Remarkable Missourians

"Baseballís perfect warrior, baseballís perfect knight," hall of famer, Stan the Man Musial was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on this date in Missouri history.

Probable birth date of George Washington Carver in Diamond, MO. This scientist probably saved the economy of the south with his concept of crop rotation and the hundreds of new products he developed from legumes.

This was the birthday of Branson resident, John G. Neihardt, the great epic novelist who wrote of life and history on the Missouri River especially the plains Indians.

Astronomer Edwin Hubble was born today in Marshfield. Hubble discovered that the universe is expanding as well as ways to measure its speed. He discovered that almost every “star” that had been observed was actually a galaxy containing millions of stars. 

After entering the Union in 1821, Missouri went nearly an entire century without a state flag. The Missouri state flag was finally designed by Ray County native Marie Watkins Oliver.

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.

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

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."

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.

Patrick Weston has overcome long odds to survive, live, and thrive throughout his life. This is his story.