Malvin Russell Goode was born in White Plains, Virginia back in 1908.  He graduated from the public school in Homestead, Pennsylvania before continuing his education at the University of Pittsburgh in 1931.  He worked in the steel mills for 12 years staring when he was in high school and after five years of graduating from the University of Pittsburgh.In 1936, he was appointed to ta position in the Juvenile Court as a boys work director at the Centre Avenue YMCA.   He also worked at the Pittsburgh Housing Authority for six years.  In 1948, he joined the Pittsburg Courier for 14 years.  In 1949, he also began a career as a radio broadcaster with KQV radio.  In 1962, you could find him working for ABC News covering the United Nations (UN).  His first assignment was covering the Cuban Miss... 04/05/2020

Giovanni di Pletro di Bernardone was born in the Holy Roman Empire back in 1181 or 1182, the time frame is really not known to Pietro and Pica. He parents were wealthy and he lived the high-spirited life typical of a wealthy young man.  In 1202, he joined a military expedition, where he was taken as a prisoner at Collestrada.When he was released he made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he joined the poor in begging at St. Peter’s Basilica.  In his travels, he had a mystical vision of Jesus Christ in the chapel of San Damiano.  In 1208, he devoted himself to a life of poverty.  In 1209, he composed a simple rule, “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps”.   While there is much more to write about, he died in 1226, he was just 44.What you may not know abou... 03/24/2020

Elvira Gibson was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts back in 1821.  I don’t have any information as to her childhood, but what I do have I believe you will enjoy.  She worked as a teacher in Rindge, New Hampshire.  She was noted for her writings and lecturing on abolition among other issues.She married the Rev. John Hobart in 1861.  She became a chaplain in the 8th. Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment of Heavy Artillery.  She had difficulty getting paid for her work because the Secretary of War Edwin Stanton refused to recognize her because she was a woman.  She was finally able to get paid in 1876.  She was posthumously given the rank of Captain in the Chaplains Corps of the U.S. Army in 2002.What you may not know about Elvira is that she was the first woman to serve as a military cha... 03/18/2020

Abraham Pineo Gesner was born back in 1797 in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Canada.  I don’t have a lot of information about his early childhood. He pursued a career at sea twice shipwrecked by his early twenties he returned to the family farm near Kentville.  In 1824, he moved to London, England to study medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.He returned to Nova Scotia as a practicing physician.  He also had a passion for geology.  In 1838, he was appointed Provincial Geologist for New Brunswick.  In 1842, he discovered the first great fossil deposits of the future Miguasha National Park.  That same year he started the Gesner’s Museum of Natural History, in Saint John, New Brunswick, it was the first public museum in Canada.What you may not know about Abraham is that he was also an inventor... 03/10/2020

Kaiho Tuomas Albin Gerdt was born in Heivavesi, Finland back in 1922.  I don’t have any data as to his early childhood, not until WWII.  He served with the Finland Army as a junior runner officer in the infantry regiment 7.  During the war, he was involved in several battles.  He was sent to the Reserve Officer School in Niinisalo after lying in a hospital for four months.He was discharged in November of 1944.  After the war, he worked as the office manager of Oy Kaukas Ab and Kymmene Oy in Lappeenranta until 1987.What you may not know about Kaiho is that number one, he is still alive, number two he is the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, it is the most distinguished Finnish military honor.  He last attended the Celebration as the only knight of the Mannerheim Cross in 2011.Y... 03/06/2020

Antoine Marc Gaudin was born in Smyrna, Turkey back in 1900.  His father was a railroad general manager so the family moved quite frequently.  By the time he finished school he was fluent in English, Greek, and French.  He attended universities in Paris and Aix-en-Province receiving his bachelor’s degree in engineering.In 1926, he became an American citizen and taught at the University of Utah, while working with the U.S. Bureau of Mines. In 1939, he assumed a professorship at MIT, teaching there for over 25 years.  He retired in 1966 and died in Boston, Massachusetts in 1974.What you may not know about Antoine is that during WWII, he secretly led an MIT team extracting uranium from low-grade ore for the Manhattan Project, for the development of the atomic bomb.Your day is worthwhile wh... 02/29/2020

