"How do I handle 'age' in an interview?"
Career Crossroad---By Emily Fitzpatrick/RII

 Question: I am an older candidate in the job market. How do I handle any “age” questions that an employer may ask me?

Answer: It is illegal to discriminate against a job candidate because of age; many questions about age in an interview can be considered illegal. However, that does not stop them being asked – so how do you handle this?
You could actually say “That’s an illegal question and I’m not going to answer it.” HOWEVER, a response like this isn’t going to get you a job offer – which is the goal! I recommend in response to make a positive statement about yourself.

First, if this question is asked, it usually means that the interview is going well: the interviewer is looking at you favorably, probably thinks you can do the job. You could reply “I’m ….. (age)” – okay that doesn’t assist you. The best way would be to reply with a version of the following: “That’s interesting you should ask, I’m …… That gives me …… years in the industry (role, etc...) and …… years doing exactly the job you are trying to fill. The benefit to my experience and energy level is ……” – finish with a benefit statement about what you bring to the position and company. Make it positive, not a negative answer.

If in sales – all you need is a proven track record of success – IDEALLY, business / relationships / deals to bring to the table – express this!

I recommend another option: even if the interviewer doesn’t bring up the topic, broach the topic yourself (as it may be an unspoken question) – take the initiative.

When asked if you have any questions, reply “Mr./Mrs. ……(interviewer) if I were sitting in your chair looking at a seasoned pro, I would be considering issues like energy, manageability and professional currency, let me tell you something about my …..” and add some benefits you would bring to the table / employer.

By doing this, you will prove yourself to be perceptive, to the point and will eliminate any unspoken concerns.

 

Emily Fitzpatrick
Sr. Recruiter
Recruiters International, Inc.
Phone:  954-885-9241
Cell:  954-612-0567
emily@riirecruit.com
Invite me to Connect on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pub/emily-fitzpatrick/4/671/76
Also follow us on Twitter #RIIINFO
https://www.pinterest.com/recruitersinter/rii-career-services/

Career Crossroads Previous Columns
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/crossroad.html

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Difference between a $1 Purchase Option Lease
and a Conditional Sales Contract

Many think leasing contracts are just disguised conditional sales contracts (CSC). It is much more complicated than that with both good and bad aspects about using a lease form with a bargain purchase option.

Often an Equipment Finance Agreement would offer the lessor a better position as a creditor than as the “owner.” There are many consequences affecting many rules and regulations. Merely because a lease looks like a CSC does not make it so in the eyes of some of those rule makers.

If you use a lease agreement with a $1 or bargain purchase option, you are declaring that you are the owner until the lessee actually exercises the purchase option at lease termination. Therefore you are subject to unpaid taxes that are assessed on the equipment over the term such as property tax, school tax, county taxes, or any other local tax, even though you may not know about it, plus any penalties or interest. This requires a lease accounting software package based on assets and their location and not the lessee’s address.

A CSC and a loan are both cancelable with payoffs computed to reduce the payoff by determining the unearned interest. A lease contract is non-cancelable to protect the lessor and gives the lessor control to request the remaining payments. Even though most lessors only impose this non-cancelable clause in the case of default, it does separate a CSC from a lease and has other consequences.

There is no language in a lease contract to accept down payments, trade-ins, or additional collateral. If you try to include them, you are going to have to create an addendum and it will be the camel when you expected a horse. Any attorney will tell you it is a no win document because it is a hybrid and a loan with a security agreement or a Conditional Sales Contract or Equipment Finance Agreement would have been a stronger way to go. However, in many States,d you do not need a license to be in the leasing business, but you do need to qualify for a lender’s license.

One problem with leasing is the amount of documents required to properly complete a lease. You do not find acceptance forms, purchase orders, vendor’s invoices, delivery certificates, or requirements for equipment maintenance, or return requirements in a CSC or Equipment Finance Agreement. Some lessor’s try to include some of these forms in the lease agreement, but clearly do not understand the importance of proper dating and performance issues to follow legal requirements. This opens the can of worms of fraud and recourse on non-recourse funding.

Like it or not, you must require “additional insured” endorsements as well as the “loss payee” on the lessee’s insurance policies. Because you are the owner until termination you could be subject to a lawsuit for injuries or damage caused by your equipment. Lenders are rarely included. Just the cost of the litigation can be expensive even though you may be exonerated, as some lessors seem to ignore the question of insurance under the assumption that a bargain option lease is some protection. This is a dangerous assumption.

