Eileen Marie was born in Elmira, New York back in 1956 to James and Rose. She graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 1974, attending Corning Community College. In 1976, she graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor of arts in mathematics and economics. In 1978, she earned a master of science from Stanford University and a master of arts degree from Webster University in 1989.She retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel in 2006, where she spent most of her time at NASA.What you may not know about Eileen Marie Collins is that she was the first female pilot to command a Space Shuttle. She was also the first astronaut to fly the Space Shuttle through a complete 360-degree pitch maneuver. She received the Free Spirit Award and the 2006 National Space Trophy. She was indu... 07/17/2019

Joshua L. Cohen was born in Queens, New York back in 1877 to Hyman and Rebecca. After graduating from high school, he studied at Columbia University, Cooper Union and the City College of New York however he did not complete his degree. In 1899, he patented his first invention a device that ignited a photographer’s flask. That same year the United States Navy granted him a contract to produce mine fuses netting him $12,000.00. in 1900, he founded a corporation that is still going to this day, more on it in a moment. In 1910, he legally changed the spelling of his last name. he retired in 1959 from that corporation selling his 55,000 shares to his great-nephew Roy Cohn. He died in 1965, he was 88.What you may not know about Joshua Lionel Cohen, he changed his last name to Cowen, the corpo... 07/10/2019

Charles Albert was born in Fairfield, Maine back in 1844 to Albert and Anstrus. When he was 18 he moved to Lynn, Massachusetts to work for his uncle Charles at his shoe company. He spent 20 years there, establishing his own shoe factory. In 1833, he was approached by another Lynn businessman to help with a struggling electric company from New Britain, Connecticut. During his time at the electric company under his care he expanded it to include plants in Atlanta, Georgia and New York City. He retired from the board in 1922, retaining a rather large amount of the company’s stock. When he died in 1926, he was one of the wealthiest men in the world.What you may not know about Charles Albert Coffin, is that electric company was named Thomason-Houston which later changed its name to General E... 07/07/2019

William Cocke was born in Amelia County, Virginia back in 1748 to Abraham and Mary. Educated at home before reading law, he was admitted to the bar in Virginia. After graduation, he engaged in a limited law practice spending more time on the frontier than in his law office. He spent time with Daniel Boone exploring eastern Kentucky and East Tennessee.He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1776. He led four companies of men into the North Carolina’s Washington District for action against the Indians. He was appointed a judge in the First Judicial Circuit of Tennessee in 1809.   In 1813, he returned to the military serving under Andrew Jackson in the Creek War. He died in 1828, in Columbus Mississippi. What you may not know about William Cocke is that (as far as I could find... 07/02/2019

Adelaide Sophia Claxton was born in London, England back in 1841. She studied are at the Cary’s School in Bloomsbury. In 1850, the family moved to Australia for four years, returning to England via Calcutta, India. While still in her teens she began to exhibit her works at the Society of Women Artists. She earned her living through her paintings. She was one of the first British women artists to work in the magazine market. In 1874, she married George which effectively ended her career as an illustrator. The couple settled in Chiswick, during the 1890’s she turned her interests to inventions. She was granted several patents. You may know one of her paintings A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Hampton Court. What you may not know about Adelaide Claxton Turner is that she invented the “Armpit-C... 06/25/2019

John Clark was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 1st Continental Infantry on January 1st, 1776. Sorry but I could not find his date of birth, who his parents were etc. It wasn’t until December of 1777 that his most important assignment came to him directly from General George Washington.His assignment was to obtain information about General Howe’s activities in Philadelphia. He set up a group of spies to accomplish that goal. He sent General Washington 30 detailed reports. Having them in hand, Washington allowed a false report of the Continental Army’s strength to be delivered to Howe. John saved the Continental Army to know the movement of the British troops, thus assuring the survival of the war. Afterwards he served as a desk job auditor of Army expenses. He lived a quietly a... 06/22/2019

August Fey was born in Vohringen, Bavaria back in 1862. He worked in France and London before moving to the United States in 1885. He traveled all over the United States before finally settling in San Francisco. He found work at the Western Electric Works. Later on, he and two other friends started their own company working with electrical equipment and telephones.While living in San Francisco he met and married Marie Christine Volkmar. Somewhere along the line he changed his first name to Charles. He died in 1944 in San Francisco. But it was what he did in 1893, that will forever place him in the history books.For you see Charles Fey invented the first slot machine that included an automatic payout mechanism. His most famous design was the “Liberty Bell Slot Machine”, if you got all th... 06/14/2019