Charles Bare Gatewood was born in Woodstock, Virginia back in 1853. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point graduating in 1877, as a Second Lieutenant. He received orders to report to the 6th Cavalry in the Southwest at Fort Wingate, New Mexico. He led Apache’s and Navajo Scouts throughout the Southwestern United States.After just one year he was placed in command of the Apache scouts from the White Mountain Apache Reservation then an aide-de-camp to General Nelson Miles. In 1890, he was assigned to the 6th Cavalry, H Troop ordered to South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Agency. He was not engaged in the final campaign at Wounded Knee due to rheumatism in both shoulders. By 1891, he had recovered enough rejoining the 6th Cavalry at Fort McKinney, Wyoming and was involved in th... 02/27/2020

Margaret Kemble was born in New Brunswick, Province of New Jersey back in 1734 to Peter and Gertrude. I could not find out much about her early life on her father’s 1,200-acre plantation, but I can tell you she married Thomas in 1758. Together they had eleven children. Her brother Stephen was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army during the American Revolution.She died in England in 1824, she was 89-90. Now here is the rest of the story.While it cannot be proven it is felt by many historians she may have been responsible in causing the first shots to be fired in the American Revolution at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. She had access to the British Army’s plan to seize Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The informant passed on the data to Dr. Joseph Warren, who dispatched Paul Reve... 02/14/2020

Harry Katsuharu Fukuhara was born in Seattle, Washington back in 1920. His father died in 1933, so his mother moved back to Japan where he graduated from high school. After graduation, he returned to the United States. After the outbreak of WWII, he enlisted in the Gila River internment camp in 1942.He served in the 33rd Infantry Division, being involved in several campaigns as a linguist. Following the war, he returned to the United States before being assigned to the US Army’s occupation and reconstruction of Japan. He ended his career in uniform in 1971 as the military governor of the Yaeyama Island Group in the Ryukyu Islands. Some of his military decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. He died in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2015 he was 95.What you may not know about Ha... 02/04/2020

Jeremy Joseph Fry was born in Bristol, England back in 1924. He was educated at Gordonstoun. He joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot during WWII. After the war, he became a product designer with Frenchay Products Ltd from 1954-57. In 1957, he founded Rotork Engineering Company. He died in 2005 in Tamil Nadu, India.What you may not know about Jeremy is he was also an inventor of sorts. Some of his inventions includes the Sea Truck (a flat boat ferry capable of carrying one car at high speed), a four-wheel-drive wheelchair (that’s a first for me, never knew they were made). He was mentioned in a book by Tony Richardson Long Distance Runner (London, 1993).Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today 02/01/2020

Forest Dewey Dodrill was born in Webster Springs, West Virginia back in 1902. He earned his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University in 1925. After graduation, he went to the Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1930. He did his residency at the Harper Hospital in Detroit where he became a staff surgeon.He continued his education at the University of Michigan receiving a Master of Surgery Degree in 1942. However, what he is most noted for was something that he did on July 3, 1952. On that day, he operated on Henry Opitek, it was the first successful open-heart surgery, using a machine developed by hi and researchers at General Motors. That machine the Dodrill-GMR was the first operational mechanical heart used by performing open heart surgery.Your day is worthwhile when you make... 01/19/2020

John Ambrose Fleming was born in Lancaster, England back in 1849. He was educated at the Lancaster Royal Grammar School, then continued his studies at the University College School in London. He entered St. John’s College, Cambridge in 1877 receiving his BA with honors in 1881. After graduation, he worked at the University College London where he was the first professor of electrical engineering.He retired from University College, London in 1927, he was 77. He died in Sidmouth, Devon, England in 1945, he was 95.What you may not know about Sir John Ambrose Fleming is that he invented the first vacuum tube, designed the first large radio transmitter, which was used to make the first transatlantic radio transmission in 1901. He also established the right-hand rule used in physics. He also ... 01/06/2020

John Fitch was born in Windsor, Connecticut back in 1743 to Joseph and Sarah. Records show he received little formal schooling. As a child, he apprenticed himself to a clockmaker. In 1767, he married Lucy. He opened a brass foundry in East Windsor, Connecticut but it failed. So, he opened a silversmith business in Trenton, New Jersey but it was destroyed by the British troops during the American Revolution.During the American Revolution, he served as a gunsmith with the New Jersey militia. During the winter of 1777 he provided beer, rum and other supplies to the troops at Valley Forge. In 1780, he worked as a surveyor in Kentucky. He then moved to Warminster, Pennsylvania to work on a project. He was granted a U.S. patent for his work in August of 1791. That project and patent proved pr... 12/31/2019