There are several provisions in a lease that are not found in a CSC such as a re-location notice, so if the equipment moves to a different tax location, changes in tax reporting can occur for personal property taxes or if you are collecting the tax monthly. A CSC does not make the lender subject to any equipment taxes and therefore the accounting is much simpler. Sad to say that some funders buy payment streams and because they look at the lease like a loan, many aspects are ignored and they do not understand the risks that they put the broker in when they do the accounting without a leasing software package.

In short, a lending department does not have the tools or the training to account for, or handle, an equipment lease, regardless of the UCC decision regarding Article 9. Case law will only determine if the lease meets legal or tax standards and has no effect on the accounting standards (SFAS #13) used to classify a lease.

In addition, the Lessor is usually concerned about the equipment being leased and studies the actual useful life and the economic value of the equipment over the term. A lender usually reviews the financial statement of the borrower to determine the credit quality of the transaction. A lender rarely reviews the requested term in relation to the risk or the “true” collateral value of the equipment, and let’s not even begin to talk about the warranty concerns. This leads a Lessor to completely describe the equipment and understand its potential use to the lessee, as well as any vendor or manufacturer’s warranty.

Many states require full disclosure on Conditional Sales Contracts and Equipment Finance Agreements, whereas Lease Contracts do not, and many think do not need to follow the state usury laws, thus they are more popular by credit grantors, as well as the advantages of a “true lease” without a bargain purchase option.

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

 

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for appraisals and equipment valuations provided by Ed Castagna)

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Credit/Collections #102 by Ben Carlile

Would you do the deal?

We’re back to consider another transaction for credit approval. This one caused some spirited debate. I have changed the names and circumstances for this example and I’ve simplified the presentation to fit this article length.

Borrower: PimerMed Products, Inc.
Lender: The new equipment finance subsidiary of First Certificate Bank (FCB), a local $2.2 billion bank
Relationship: No previous/existing relationship with the bank but PimerMed is an attractive bank prospect for FCB
Amount: $6MM
Equipment: primary manufacturing equipment for expansion and efficiency
Term: 60 Month capital lease
Pricing: 4% yield (a below average spread for FCB)

Overview:
PimerMed is a $110MM specialized cardio medical device manufacturer started in 1985 by Gerald Pimer, current Chairman, CEO and 100% shareholder. Mr. Pimer is a well-respected executive in the industry, but his daughter is now actively managing the business. The company is considered to be one of the top 3 privately held companies in its segment. Trends are positive for sales growth and cash flow, but the growth has slowed substantially in recent years.

Mr. Pimer personally has significant real estate interests. His net worth is estimated to be in the $15MM range with personal debt of approximately $25MM. He no longer offers his personal guaranty for new PimerMed obligations.

Financial Highlights:
PimerMed is a $110MM revenue company. The business has a diverse customer base with both long time and recently acquired clients. No single customer represents more than 12% of the revenues. The company is profitable, with net income in the $5MM range, growing at a rate of approximately 4% per year since 2010. The balance sheet is levered 2.5X with a tangible net worth of $20MM. Debt service coverage is almost 2x and debt to EBITDA is 3X.

Banking Relationship:
PimerMed has a primary banking relationship with a competitor that dates back 10+ years. There is a $5MM working capital line with that bank, which has been paid as agreed. The line is secured by a blanket lien on all business assets.

Lender: First Certificate Bank (FCB) acquired a small equipment finance firm (ABC) in 2015. ABC has a $120MM portfolio that is diversified among 6 industries. With lower cost of funds than what was available as an independent enterprise, ABC, now a subsidiary of the bank, has expanded into more competitive markets. There is no particular medical industry expertise within the bank’s and ABC’s credit groups, but the medical segment has been targeted for development by the bank’s executive team and board of directors. The prospect of winning this deal and taking PimerMed’s deposits and working capital line is drawing the attention of the bank’s CEO and some members of the board.

This transaction was originated through a personal relationship of the loan officer at ABC. If ABC doesn’t approve this deal within the few days, it is likely that a competitor will come in and offer a lower rate. Mr. Pimer and his daughter are tough negotiators who are used to getting their way and being pampered by their bank and financing sources.

