Leasing News

Clarification--Ned Covic and Sysix

"…. there was an article about Sysix and ‘a bank which was asking questions’. That ‘bank’ is Private Bank and the deal they're speaking of is Moody Bible Institute. What I find odd is that Private Bank ‘employs’ either directly or on contact Ned Covic - the previous President of Sysix Financial, LLC who is directly tied to the fraudulent leases."

"(name with held)

"(First, the lessee is not Moody Bible Institute. Mr. Covic is not the president or employed by the bank asking the question, although he is or was president of Sysix Financial. Editor)

http://www.solutions-daily.com/dsp_getFeaturesDetails.cfm?CID=753"

As stated above, the allegations in the letter about Mr. Covic are unsubstantiated and have not been proven.

Kit Menkin, Editor

(Letters --We get eMails)
http://leasingnews.org/archives/December%202009/12-04-09.htm#letters

It is being sold by Private Bank and Trust
Bank Sr. VP seeks Advice on Sysix Financial Lease
http://leasingnews.org/archives/November%202009/11-20-09.htm#sysix

Archives April 5, 2002---
---Changing of the Guard US Manifest

Troy, Sorry to See You Go. He follows Don Polfiet…Chris Canavati

Memo:

Troy Molitor has resigned his position as General Manager to pursue a career in the securities industry. Those who know Troy well are certainly aware of his passion and interest in this field Troy, Kim and their two children will be relocating to St. Cloud, MN where he will open a securities office.

Troy has been a leader of both Manifest and the leasing industry over the past 13 years.

In Manifest he held the positions of Regional Sales Manager, Executive Director of Sales and most recently General Manager.

Within the industry, Troy has been active in all the associations and he currently sits on the UAEL Board of Directors.

Troy will remain active with Manifest over the next couple of months aiding in the management transition. He will also be attending the NAELB Annual Conference in Orlando later this month.

Brian Bjella has accepted the position of General Manager of Manifest Funding Services.

For the past four years Brian has helped lead the sales efforts of Manifest as the Executive Director of Sales in the eastern half of the United States. Prior to that, Brian was instrumental in the start-up of’ Stellar Financial Services (currently U.S. Bancorp Portfolio Services) serving as General Manager of that company from 1994 to early 1998.

Brian has also been active in the industry associations and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of’ EARL, Brian brings a diversity of both operations and sales experience to his new position.

A top priority for Manifest Funding Services will be selecting the replacement for Brian as Executive Director of Sales in the East.

Since the acquisition of Manifest Funding Services by U.S. Bancorp in September 2000, the company has grown at a rate of 18% annually.

In 2001, it was one of the top performing business units within US Bancorp Equipment Finance Group posting the highest ROA amongst the units in that division

Our success is primarily a result of the strung relationships we have developed with our customers throughout the United States. We remain committed to the independent broker/lessor marketplace and as always are Focused on Your Success.

Thank you for your continued support,
Troy Molitor
General Manager

Brian Bjella
Director of Sales

Brad Peterson
Director of Sales

Tom Landmark
Director of Operations

Classified Ads---Operations

N. Phoenix, Arizona
Kathleen Gibbons-Erler. Eleven years experience in all office operations, including but not limited to lease processing. Excellent follow up skills. References on Linkedin.com.
kgibbons-erler@cox.net
Resume

Acton, MA
Strong experience in lease accounting, operations, & systems.
Implemented lease plus, Great Plains, networks.
Excellent financial reporting and analysis skills. Looking for new opportunity.
LinkedIn
alexanderzlenz@gmail.com| Resume

Orange County, CA
10 yrs. exp. middle market credit underwriting/syndication/collections. All collateral. Seeking full-time position with equipment broker/lessor. Resume available uspostalservice@verizon.net

For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Other e-Mail Posting Sites:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Posting_sites.htm

More News on Main Street Bank

It appears there is a lot more going on than a few salesmen being let go as Chairman and CEO Thomas Depping told Leasing News.

It appears bank President Michael Hoffman is no longer with the bank as his biography is off the web site, as well as Bob Fisher, CLP, Executive Vice-President, leasing division. Leasing News was informed that Fisher was let go in the last waive of cut backs that Depping described as a “few salesmen let go.”

A reader told Leasing News Hoffman resigned recently.

