April 22, 1944
Millionaire balloonist and adventurer Steve Fossett was born on this day. In 1968, he received an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, where he was a longtime member of the Board of Trustees.
April 17, 1940
The All American Red Heads, a women's professional basketball team started in Cassville, sailed for the Philippine Islands.
April 15, 1889
Thomas Hart Benton, who was from Neosho and one of Missouri's greatest artists, was born today.
April 4, 1928
Marguerite Ann Johnson was born in St. Louis. Better know as Maya Angelou, she went on to be nominated for Pulitzer Prize in poetry and a Tony Award and to win three Grammys.
April 3, 1882
Jesse James was shot dead by Robert Ford, who was secretly working with Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden. The assassination took place in St. Joseph, Missouri.
March 3, 1794
Today's date is the birthday of John Hardeman Walker who got the Bootheel added to Missouri.
March 2, 1829
The radical reformer, statesman, general, and Missouri Senator Carl Schurz was born on this day. He is famous for saying: "My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."
February 20, 1848
Birthday of Uriel Sebree, in Fayette, Missouri. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Arctic Explorer, Governor of American Samoa.
Backward and in High Heels: Remembering Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was born as Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence in 1911, and she spent her early years in Independence and Kansas City. Ginger is best remembered for movies made with dancing partner Fred Astaire. She is famously credited for doing everything Astaire did, only backwards and in high heels.