Equipment: The new manufacturing line will have considerable in place revenue-producing value to PimerMed. However, installation and de-installation costs are high. Estimates of wholesale offsite remarketing value range from 15% to 5% over the term of the lease. The two equipment suppliers are established and reputable vendors, but they are not active in the secondary market for used equipment.
.
Issue: Since the financial crises and recession of 2008-2009 and the death of his wife in 2010, Mr. Pimer has taken to bouts excessive drinking and gambling. FSB is aware of this, but it is not well known to others in PimerMed’s industry. Last month Mr. Pimer was convicted for his second DUI offense within the last 12 months. During a recent trade conference, he was twice bounced out of a hotel bar due to his behavior. In spite of consistent warnings from his accountant, Mr. Pimer has not paid his real estate property tax bills for the past 2 years. He is also involved in legal battles over disputes regarding his properties. Recently he told his daughter that he has changed his Will and that she would probably not like it. Mr. Pimer originally fought his daughter’s proposal to acquire and finance this new manufacturing equipment. He only reluctantly gave his approval when his daughter agreed to cut the dollar amount of the project by half.

Questions:
• What are the material strengths and weaknesses of this deal and how would you weigh them in making a decision?
• What additional information and due diligence tasks, if any, would you deem essential in reaching a decision?
• How important are the proposed dollar amount, yield, term, collateral coverage and lack of a guaranty?
• Will ABC’s credit decision be influenced by their new status as a bank subsidiary instead of an independent entity? If so, how?
• What are the regulatory and risk management considerations that may affect how the bank views this transaction?
• How does the private conduct of the business owner fit into your view on this commercial credit?
• Will you approve this deal? Why or why not? If you decide to approve, will you change the proposed terms, and, if so, what changes will you make?

Hope you enjoy looking at this one. In the next article, I’ll tell you what happened. In the meantime, click the link below to sign up for the ELFA Credit & Collections Conference: June 5-7 in Denver, CO. It’s going to be a high time!
https://www.elfaonline.org/cvweb_elfa/cgi-bin/documentdll.dll/view?DOCUMENTNUM=1371

Ben Carlile
Small Business Lending Expertise
Alternative Non-Bank Underwriting
Risk Management, Collections, Operations
bencarlile9@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/bencarlile
415.209.3271

Credit and Collections 102 Previous Articles
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/credit_collections102.htm

 

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for investigative
reporting provided by John Kenny)

 

 

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

 

VenSource Capital Completes New Equity Round to Expand
 Venture Capital Back-Up Company Financing/Leasing Specialists

Wilton, CT, VenSource Capital LLC ("VenSource"), a specialty finance company providing equipment financing to venture capital sponsored startups,  announces that it closed on a new $15 million equity round. The equity investment was made by CV Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded specialty finance company. VenSource will continue to specialize in providing equipment financing primarily to US-based venture capital-backed startups. VenSource and CVH have created a new joint venture, VenSource Management LLC, based in Wilton, CT that will originate and manage all aspects of the lease and loan portfolio. The companies have also created a new holding company for the portfolio, VenSource Holdings LLC, also based in Wilton, CT.

George A. Parker
Co-Founder/Co-Chief Executive Officer

VenSource Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer George A. Parker stated "We are very excited about this opportunity and we plan to position VenSource as a leader in providing flexible, efficient equipment financing to venture sponsored startup companies."

Arnold J. Hoegler
Co-Founder/Co-Chief Executive Officer

VenSource Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer Arnold J. Hoegler added "We are enthusiastic about building another major industry finance organization to serve our rapidly growing customers. The CVH investment allows us to serve this important market by growing our financing capabilities, and enables us to hire key people in our marketing, credit and portfolio administration functions."

CV Holdings Co-CEO's Ken Witkin and Rick Koenigsberger stated "We are very pleased with our new joint venture with VenSource Capital. We were very impressed by George and Arnie's successful track record and outstanding reputation in the business. This investment into the venture leasing space fits within CV Holdings strategic plan to expand into several specialty finance businesses."
 
About VenSource Capital
VenSource Capital was founded in 2015 by two industry leaders, George A. Parker and Arnold J. Hoegler, with over 60 years combined experience in equipment leasing and lending, who have originated and serviced over $500 million in leases or loans during their careers. Both were principals and co-founders of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. and spent many years growing that firm into a well-respected and recognized firm that was very active in all of the major industry associations. VenSource specializes in providing equipment financing ranging from $750,000 to $5 million to venture capital backed startups developing or providing information services, software, or technology products, including products and services in energy, biotechnology, healthcare/medical, security, Internet and other markets. VenSource also provides financing to select non-venture backed middle market companies.