Henry Wilkins was born in Bath, Maine back in 1852. He attended Bath’s public schools enrolling in Bates College in 1870, where he became an editor of the college’s student-run newspaper. He graduated in 1874, when he went on to attend Howard University graduating with a law degree is just three years. Upon graduation he moved to Florida, passing the Florida Bar where he practiced law in Ocala, Florida. He also edited two local newspapers The Ocala Republican and The Plain Dealer. In 1880, he was elected to the Florida Senate holding that office for two terms. He was chosen to be a state delegate to the Republican National Convention several times. From 1908 to1913 he was the Inspector of Customs in Tampa. He died in 1938.What you may not know about Henry Wilkins Chandler is that he was... 06/08/2019

Harry Chandler was born in Landaff, New Hampshire back in 1864 to Moses and Emma. While attending Dartmouth College on a dare, he jumped into a vat of starch, leading him with a case of severe pneumonia. He left Dartmouth and moved to Los Angeles. He found employment working in the fruit fields.He soon started a small delivery company which also became responsible for delivering the city’s morning newspapers. The publisher of The Los Angeles Times hired him as the Times general manager. He wound up marring the publisher’s daughter Marian in 1894, that union produced six children. When her father died he took over as the publisher of the Times. For three straight years the Times lead all other American newspaper in advertising space and in the number of classified ads.He was involved in ... 06/07/2019

George Cayley was born in Scarborough, England back in 1773. In 1779, he started a project that is still used to this day, more in a moment. He represented the Whig party as a Member of Parliament from 1832 to 1835. In 1835, he helped in founding the UK’s first Polytechnic Institute, now the University of Westminster, serving as the chairman for many years. He was a founding member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. When his father died he inherited Brompton Hall and Wydale Hall.What you may not know about George is that he developed the self-righting lifeboats, tension-spoke wheels (AKA caterpillar tractors), automatic signals for railway crossing, seat belts to name a few.   However, what he is most noted for is aviation. He identified the four main components ... 06/04/2019

Charles Draper was born in San Gabriel, California back in 1901. When he was 18 he joined the Army, in 1921 he had already been promoted to sergeant. He was selected to attend the United States Military Academy graduating in 1926. After graduation, he served in the Philippines and Shanghai. In 1942, he had advanced through the ranks, as a colonel he took command of the 116th Infantry shortly before it sailed to England. His command was alongside of the 1st Infantry and the 16th Infantry to land on Omaha beach on D-Day.   If you’ve seen Saving Private Ryan the opening scene depicts the conditions under which Charles regiment landed on the Dog Green sector. A Sergeant Bob Slaughter remembers Charles screaming at soldiers to move off the beach and go kill Germans. Don McCarthy remembers Ch... 05/27/2019

William Arthur was born in Ware, Massachusetts back in 1848. When he was a teenager he was throwing clam shells when he had an epiphany, which would later serve him well. At 17 he made his professional baseball debut with the Excelsior baseball club of Brooklyn. His first game was on August 14th, 1866. Just ten days later he led his team to a 24-2 win against the Newark Eureka’s.He continued to play for the Excelsior’s from 1868 to 1871. He stood 5’9” and weighed in at a hefty 120 pounds. From 1872 to 1877 he pitched for the New York Mutuals, Baltimore Canaries, Philadelphia White Stocking and the Hartford Dark Blues. He won between 28 to 35 games in each of the seasons. He left the National League to become the President of the new International Association for Professional Base Ball P... 05/22/2019

James Calhoun was born in Cincinnati, Ohio back in 1845. At the start of the American Civil War he was in Europe, when he returned two years later he joined the Union Army. By the end of the war he had been promoted to Sergeant. In 1867, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry, where he met Margaret in 1870. The couple was married shortly thereafter.During the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana he was acting as temporary commander of L Company. Of course, all of you know the outcome of the battle. His second in command Lt. John Crittenden whose body was found only a few feet from his while defending a hill. Both of their bodies are interred in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.What you may not know about James Calhoun is that his wife wa... 05/18/2019