There have been no press releases or other media news found to confirm or deny that neither Hoffman nor Fisher is still employed at Main Street Bank.

In early March, 2010, several leasing employees were told Main Street was getting out of leasing as they reason they were let go. Reached by telephone, Chairman and CEO Thomas "Tom" Depping, told Leasing News: “…let a group of salespeople go as want to refocus the healthcare unit, get better rate to offer, satisfy the customers, and basically clean house, which is a good idea to do from time-to-time."

(Archives: Thomas J. Depping Looking Out Upon Houston, Texas)

One of the unconfirmed reports involved criticism of uncollateralized medical business loans as well as too many leases in specific categories for the size of the bank. There was nothing in public records at the time to verify the audit findings.

Here are a collection of edited emails with names withheld:

"In the Kingwood meeting I was in, there were 8 plus myself and none were in sales or specifically worked in healthcare. 6 employees from "Contract Administration" which reviews the documents and prepares deals for funding, only the 2 managers are left in the entire department, no one else. One person from Customer Service."

"Additionally a total of 5 people in the (Studebaker- Worthington) Jericho office were let go Wednesday afternoon. But management, to their credit handled it very professionally; first disconnecting their internet connections promptly at 3:30 PM and then informing them that the regulators forced the bank out of the leasing business."

"Sacramento had one full time person who prepared documentation, like contracts, addendums, and she was let go."

“It also appears there is only one person left in the Columbus, Ohio office, a credit analyst.”

Another ex-employee reports:

"3 Accounting, including a controller (AVP)

All of documentation, including 2 in Columbus, 2 in Jericho and 1 in Sacramento

Entire department that reviews documents, sets up funding and books the transactions leaving only the 2 managers to complete the pending transactions

1 in credit (AVP) (probably more - why would they keep credit if there is no one to do documents?)

1 Collections

1 Customer Service

All in Sales except 1 asst, an AVP, 2 top dogs in Jericho and 1 sales rep

1 in Funding was moved to acct for payment processing"

Leasing News hopes to be able to get confirmation or denial of the changes going on by its next edition on Wednesday.

(Archives: Thomas J. Depping in his Office drinking Diet Coca Cola)

Latest Sheldon Player News—First Premier Capital

Joining Minnwest Bank and Highland Bank, The National Bank (TNB), Bettendorf, Iowa, has also filed suit against First Premier Capital, Edina, Minnesota. The first two concern $8 million and the National Bank is at $2,489,386 million, all accusing that Premier Capital Group had knowledge of its referral of Equipment Acquisition Resource, specifically stating derogatory information that was not discussed although reportedly known to Premier Capital.

There are also various independent brokers and discounters who also will be shortly served regarding their representation and warrants in the transactions.

The complaint states:

"24. On or about February .22, 2008, after being confronted by an employee of TNB who had learned of Player's felonious past, First Premier, by and through its employee, Steve Berglund, admitted it did not inform TNB of Player's criminal background prior to entering into the Assignment with TNB.

25. This omission was even more egregious when coupled with the fact First Premier promoted the fact Player and Malone were providing personal guaranties as an inducement for TNB to buy the Lease Agreement

26. First Premier knew or should have known Player's and Malone's personal guaranties had limited or no value given Player's criminal history, and knew or should have known that had First Premier disclosed Player's felonious past to TNB, TNB would not have entered into the Assignment.

27. By the second quarter of 2009, EAR was unable to pay its debts as they became due and was insolvent. EAR then sought protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Case No. 09-39937, filed by EAR on October 23, 2009).

28. It came to light after EAR's bankruptcy filing that EAR, Player and others were engaged in an elaborate "Ponzi" or pyramid scheme to defraud TNB and others who purchased EAR leases from First Premier."

Comerica Leasing, a division of Comerica Bank, filed a complaint against US Financial and Mark Franke for $2,000,000 regarding warehouse loans and recourse leases with Equipment Acquisition Resources (3). Mr. Franke did not return telephone or email contacts. Comerica also has a $9,999,000 suit against Equipment Acquisition Resources.

The total separate laws suits appear to be around $70 million, including Minnwest Bank, Highland, Bank, the National Bank, and Comerica $9,999,999,Fifth Third Bank, $10 million, Home Federal Savings Bank, Rochester, Minnesota $3.2 million, Farmers Bank & Capital Trust, $2 million, Red Oak Acquisition, $2 million, and Bank of Dixon County, Ponca, Nebraska. $321,596. They do not include attorney fees or court costs.

