Born: 1901Birthplace: Windsor, Mo. Gyroscopic apparatus—Draper developed a spinning gyroscope, stabilizing U.S. Navy antiaircraft gun-sights which led to an inertial guidance system for launching…
(Encyclopedia) Draper, Ruth, 1884–1956, American monologist, b. New York City. The author of 36 monologues, ranging from farce to tragedy, she played the various characters within each sketch with…
(Encyclopedia) Marquis, Don (Donald Robert Perry Marquis)Marquis, Donmärˈkwĭs [key], 1878–1937, American author, b. Walnut, Ill. In 1912 he began the humorous column “The Sun Dial” in the New York…
(Encyclopedia) DeLillo, DonDeLillo, Dondəlĭlˈō [key], 1936–, American novelist, b. New York City, grad. Fordham (1958). DeLillo is an accomplished prose stylist with a dark vision and mordant wit. In…
(Encyclopedia) Don Cossacks, Cossack settlers (see Cossacks) who in the 16th cent. founded the virtually independent republic of the Don Cossacks on the fertile steppes along the lower course of the…
(Encyclopedia) Don JuanDon Juandŏn wän, j&oomacr;ˈən, Span. dōn hwän [key], legendary profligate. He has a counterpart in the legends of many peoples, but the Spanish version of the great…
(Encyclopedia) Shula, Don (Donald Francis Shula)Shula, Donsh&oomacr;ˈlə [key], 1930–2020, American football coach, b. Grand River, Ohio. A player at John Carroll Univ. and from 1951 to 1957 with…
Sutton, Don
(Encyclopedia) Sutton, Don (Donald Harris), 1945-2021, American baseball pitcher, b. Clio, Al. After playing baseball (among other sports) in high…
(Encyclopedia) Budge, Don (John Donald Budge), 1915–2000, American tennis player, b. Oakland, Calif. A powerful, consistent player, Budge was the first person to capture the sport's grand slam,…