About CV Holdings
Headquartered in Newport Beach, CA with offices in Connecticut and Boston, CV Holdings has been an industry leader in the distressed residential loan/REO properties market since 2008. CV Holdings developed its corporate philosophy with the highest integrity, a formidable infrastructure, and the procedural ingenuity to maximize value for borrowers and investors alike. CVH has extensive capabilities in all facets of the loan cycle, property management, and real estate services combining its national experience with local market presence and expertise. CVH is currently looking to expand its investment focus in other specialty finance areas.

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

 

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

 

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Fleet Financing Resources Arranges $19.8MM in Bus Equipment Leases/Loans for Q1/2016

Riverside, CA – Fleet Financing Resources, LLC (FFR) arranged
$19.8 million of lease and loan financing for bus equipment in Q1/2016.  The equipment includes motor coaches, school buses, shuttles and other buses of all sizes to fleet operators on a nationwide basis.

“Considering first quarter is usually subdued, and in light of aggressive competition, we are extremely happy with our results at a 49% increase in volume over 1Q/2015.  Nearly 70% of the transactions are attributable to long-term fleet customers replacing and/or acquiring new equipment.  We are exceptionally gratified and appreciative to have gained the loyalty of our customer base which ensures the longevity of each customer relationship,” said Dave Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer and President for FFR.

About Fleet Financing Resources - FFR offers financing and leasing for all new and used titled transportation equipment - specializing in buses of all sizes.  Founded in 2002, Fleet Financing Resources has been successful in providing finance solutions to over 3,700 businesses nationwide.  FFR offers a broad funding menu of products and services tailored to each client’s specific needs.

Labrador Retriever/Mix –Chocolate/White
Houston, Texas   Adopt a Dog

Abby
Animal ID   31270766
Breed Retriever, Labrador/Mix
Age: 2 years 6 months 3 days
Sex: Female
Size: Large
Color: Chocolate/White
Housetrained: Unknown
Location: Orange Cabana
Intake Date : 4/8/2016

" I was recently transferred from the Humane Society in Southeast Texas. That shelter had a fire a few weeks ago, and they don't have anywhere to put me right now, so my friends at the Houston Humane Society are helping me out!"

Houston Humane Society
14700 Almeda Rd.  (not Almeda Genoa)
Houston, TX 77053

Adoptions:
Monday-Friday
11:00am-6:00pm
Saturday - Sunday
11:00am-5:30pm

Call 713-433-6421 or visit in person to book your appointment, at the time you schedule

 

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

News Briefs---

Pilot Car Leasing Plan Kicks Off for those
  Who Don't Need Cars Full-Time
http://fortune.com/2016/04/08/ford-group-leasing-austin/ 

Where Technology Is Placing US Jobs At Risk
 Fresno, at 53.8 percent. Las Vegas at 49.1, Greensboro at 48.5
https://www.statista.com/chart/4628/where-technology-is-placing-us-jobs-at-risk/

Puerto Rico governor declares bank emergency
to default as it faces nearly $2.5 billion in bond payments
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/09/

Becoming a ‘Certified’ Merchant Cash Advance Professional is Just Around The Corner
http://debanked.com/2016/04/becoming-a-certified-merchant-cash-advance-professional-is-just-around-the-corner/

Controversial Bill Could Eliminate Marketplace Lending, Merchant Cash Advance and Nonbank Business Loans in Illinois (and starve small businesses in the process)
http://debanked.com/2016/04/scorched-earth-controversial-bill-could-eliminate-marketplace-lending-merchant-cash-advance-and-nonbank-business-loans-in-illinois-and-starve-small-businesses-in-the-process/

Is Alternative Lending An Illusion?
http://debanked.com/2015/04/is-alternative-lending-an-illusion-
lendit-2015-summary/

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--You May Have Missed It

A Town Nourished by Mickey Mantle’s Legacy, if Not Yet Prosperity
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/sports/baseball/mickey-mantle-commerce-oklahoma.html?src=me

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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

The 8 Best Fast Food Breakfasts
What to Order On-the-Go
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1449