These suits are seeking "default judgment" against the guarantors, which most likely will be separate from the corporate bankruptcy, and even if individuals are sent to jail, attachments or levies may be made, particularly if fraud is proved in a court of law. It also may be an avenue to seek remedy from those involved in the financial presentation.

The National Bank filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/premier_capital.pdf

Previous articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Sheldon_Player.htm

(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)

Top Stories March 29--April 2

Here are the top ten stories opened by readers:

(1) Bulletin Board Complaint
Business Direct Capital, Carlsbad, California
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_31.htm#bbc_bdc

(3) Banks Pushing Leasing into their Playing Field
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_29.htm#banks_pushing

(4) 3 Years Later-Equipment Fin. Scandal/Sterling Bank
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/250442

(5) Bulletin Board Complaint (second complaint)
Business Direct Capital, Carlsbad, California

(6) Barklay Capital, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA
Bulletin Board Complaint
thttp://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2010/4_02.htm#barklay_bbc

(7) Mortgage rates skyrocket
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-analysis-for-april-1-2010.aspx

(8) From the Desk of Michael J. Witt, Esq.
“Do” Diligence on New Vendors
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2010/4_02.htm#diligence

(9) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
Are You Prepared?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_29.htm#prepared

(10) Bank Beat---Three Months: 41 Bank Failures
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_29.htm#bank_beat

Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Two Kinds of Capital Leases for GAAP

We all know that there will be changes in the FASB #13 rules for lessee accounting in the near future. However it is still a ways off and the lessee must contend with the current rules. These rules or “classifications” as they are called is one of the most important subjects a lease salesperson needs to know to perform well in equipment leasing. One such accounting issue is that there are two kinds of capital leases. It depends on the purchase option how the lessee will depreciate the net present value (NPV) of the required lease payments. Depreciation for accounting means the “amortization of an expense” instead of the definition for income tax which is the” loss in value of a capital asset”.

If the lease meets any one of the four classification requirements, let’s say that because the lessor did not assume a residual over 12% the lease’s NPV was over classification D, the 90% test, and is therefore a “capital lease”. The question becomes how long the lessee depreciates the NPV of the lease payments? The lessee must discount the lease payments at their incremental borrowing rate (average cost of money under like circumstances) to determine the NPV. The four rules for classification are separated in two parts to determine the term of depreciation.

A short version of the classification requirements:

Automatic ownership transfer
Bargain purchase option
Term over 75% of useful life
90% test

A Capital lease requirement for depreciating the NPV states that if the lease meets classification of A or B then the NPV will be depreciated over a “like” term as if it were a purchased asset. This means the term of depreciation has nothing to do with the lease term and everything to do with the accountant’s determination of how long the asset will be of use to the lessee. It is not uncommon for the term of the lease to be much shorter than the term of the depreciation. This creates a barrier to equipment replacement at lease termination because there still is an undepreciated value on the books that may exceed the value of the equipment.

If the lease has a FMV purchase option or no purchase option at all then it will pass classification A and B but as stated above it failed the 90% test so the depreciation of the NPV will be equal to the lease term. If it passed C and D in addition to A and B it would have been a “operating Lease” Therefore, because it failed D the depreciation was limited to the lease term and no barriers exist to prevent the replacement equipment from being considered at lease termination.

It is easy to see the logic behind the classification requirements because if it looks like the lessee will acquire the asset at termination they should look at it like a purchase. It a non-bargain purchase option exists then it must be questionable as to whether they will acquire ownership so the amortization of the expense (depreciation) must be limited to the lease term even though it is a “capital lease”.

If the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate was high enough perhaps the NPV would have been under 90% of the equipments fair value and the lease would carry an “operating lease” classification. But in any event knowing how the lessee plans to classify the lease may support you sales effort by giving you direction on your sales pitch.

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty years and can be reached at leaseconsulting@msn.com or 502-327-8666. He invites your questions and queries.