William H. Calbreath was born in Detroit, Michigan back in 1850. He was a slave that was freed about 15 years before the outbreak of the Civil War. After the war, he worked as a cook in Detroit. His skills as a chief earned him a stint at New York City’s famed Delmonico’s.He spent his last years in Struthers, Ohio. Until his retirement he worked as a coal dealer. He died in 1944, he was 93.What you may not know about William is that his claim to fame was he claimed he served as the model for the original Cream of Wheat trademark from the early 1900’s to about 1925. His claim has never been officially confirmed but it has never been disputed. Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give someone the free gift of a smile today 05/16/2019

Miles Cahn was born in New York City, New York back in 1921 to Jacob and Fanny. He enrolled at the City College of New York, but left to serve in the United States Army’s 78th Infantry Division during WWII. After being discharged he returned to City College where he received his degree in business administration.When he graduated in 1946, he started working for the Gail Leather Products which made men’s wallets for 50.00 per week. In 1961, he purchased the Gail Leather Products renaming the store. It was his wife Lillian who suggested adding ladies’ handbags to the product line. As they say the rest is history. While the men’s wallets are still made the main focus of the company remains on the ladies’ handbags. On a personal note, while I think a handbag is a handbag I’m sure the ladies... 05/15/2019

Charles Caldwell was born in Caswell County, North Carolina back in 1772. I have no information of who his parents were or his early childhood. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1796. After graduation, he practiced medicine in Philadelphia while being a lecturer at his alma mater. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815. A significant number of copies of his publication survived some of which are held by the United States National Library of Medicine. In 1819, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky joining the fledgling school of medicine at Transylvania University where he turned the school into the region’s strongest. He died in 1853, he as 81.What you may not know about Charles is that in 1821, he convinced the Kentucky Genera... 05/13/2019

John Byrom was born in Manchester, England back in 1692. From what I’ve gathered his family was wealthy which afforded him the best education possible at the time. He attended The King’s school, Chester and Merchant Taylors’ School, London. He continued his education at Trinity College, Cambridge before going to France where he studied medicine at Montpellier.Family and friends tried to persuade him to practice medicine, but his heart just wasn’t into it, so he chose another path, more on that in a moment. John had several children but his favorite was his daughter Dorothy. It was in 1745, that he promised Dorothy that he would write her something special for Christmas. On Christmas morning, she came downstairs to discover an envelope addressed to her. With all the other presents around... 05/10/2019

Roger Joyce was born in Springs, Transvaal, South Africa back in 1910 to Benjamin and Dorothy. He was schooled in Johannesburg, when he was 14 he went to Wellington College in Berkshire, England. In 1929, he went to Pembroke College in Cambridge to study law. In 1932, he joined the 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force. In 1939, he was given command of the 92nd Squadron. While flying he crash-landed in German-occupied ground becoming a prisoner of war he was sent to Dulag Luft camp near Frankfort. He escaped twice being captured both times before being sent to Stalag Luft III in 1943. He was the organizer of another escape which occurred on March 24th 1943. Seventy-six officers managed to clear the camp, he was captured again and three days later was murdered by members of the Gestaop.What y... 05/07/2019

Ephriam Wales was born in Boston, Massachusetts back in 1806. As a young child, he was a goldbeater (hammering gold into an extremely thin unbroken sheet for use in gliding. He married Mary Ellen of Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1826. Complaining of lung problems, he moved to Concord, Massachusetts in 1836.He invented something in 1843, that would survive and thrive in the cold New England climate. By 1849, he had created over 22,000 seedlings. In 1855, he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1893, he fell and went to live in the Concord Home for the Aged. He died two years later.What you may not know about Ephriam Wales Bull is that he invented was the Concord grape. Until tomorrow give someone the free gift of a smile  05/02/2019

Peter Buck was born in South Portland, Maine back in 1930. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Continuing his education in 1952 he graduated with a master’s and doctoral degree in physics at Columbia University.From 1957 to 1978 he worked as a nuclear physicist for several companies. In 1965, he loaned a family friend Fred $1,000.00 while the friend was a student at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Fred took that money and sold sandwiches to help him pay his way through college. Apparently, the sandwiches were a hit as Fred opened up 16 more locations in Connecticut. In 1974, they franchised out the restaurants.    What you may not know about Peter is that the family friend was Fred DeLuca and the name of the sandwich shop was first called “Pete’s Sup... 04/28/2019