Born: June 7, 1955Cross country skiing first highly accomplished American male in his sport; first American male to win a cross country Olympic medal when he took home a silver in the 30-kilometer…
bluegrass musicianBorn: 9/13/1911Birthplace: Rosine, Kentucky The father of bluegrass, Monroe created the genre with his mandolin playing, high, lonesome tenor and nostalgic songs. Bluegrass was…
actorBorn: 5/17/1955Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas With a film like the blockbuster Titanic (1997) on his resume, the future looks promising for Paxton. But that was not always the case. Paxton…
journalist, public officialBorn: 6/5/1934Birthplace: Hugo, Oklahoma Bill Moyers has had a long and varied career that includes a stint as deputy director of the Peace Corps (1961–63). A special…
politician, diplomatBorn: 1947Birthplace: Pasadena, Calif. Richardson has spent nearly his entire career as a public servant. A Democrat from New Mexico, he was elected to the U.S. House of…
cowboy, rodeo starBorn: (probably) 12/5/1870Birthplace: Williamson County, Tex. After quitting school in the fifth grade, Pickett became a full-time ranch hand and developed into a skilled horseman…
Born: 6/22/1922 Birthplace: Fort Wayne, Ind fashion designer known for his classic yet elegant designs favored by Nancy Reagan, Brooke Astor, and Jessye Norman. He was also an adept marketer,…
actor, screenwriter, comedianBorn: 9/21/1950Birthplace: Willmette, Illinois Like so many of his fellow Saturday Night Live (SNL) alumni, Bill Murray honed his improvisational comedic skills as part…
Born: Nov. 30, 1868Football college star at Amherst College and then Harvard; first Black player to be selected as an All-American (1892-93); also the first Black man admitted to the American Bar…
(William Henry Gates III)software industry pioneer, philanthropistBorn: 10/28/1955Birthplace: Seattle, Wash. After years of tinkering with computers, Gates dropped out of Harvard at age 19 to form…