Previous #102 Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Leasing_102/Index.htm

SEATTLE

Meet and learn from Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Leasing #102 columnist for Leasing News,
long time educator and trainer

Sales and Operations
click here for course information and to register

April 12th until Noon on the 14th
Seattle, Washington
Hosted by Financial Pacific

$395.00 Paid in Advance for first person from company
$345 with each additional attendee

"Certified Leasing Professionals attending this seminar will earn CPEs (Continuing Professional Education)
Credits toward their recertification"

(This ad is a “trade” for the writing of this column. Opinions
contained in the column are those of Mr. Terry Winders, CLP)

New Hires---Promotions

John A. ("JC") Collier Jr. was named federal field sales representative, Key Government Finance, Superior Colorado. He is based out of Centreville, Virginia. He previously worked at Sun Microsystems since 2004 as regional leasing manager and at Sun Microsystems Federal Inc. from 2000-2004 as area business manager, public sector area. Before that, he was chief of corporate finance for Lockheed Martin Corp. from 1996-2000. This followed two years at UNISYS Commercial Outsourcing as pricing manager and six years at UNISYS Government Systems as senior financial analyst. He has a bachelor's degree from Mary Washington College and an MBA from Marymount University.

Brian Friedly joins Balboa Capital, Irvine, California, Direct Sales. He previously was at Direct Capital where he helped grow Vendor Sales, Direct Sales, Merchant Cash Advance and working capital programs. While at Direct Capital, Friedly was awarded numerous Presidential Club sales honors and earned several awards for developing valuable finance partnerships.

Christopher J. Gotski joins Key Equipment Finance, Superior, Colorado, as senior vice president of business development and program management. In this role, Gotski will be responsible for the management, strategic direction and business growth of the company’s vendor relationships, both wholesale and retail. He was with Key Equipment Finance from 1997 to 2000 as vice president of vendor programs and asset management, followed by a role as senior vice president. Before that, he worked in positions of increasing responsibility at Leasetec Corp. before it was acquired by Key Equipment Finance in 1997. Most recently, Gotski was director of operations for NetApp Financial Solutions EMEA (Europe) from 2007 to 2009.

Jory Hopkins joins Balboa Capital, Irvine, California, Vendor Services Group. He was eight years with Key Equipment Finance. During his tenure at Key, Hopkins held various sales positions including inside sales for their banking segment. In his prior position, Hopkins helped increase IT vertical sales within the Central US Territory by 300%.

Dustin Lee has joined the Summit Funding Group, Cincinnati, Ohio, as the company as Vice President and General Counsel. His responsibilities will include the oversight of the legal and operational aspects of the company. He previously was with the law firm of Taft Stettinius and Hollister of Cincinnati, Ohio. Dustin earned dual degrees in Economics and English from The University of Michigan. Dustin later received his JD at The University of Michigan Law School.

Philip Scruggs, Senior Vice President, Summit Funding Group American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), New York, has been promoted to the position of ILFC Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Scruggs has worked for ILFC for fifteen years, most recently as Senior Vice President in Marketing with responsibility for over 65 of ILFC's airline customers world-wide. Prior, Mr. Scruggs, an instrument-rated private pilot, was employed as an attorney at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker, a Los Angeles based law firm, where he specialized in leasing and asset based finance. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, and a law degree from The George Washington University.

David Stone has joined Huntington Bank, Columbus, Ohio, as an executive vice president in charge of its commercial business in central Ohio. He previously was with PNC, formerly National City, where he was an executive vice president and head of corporate banking, based in Columbus. President of the Ohio Business Week Foundation, Stone earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Bowling Green State University. His bachelor's is in business administration, and his master's is in economics.

(This ad is a “trade” for the writing of this column. Opinions
contained in the column are those of Mr. Michael Witt, Esq.)

### Press Release ############################

Tax/Bank Fraud--- May Get 121 Years

Los Angeles, CA. Kenny Bukola Oriyomi, of West Hills, faces a statutory maximum 121 years in federal prison, and fines totaling $3,775,000, when sentenced on the charges of conviction later this year. He was convicted Friday after a three day trial on tax, bank fraud, and money laundering charges detailed in a federal grand jury indictment returned earlier this year.

According to court records, on November 22, 2004, a stolen United States Treasury check, in the amount of $478,674.26, which had been issued to an unrelated third-party as a refund of overpaid estate taxes, was deposited into a bank account controlled by an unindicted co-schemer. On December 9, 2004, a check from the co-schemer’s account was written to Oriyomi in the amount of $254,215 which Oriyomi deposited to his own account.

