Celen, Flemish writer (Puppy Love)
• 1890 - Jacobus J P Oud, Dutch architect/co-founder (Stijl)
• 1891 - Pietro Nenni, Italy, socialist/minister of foreign affairs (1946-47)
• 1891 - Ronald Colman, England, 1947 Acad Award actor (Tale of 2 Cities)
• 1892 - Barend ter Haar, Dutch lawyer (Indonesian adat justice)
• 1892 - Peggy Wood, Bkln NY, actress (One Life to Live, Mama)
• 1897 - Charles Edward Kingsford-Smith, pioneer Australian aviator
• 1901 - Brian Donlevy, Ireland, actor (Barbary Coast, Glass Key, Wake Island)
• 1902 - Blanche Calloway, US vocalist/dancer (12 Clouds of Joy)
• 1902 - Chester H Lauck, Allene AR, actor (Dreaming Out Loud, 2 Weeks to Live)
• 1903 - Georg Trexler, composer
• 1906 - Gwen Catley, British(?) soprano
• 1907 - Aubrey "Dit" Clapper, NHL hall of famer (Boston Bruins)
• 1908 - Jackie Fields, US, featherweight boxer (Olympic-gold-1924)
• 1909 - Carmen Miranda, Brazil, vocalist/actress (Copacabana, Date With Judy)
• 1909 - Dean Rusk, US Secretary of State (1961-69)
• 1909 - Harald Genzmer, composer
• 1909 - Heather Angel, Oxford England, actress (Informer, Last of Mohicans)
• 1909 - John Eustace Theodore Brancker, lawyer/parliamentarian
• 1910 - Jacques Monod, French biochemist
• 1911 - Eustace Wenworth Roskill, law lord
• 1912 - Hubert William Dean, air armaments specialist
• 1913 - Leo van der Kar, masseur/businessman/founder (Sports funds)
• 1914 - Bill "Rhymes with Wreck" Veeck, baseball club owner
• 1914 - Ernest Tubb, Tx, guitarist/singer (I'm Walking the Floor over You)
• 1914 - Gypsy Rose Lee, Seattle Wash, stripper (or 0109 or 0208)
• 1914 - Max Manus, resistance fighter
• 1914 - Ralph Herman, Milwaukee Wisc, orch leader (Circus Time)
• 1921 - B M Ducat-Amos, Air Commandant/director (RAF Nursing Service)
• 1921 - Charles Montgomery Monteith, publisher
• 1922 - James C "Jim" Laker, Bradford England, cricket off spinner
• 1923 - Brendan Behan, Dublin Ireland, author/poet (Hostage)
• 1923 - Kathryn Grayson, NC, vocalist/actress (Anchors Aweigh, Kiss Me Kate)
• 1923 - Norman E Shumway, Mich, pioneer cardiac transplant surgeon
• 1924 - George Guest, British organist
• 1925 - Vic Wertz, baseball player
• 1926 - Garret FitzGerald, Prime Minister of Ireland
• 1927 - Donald Miller, CEO (Scottish Power)
• 1927 - Norman Adams, painter/ceramic sculptor
• 1928 - Roger Mudd, Wash DC, news ancher (CBS Weekend News, NBC Evening News)
• 1929 - Bill Barrett, (Rep-R-Nebraska)
• 1929 - James Mulcro Drew, composer
• 1929 - Lennox Butler, cricketer (1 Test WI v Aust 1955, 16 & 2-151)
• 1929 - Willem Kersters, Flemish composer (Parwati, Gospel Song)
• 1930 - Emil Petrovics, composer
• 1931 - Robert Morris, sculptor
• 1931 - Xavier Benguerel, composer
• 1933 - Countess of Airlie
• 1933 - Jo Ann Prentice, LPGA golfer
• 1933 - Justice Johnson
• 1933 - Lord Williams of Elvel
• 1934 - John A Ziegler Jr, Grosse Pointe Mich, 4th NHL pres (1977-92)
• 1935 - Paul Flynn, MP
• 1936 - Clive Swift, Liverpool, actor (Frenzy, Passage to India)
• 1937 - Brian Wenham, media consultant/journalist
• 1937 - Johnny Sayles, US vocalist (You Made Me Wiggle)
• 1939 - Barry Mann, R&B singer (Who Put the Bomp in the Bomp Bomp Bomp)
• 1939 - Janet Suzman, S Africa, actress (Dry White Season, Nuns on the Run)
• 1940 - Brian Bennett, London, rock drummer (Shadows)
• 1940 - Smokey Robinson, rocker (& Miracles-Tears of Clown)
• 1941 - Sheila James Kuehl, politician/actress (Zelda-Dobie Gillis)
• 1942 - Carole King, [Klein], Brooklyn NY, pianist/singer (Tapestry)
• 1942 - Charlie Morrow, composer
• 1942 - Milos Stedron, composer
• 1942 - Peder Lunde Jr, Norway, yachtsman (Olympic-gold-1960)
• 1943 - Barbara Lewis, US vocalist (Hello Stranger)
• 1943 - James King, New Orleans LA, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1968)
• 1943 - Joe Pesci, Newark NJ, actor (Half Nelson, Goodfellas)
• 1943 - Jonny Nilsson, Sweden, 10K speed skater (Olympic-gold-1964)
• 1943 - Ryland Davies, tenor
• 1943 - Squire Fridell, Oakland Calif, actor (Rosetti & Ryan)
• 1944 - Alice Walker, US, novelist (Color Purple, Meridian)