Joseph Cameron Finley was born in Garland, Texas back in 1987 to Charles and Lexa. His father is a software developer and his mother is a spiritual healer. When he was three his parents took him to an acting seminar. Apparently, he was good as he was hired as a child actor.He attended Moorpark High School. After graduation, he continued his education graduating from UC San Diego with a degree in molecular biology. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. He started out his career in a commercial for Shell Oil. He was in several films before being hired for a television series.What you may not know about Joseph is that he was the title character for the series Leave it to Beaver. From child actor to molecular biologist, interesting in my opinion.Your day is worthwhile when you make so... 12/26/2019

James Finley was born in Ireland back in 1756. While I don’t have the date, he moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania living on a 287-acre farm. In 1784, he was elected a justice of the peace, before becoming the county commissioner in 1789. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate from 1791 until his death in 1828.In 1808, he received a patent for something I know all of you will recognize. While there have been improvements and modifications the basic concept remains.James is widely recognized as the first designed and builder of the modern suspension bridge. He built the first on at a cost of $600.00 using wrought iron chains and with a level deck. Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today 12/25/2019

George Ingle Finch was born in New South Wales, Australia back in 1888. He was educated in Switzerland studying the physical sciences at the University of Geneva. He moved to Paris where he studied medicine but decided he preferred the physical sciences. During WWI, he served in the Royal Army Ordinance Corps. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services in connection with the War in France, Egypt and Salonika. From 1936-1952 he held the position of Professor of Applied Physical Chemistry at the Imperial College London. He was awarded the Hughes Medal in 1944, he was also the president of the Physical Society from 1947-49. He died in England in 1970, he was 82.What you may not know about George is that he was the first person known to climb to a height excee... 12/20/2019

Arran Fernandez was born in Britain back in 1995. Sorry but that’s all I know of him except that he was educated at home. There are going to be a lot of firsts so this one will be short. In 2001 when he was 5 he earned a General Certificate of Secondary Education the English academic usually taken at 16. Hold on it gets better. In 2000, at age 5 he also had several sequences published in the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences. In 2010, at 15 he began studying at the Cambridge Mathematics Tripos, he was the youngest Cambridge University undergraduate since William Pitt the Younger in 1773. In 2013, he became a senior Wrangler at Cambridge which is a position as the top mathematics undergraduate. That made him the youngest Senior Wrangler at 18 years 0 months old. In 2018, he had c... 12/18/2019

Clyde Cornwall Fenton was born in Warmamool, Victoria, Australia back in 1901. That’s about all the information I can find about him until 1925, when he graduated from Melbourne University with a MD. After graduation, he enrolled in the Royal Air Force in 1928, after earning his pilot’s license he was discharged returning to Australia.In 1940, he was called back to the Royal Air Force based in Manbulloo airstrip near Katherine. His job started out delivering mail and food supplies to army and RAAF outposts. He died in 1982.What you may not know about Clyde is that he was the Northern Territory’s first flying doctor, He often flew without the aid of any navigation equipment, air charts or landing strips. He started an aerial ambulance rescue service which grew into the Northern Territory... 12/15/2019

Rebecca Ann Latimer was born in Decatur, Georgia back in 1835 to Charles and Eleanor. When she was 15 her father sent her to live with relatives in Madison where she attended a private school at a Presbyterian Church. She continued her education at Madison Female College receiving a classical liberal arts education. She graduated at the top of her class in 1852.In 1853, she married William moving to Cartersville, Georgia.She joined the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1886, obtaining stature as a speaker for equal right for white women. In 1900, she officially joined the Women’s Suffrage Movement where she tirelessly worked for women’s rights, including the right to vote. She died in Atlanta, Georgia in 1930, she was 94.What you may not know about Rebecca Latimer Felton is that she... 12/14/2019

Felix Unger was born in Klagenfurt, Austria back in 1946. He studied medicine at the University of Vienna where he graduated in 1971. After graduation, he practiced at the University Clinic for Cardiology in Vienna and the University Surgical Clinic. In 1975, he was a researcher of Cardiovascular medicine in Houston, Cleveland and Salt Lake City.He received his Ph.D. in 1978 becoming an Associate Professor and later a Full Surgical Professor in Salt Lake City, Utah. He invented the Ellipsoidherz (it is a device that is used as an artificial heart during surgery). In 1990, he founded the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.What you may not know about Felix is that in 1986, he performed the first artificial heart transplantation in Europe.Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smi... 12/11/2019