Once the check from his co-schemer cleared, Oriyomi’s bank gave him access to the proceeds of the check. Having access to the funds, Oriyomi attempted to withdraw over $120,000 in a period of three weeks.

In addition to the bank fraud and money laundering charges, Oriyomi was convicted of failing to file a United States Individual Income Tax Return for the 2004 tax year. According to court records, Oriyomi willfully failed to report the over $250,000 he received from the proceeds of the stolen estate tax refund check as taxable income.

United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez ordered Oriyomi to appear for sentencing on July 12, 2010.

The investigation and prosecution of Oriyomi was conducted by IRS – Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service in conjunction with the United States Attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

#### Press Release #############################

Shawnne Mission, Kansas---Adopt-a-Dog

Billy Song

Less than 1 yr. old Male Papillon, Terrier [Mix]
* Friendly with Other Pets
“Born 12-17-10.
Fence or enclosed patio required! Some Apartment dogs available. We will check your vet reference and fence. All our dogs are current on vaccs, HW neg and spayed or neutered.
The number of phone calls we receive is OVERWHELMING. For the quickest response, please E-Mail us Here: ldogrescue@yahoo.com

Please visit our upcoming Adopt-A-Pets at Petco, one block east of 75th & Metcalf in Overland Park .

P. O. Box 8545
Shawnee Mission, KS 66208
Phone: (816) 926-0242
Fax: (816) 926-0242

Petco Adoptions:
Adoptions and meet and greets take place at: PetCo 6801 West 75th Street, Overland Park KS, 66204 - (913)385-7387
http://www.lldogrescue.org/dogs/
http://www.lldogrescue.org/dogs/dog.php?id=19