• 1945 - Bill Bergey, NFLer
• 1945 - Mia [Maria] Farrow, LA, actr (Rosemary's Baby, Purple Rose of Cairo)
• 1946 - Annette Penhaligon
• 1946 - M J H Sterling, Vice-Chancellor (Brunel University)
• 1947 - Joe Ely, Amarillo Tx, country vocalist (Honky Tonk Masquerade)
• 1947 - Major Harris, US R&B-singer (Love won't Let me wait)
• 1949 - Bernard Gallacher, British golfer
• 1949 - Janet Issaca Ashford, writer
• 1949 - Judith Light, Trenton NJ, (Angela-Who's the Boss, 1 Life to Live)
• 1950 - Andrew N Meltzoff, developmental psychologist
• 1950 - Lloyd Weldon Keasor, Pumphrey Md, wrestler (Olympic-silver-1976)
• 1950 - Terry Hawkins, theatre administrator
• 1951 - Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, saxophonist (Kool & Gang-Celebration)
• 1951 - Jay Inslee, (Rep-D-Washington)
• 1951 - Penny Peyser, Irvington NY, actress (Rich Man Poor Man, Knots Landing)
• 1952 - Danny White, quarterback (Dallas Cowboys)
• 1953 - Andre Sevard, NHLer
• 1953 - Antonius GM "Toon" Agterberg, Dutch actor (Hunk)
• 1953 - Gary Franks, (Rep-R-Connecticut)
• 1954 - Ulrich Walter, German FR, cosmonaut
• 1955 - Charles Shaughnessy, London, actor (Shane-Days of our Lives, Nanny)
• 1955 - Jm J Bullock, Casper Wyoming, actor (Monroe-Too Close for Comfort)
• 1956 - Philip Jackson Ford Jr, NC, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1976)
• 1957 - Gordon Strachan, soccer player
• 1957 - Mohammed Valli Moosa, South African leader (UDF)
• 1958 - Alexander W B Lyle, Shrewsbury England, PGA golfer (1988 Phoenix Open)
• 1958 - Sandy Lyle, British golfer
• 1960 - Peggy A Whitson, Mt Ayr Iowa, PhD/astronaut
• 1961 - John Kruk, US baseball 1st baseman (Phila Phillies)
• 1962 - Diego Perez, Spain, tennis star
• 1962 - Martin D Lascelles, grandson of English princess Mary
• 1963 - Bonnie Levin, Miami Beach Fla, WPVA volleyballer
• 1963 - Madusa Miceli, [Debra Ann], Milan Italy, wrestler (WCW)
• 1963 - Mike Rindel, cricketer (N Transvaal opening bat ODI ton v Pak 1995)
• 1963 - Travis Tritt, Marietta Ga, country vocalist (Country Club)
• 1964 - Rachel Bolan, rocker (Skid Row)
• 1965 - David Brandon, NFL linebacker (Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Falcons)
• 1965 - Lennox Lewis, London England, Super HW boxer (Olympic-gold-1988)
• 1966 - Amanda Roocroft, opera singer
• 1966 - James "Rachel" Bolan, Pt Pleasant NJ, rocker (Skid Row-Psycho Love)
• 1967 - Kate Golden, Beaumont Texas, LPGA golfer (1992 Ping/Welch-5th)
• 1967 - Stevon Moore, NFL safety (Cleve Browns, Baltimore Ravens)
• 1967 - Todd Pratt, US baseball catcher (Phila Phillies)
• 1968 - Derek Strong, NBA forward (LA Lakers, Orlando Magic)
• 1968 - Marcus Meloan, Agana Guam, Canadian Tour golfer (1992 US Amat Champ)
• 1968 - Paul Claxton, Vidalia GA, Nike golfer (NIKE Central Georgia Open-38th)
• 1969 - Jeff Pahukoa, NFL guard/tackle (Atlanta Falcons)
• 1969 - Jimmy Smith, NFL wide receiver (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• 1969 - Peta Edebone, Australian softball outfielder (Olympics-bronze-96)
• 1969 - Thomas Brandl, Bad Tolz GER, hockey forward (Team Germany 1998)
• 1969 - Todd Lyght, US football quarterback (St Louis Rams)
• 1970 - Glenn McGrath, cricketer (NSW & Australian fast bowler 1993-)
• 1970 - Grant Moorhead, New Plymouth NZ, Australasia golfer
• 1971 - Gonzalo Floyd, CFL defensive end (Hamilton Tiger Cats)
• 1971 - Jason Mathews, NFL tackle (Indianapolis Colts)
• 1971 - Jim Miller, NFL quarterback (Pitts Steelers, Atl Falcons, Jaguars)
• 1971 - Ken Felder, US baseball outfielder (Milwaukee Brewers)
• 1971 - Pat O'Neill, NFL punter/place kicker (NE Patriots)
• 1971 - Sharon Case, Det Mich, actress (Sharon Collins-Young & Restless)
• 1972 - Jason George, actor (Michael Bourre-Sunset Beach)
• 1972 - Norbert Rosza, Hungarian swimmer (100m freestyle record)
• 1973 - Amber Valletta, Phoenix AZ, model (Face, House of Style, Bazaar)
• 1974 - Brad Maynard, punter (NY Giants)
• 1974 - John Wallace, NBA forward (Toronto Raptors)
• 1974 - Orlando Bobo, guard (Minnesota Vikings)

Famous Deaths for this day ..