Remarkable Missourians

Actor Dennis Weaver was born in Joplin. He appeared in the CBS Western Gunsmoke and starred the NBC police drama McCloud, among other roles.

Josephine Baker was born on this day in St. Louis. In her time, she was a world famous dancer and jazz and pop singer. She was also a civil rights leader who defected to France, where she became a citizen in 1937.

King George awarded Charles Lindbergh England's Distinguished Flying Cross on this day. This and many other Lindbergh items are on display for free at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.

Phoebe Couzins became Missouri's first woman law school graduate (Washington University in St. Louis). In 1887 she became the first female US Marshall in the country's history. She was also on the Board of Directors for the World's Fair.

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.

The All American Red Heads, a women's professional basketball team started in Cassville, sailed for the Philippine Islands. 

Thomas Hart Benton, who was from Neosho and one of Missouri's greatest artists, was born today.

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.

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.

Today's date is the birthday of John Hardeman Walker who got the Bootheel added to Missouri.