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/

[headlines]
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    1614 - American Indian princess Pocahontas (d.1617) married English Jamestown colonist John Rolfe in Virginia. Their marriage brought a temporary peace between the English settlers and the Algonquians. In 1616, the couple sailed to England. The "Indian Princess" was popular with the English gentry.
    1621 - The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, Mass., on a return trip to England.
    1850-Legislature passed act for the incorporation of San Francisco.
    1854-Thousands of people gathered at the Plaza for dedication of the new City Hall bell. Fire Chief Engineer Duane broke a bottle of champagne over the bell that was also to be used for alarms of fire. The tower was to be used by fire spotters.
    1856- The birthday of Booker Taliaferro Washington, black educator and leader born at Franklin County, VA. "No race can prosper," he wrote in "Up from Slavery, "till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem."
http://www.historycooperative.org/btw/
    1868-The first Chamber of Commerce was established by 20 merchants at a meeting at Fraunces Tavern, New York City, " for promoting and encouraging commerce, supporting industry, adjusting disputes relative to trade and navigation, and procuring such laws and regulations as may be found necessary for the benefit of trade in general." John Cruger was the first president.
    1871-Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner, football player and coach, born at Springville, NY.
After playing several sports at Cornell, Warner began coaching football, most notably at the Carlisle Indian School where he coached Him Thorpe. He coached three undefeated teams oat the University of Pittsburgh and went to the Rose Bowl three times with Stanford. he ended a 44-year career at Temple. Died at Palo Alto, CA. September 7, 1954.
    1906 -- Hipster, flipster, musician Lord Buckley born Tuolumne, California.
http://www.lordbuckley.com/LBC/The_Printheads/TheLordWhoBecame.html
http://www.lordbuckley.com/LBC/LBC_Misc_Pages/LBC.html
http://singersong.homestead.com/LordBuckley.html
http://dir.salon.com/story/people/feature/2002/06/26/buckley/print.html
    1911 -- 80,000 march in 5th Avenue funeral for Triangle Shirtwaist victims, NY.
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/
    1915-Towering Jess Willard beat Jack Johnson in the 26th round to win the heavyweight championship of the world in Havana, Cuba. Johnson, a black American who had held the title since defeating Tommy Burns in 1908, had been widely criticized for his flamboyant lifestyle. Willard from Kansas was touted as the "Great White Hope," whose goal it was to recapture the title for the "Caucasian race." The decision was controversial as Willard was on the floor several times with many "slow counts." It was also said that he thought he could escape Mann Act charges against him if he lost to a "white man." A movie was made about his life starring James Earl Jones.
http://www.famoustexans.com/jackjohnson.htm
    1916-National Park Service founded.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr05.html
    1917 -- Birthday of writer Robert Bloch, born Chicago, Il, perhaps best known as "Collier Young. American crime and suspense writer, who famous for stories about psychopaths. Best known is Psycho, a stunning film by Alfred Hitchcock (1960). Also wrote humorous fantasy, science fiction, short stories, screenplays & radio plays.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/rbloch.htm
http://web.tiscali.it/andrebalza/
    1918-Goerge " Joe" Sobek, inventor of racquetball born at Greenwich, CT, in 1950. Sobek decided he needed more exercise. Such a good squash player that he was unable to find opponents and not interested in either handball or paddle ball. Sobek invented racquetball. For the racquet, he added strings to a platform-tennis paddle. For the ball, he used the core of a tennis ball. By his death, his sport was being played by 8.5 million people in 91 nations. Died at Greenwich, March 27,1998.
    1923 - Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, OH began the first regular production of balloon tires.
    1926-birthday of guitarist Lou Millet, Baton Rouge, LA
http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/artists/m/mill6700.htm
    1926 -- H.L. Mencken arrested in front of hundreds of cheering spectators in Boston, for selling a banned issue of the American Mercury. magazine
http://www.io.com/~gibbonsb/mencken.html
    1926 -- First issue of Hugo Gernsback's magazine "Amazing Stories" is published.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Stories
http://paizo.com/amazing
    1927--Drummer Stan Levey birthday
http://www.rhythmweb.com/people/stan.htm
    1928-birthday of singer Tony Williams, Elizabeth,NJ
http://www.hotshotdigital.com/OldRock/PlattersBio.html
    1934-birthday of tenor sax player Stanley Turrentine, Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.sonicnet.com/allmusic/ai_bio.jhtml?ai_id=507685
    1936-The fourth deadliest tornado in US history rips through Tupelo, MS, killing 235 but sparing Elvis Presley, still an infant, who is held in his Great Uncle Noah's house by his mother Gladys until the storm passes.
    1942 - The Ski Union of America was formed in New York City to become the governing body for amateur skiing in the Western hemisphere.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/index.jsp
    1945 - The temperature at Eagles Nest, NM, plunged to 45 degrees below zero to establish an April record for the United States.
    1949-"Fireside Theater" premiered on TV.Gene Raymond and later Jane Wyman hosted this NBC anthology program consisting of 15- and 30-minute dramas. One of its most acclaimed presentations was "The Reign of Amelika Jo" on Oct 12, 1954. It was set in the South Pacific during World War II and had a mostly black and Asian cast.
    1951 - General MacArthur's letter of March 20 to House minority leader Joseph W. Martin criticizing President Truman's strategy and the concept of limited war was made public. In the letter MacArthur advocated using Chinese Nationalist troops to open a second front against Communist China.
    1951---Top Hits
If - Perry Como
Mockingbird Hill -Patti Page
Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
The Rhumba Boogie - Hank Snow
    1953 ---In Washington, D.C., President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. (Its name was later changed to the Annual National Prayer Breakfast.)
    1953-Buddy Rich joins Harry James band Easter Sunday, Hollywood Palladium.
    1955 - Richard J. Daley was elected mayor of Chicago, IL, starting one of the most colorful political careers in the twentieth century. A man who lived in the house he was born until he died. Never a "rich" man in money, but perhaps the most single political powerful man in American history.
    1958 - Johnny Mathis' album, "Johnny's Greatest Hits", on Columbia Records, made it to the pop music charts for the first time. The LP remained on the charts for a record 490 weeks (nearly 9-1/2 years!) The record began its stay at number one (three weeks) on June 9, 1958. Mathis studied opera from age 13 and earned a track and field scholarship at San Francisco State College. He was invited to Olympic try-outs and chose a singing career instead. He was originally a jazz-style singer when Mitch Miller of Columbia switched Mathis to singing pop ballads. He would chart over 60 albums in 30 years. When he declared himself "gay," his popularity waned.
    1958-Irvin Feld's Greatest Show of Stars opens its 80-day North American tour in Norfolk, Virginia. Headlining are Sam Cooke, the Silhouettes, Royal Teens, Everly Brothers, Jimmy Reed and Clyde McPhatter. The bill is expanded with the addition of Paul Anka, Roy Hamilton, LaVern Baker, Frankie Avalon and others.
    1958 -- Castro declares war on dictatorial and corrupt Batista regime. As the US turns against him he moves into the Communist fold & sets up his own dictatorship.
    1959---Top Hits
Venus - Frankie Avalon
Come Softly to Me - The Fleetwoods
It's Just a Matter of Time - Brook Benton
When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below) - Johnny Horton
    1961-"Secret Agent" premiered on TV. Before Patrick McGoohan became "The Prisoner," he played the role of intelligence agent John Drake on this CBS adventure series. Produced in England by ATV, it also aired there as "Danger Man."
    1961- Barbra Streisand appears on "The Jack Paar Show."
    1962 -- Billie Sol Estes indicted for selling millions of dollars' worth of chattel mortgages on nonexistent fertilizer tanks.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKestes.htm
http://www.tigertales.com/local97/estes120897.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~sixthfloor/
    1963-Martha and the Vandellas make their chart debut with "Come and Get These Memories."
    1965 - Bob Hope hosted the 37th Annual Academy Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles. "My Fair Lady" and "Mary Poppins" vied for Best Picture as did "Alexis Zorbas"; "Becket"; and "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb". And the winner was ... "My Fair Lady" (Jack L. Warner, producer). "My Fair Lady" was the name in the winner's envelope seven more times: Best Director (George Cukor); Best Actor (Rex Harrison); Best Cinematography/Color (Harry Stradling); Best Art Direction-Set Decoration/Color (Gene Allen, Cecil Beaton, George James Hopkins); Best Costume Design/Color (Cecil Beaton); Best Sound (George Groves-Warner Bros. Studio Sound Dept.); and Best Music/Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment (André Previn). "Mary Poppins" was not about to let Eliza Doolittle steal all her thunder. Julie Andrews was awarded an Oscar for Best Actress for her title role; Cotton Warburton won for Best Film Editing; Peter Ellenshaw, Hamilton Luske, Eustace Lycett for Best Effects, Special Visual Effects and Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman won for Best Music/Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee" from "Mary Poppins") and for Best Music/Score-Substantially Original. The two remaining crowd-pleaser awards went to Peter Ustinov in "Topkapi" for Best Supporting Actor and to Lila Kedrova in "Alexis Zorbas" for Best Supporting Actress.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148977.html
    1966-San Francisco Grayline starts hippie tours of Haight/Ashbury.
    1967---Top Hits
Happy Together - The Turtles
Dedicated to the One I Love - The Mamas & The Papas
Somethin' Stupid - Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra
Walk Through This World with Me - George Jones
    1968 -- San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto issues a proclamation condemning the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thousands of people gathered at Civic Center in memory of the civil rights leader. City flags lowered to half staff.
    1969 -A weekend of antiwar demonstrations begins in all major; anti-war marches in 50 cities attract an estimated 150,000 Vietnam War protesters.
   1970-BUKER, BRIAN L. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Detachment B-55, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Chau Doc Province, Republic of Vietnam, 5 April 1970. Entered service at: Bangor, Maine. Born: 3 November 1949, Benton, Maine. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Buker, Detachment B-55, distinguished himself while serving as a platoon adviser of a Vietnamese mobile strike force company during an offensive mission. Sgt. Buker personally led the platoon, cleared a strategically located well-guarded pass, and established the first foothold at the top of what had been an impenetrable mountain fortress. When the platoon came under the intense fire from a determined enemy located in 2 heavily fortified bunkers, and realizing that withdrawal would result in heavy casualties, Sgt. Buker unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, charged through the hail of enemy fire and destroyed the first bunker with hand grenades. While reorganizing his men for the attack on the second bunker, Sgt. Buker was seriously wounded. Despite his wounds and the deadly enemy fire, he crawled forward and destroyed the second bunker. Sgt. Buker refused medical attention and was reorganizing his men to continue the attack when he was mortally wounded. As a direct result of his heroic actions, many casualties were averted, and the assault of the enemy position was successful. Sgt. Buker's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1971-The second incarnation of the Washington Senators opened their last season in the nation's capital, defeating the Oakland Athletics, 8-0. After the season, they moved to Arlington, TX, and became the Texas Rangers. the original Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins in 1962.
    1972 - A tornado, 500 yards wide at times, touched down at a marina on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, and then tore through Vancouver WA killing six persons, injuring 300 others, and causing more than five million dollars damage. It was the deadliest tornado of the year, and the worst of record for Washington.
    1975---Top Hits
Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
Philadelphia Freedom - The Elton John Band
No No Song/Snookeroo - Ringo Starr
I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind - Johnny Rodriguez
    1982 - An unprecedented April blizzard began in the northeastern U.S. One to two feet of snow fell across Massachusetts and Connecticut, and up to 26 inches was reported in Maine. New York City received a foot of snow. Winds reached 70 to 80 mph during the storm, and the storm also produced numerous thunderstorms, which contributed to the heavy snow.
    1983---Top Hits
Billy Jean - Michael Jackson
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
Hungry like the Wolf - Duran Duran
When I'm Away from You - The Bellamy Brothers
    1984-The second annual MTV Video Music Awards are broadcast. Winners include Michael Jackson for "Beat It," the Police for "Every Breath You Take" and Cyndi Lauper for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
    1985 - Broadcasters banded together to play the single, We Are the World, at 10:50 a.m. E.S.T. Stations in the United States were joined by hundreds of others around the world in a sign of unification for the African relief cause. Even Muzak made the song only the second vocal selection it has ever played in elevators and offices since its inception.|
    1987 - Calling it the first launching of a television network in almost 40 years, the FOX Broadcasting Company, under the direction of media and publishing baron, Rupert Murdoch, started with two Sunday night offerings. "Married......With Children" and "The Tracey Ullman Show" were the beginnings of the FOX lineup.
    1987-"Married...With Children" premiered on TV. This raunchy Fox TV show premiered as the antidote to Cosby-style family shows. Ed O'Neill starred as boorish, luckless shoe salesman Al Bundy, Katey Sagal portrayed Al's big-haired, spandex-clad, sex-starved wife Peggy, Christina Applegate played air headed bombshell daughter Kelly and David Faustino played hormone-driven son Bud. The Bundys' neighbors were portrayed by Amanda Bearse as Marcy Rhoades, David Garrison as husband #1, Steve Rhoades and Ted McGinley as husband #2, Jefferson D'Arcy. The last episode aired Apr 20, 1997.
    1987-"The Tracey Ullman Show" premiered on TV.This Emmy award-winning comedy-variety show was one of the Fox network's early critical hits. Tracey Ullman starred with Julie Kavner, Dan Castellaneta, Joe Malone and Sam McMurray. The show, produced by James L. Brooks, contained sketches, songs and satire. Animated snippets in between segments introduced us to the Simpsons, executed by Matt Groening, creator of the "Life in Hell" comic strip. "The Simpsons" spun off from the show in 1990 with Castellaneta and Kavner speaking the voices of Homer and Marge Simpson.
    1987 - A storm produced unprecedented April snows in the central Appalachians. Mount Mitchell NC received 35 inches of snow, and up to 60 inches (six feet) of snow was reported in the mountains along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The total of 25 inches at Charleston WV easily surpassed their previous record for the entire month of April of 5.9 inches. The 20.6 inch total at Akron OH established an all-time record for that location.
    1988 - Thirty-nine cities across the eastern half of the country reported record high temperatures for the date, including Saint Louis MO with a reading of 91 degrees. Laredo TX was the hot spot in the nation with an afternoon high of 100 degrees
    1989 - Unseasonably hot weather prevailed in the southwestern U.S. Afternoon highs of 100 degrees at Santa Maria CA and 105 degrees in Downtown Los Angeles established records for the month of April.
    1989-- David Letterman becomes 1st network TV series to use Dolby stereo.
    1991---Top Hits
Coming Out of the Dark - Gloria Estafan
This House - Tracie Spencer
Hold You Tight - Tara Kemp
Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House - Garth Brooks
    1998-Ray Piecuch, a cowboy poet from New Hampshire, completed his yearlong 3,500 mile ride across country on his horse, Bo, with a champagne celebration at Baker Beach.
    1990-- Paul Newman wins a court victory over Julius Gold, to keep giving all profits from Newman foods to charity.
    1998-Ray Piecuch, a cowboy poet from New Hampshire, completed his yearlong 3,500 mile ride across country on his horse, Bo, with a champagne celebration at Baker Beach, San Francisco.
    2063 --Earth's 1st contact by extra-terrestrials as the Borg's go back to prevent the testing of time warp.
http://www.movie-gazette.com/cinereviews/164
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117731/quotes

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