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Spring Poem

        Nature
by William Wordsworth

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Sports Briefs----

Latest buzz surrounding NFL draft
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/04/10/will-smith-murder-new-orleans-saints-nfl

Spieth-Less: Worst Collapse? Please
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/171722510/jordan-spieth-masters-collapse-context

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California Nuts Briefs---

Serial ADA lawsuit filer striking Bay Area
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_29749240/serial-ada-lawsuit-filer-striking-bay-area

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“Gimme that Wine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

Are Cask Beers Worth the Fuss?
http://www.wsj.com/articles/are-cask-beers-worth-the-fuss-1441825666

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm

     1621 - Myles Standish, one of the Mayflower Pilgrims, was unanimously chosen military captain of the colony.
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/users/deetz/Plymouth/standishwill.html
    1631 - The first militia was formed by the Court of Assistants of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Boston, MA, which ordered “ that there shall be a watch of 4 kept (every) night at Dorchester and another of 4 at Watertown, the watches to begin at sunset.”
    1724 - Birthday of Lyman Hall (d. 1790) at Wallingford, CT.  Signer of the Declaration of Independence. When the war reached Savannah, Hall's property was burned and he stood accused of high treason. He fled to Charleston, which was also overtaken by the British. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hall.http://www.lyman-hall.com/ htm
    1770 - The British government moved to mollify outraged colonists by repealing almost all of the Townshend Acts. Initially passed in the summer of 1767, the Townshend Acts were the British government's fiscal and political play to maintain its power over the American colonies. The bills, named after their sponsor, Charles Townshend, not only suspended America's uppity body of representatives, but also levied a controversial package of revenue taxes, including duties on paint, paper and tea. While English leaders viewed colonial control as a historically justified stance, Americans were of a far different mind: they believed the acts smacked of undue meddling. This sent the colonies into a heated, and sometimes violent, frenzy of protest. America's outrage eventually prompted the British to roll back all of the acts and revenue duties, save for the now infamous tea tax.
  1776 - Halifax resolution for independence was adopted by North Carolina.  The first Declaration to form an independent Union started with a resolution adopted by the Provincial Congress of North Carolina at Halifax, NC, authorizing the delegates from North Carolina to the Continental Congress to vote for a Declaration of Independence.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr12.html
    1777 - Birthday of Henry Clay (d. 1852), statesman, born at Hanover County, VA. Was the Speaker of the House of Representatives and later became the leader of the new Whig party. He was defeated for the presidency three times. Clay died at Washington, DC, June 29, 1852. http://www.henryclay.org/
    1811 - The first settlers to reach the Pacific coast left New York City on September 6, 1810, on the S.S. Tonquin, a 290-ton vessel captained by Jonathan Thorn. They rounded Cape Horn on December 25, 1810, landing on April 12, 1811, at Cape Disappointment, WA, a promontory at the mouth of the Columbia River. The enterprise was sponsored by John Jacob Astor.
    1858 - Salt Lake City offers an uneasy welcome to Alfred Cummings, its first non-Mormon governor, which signals the end of the so-called "Utah War." The Mormon acceptance of a gentile governor came after more than a year of tensions and military threats between the U.S. government and Brigham Young's Utah theocracy. Sometimes referred to as the Utah War, this little-known conflict arose out of fundamental questions about the autonomy of the Mormon-controlled territory of Utah. Was Utah an American state or an independent nation? Could the Mormon Church maintain its tight controls over the political and economic fate of the territory while still abiding by the laws and dictates of the United States? Mormon citizens began manufacturing arms and ammunition in preparation for war. Much to the embarrassment of the Buchanan administration, severe weather and the Nauvoo Legion's scorched earth tactics initially stymied the federal troops. After a hard winter spent at the burnt out shell of Fort Bridger, the American force prepared to make another attempt to push through the Wasatch Mountains and down into Salt Lake. By this time, Young was ready for peace, but he remained so distrustful that he ordered some 30,000 people to abandon Salt Lake and other northern settlements and make an unnecessary retreat southward. When Cummings finally arrived in Salt Lake on this day in 1858, the city was nearly deserted. Young peacefully relinquished the governorship and all of his other governmental roles, agreeing to become solely the spiritual leader of Utah Mormons. In exchange, Buchanan gave all Utah residents a blanket pardon for any involvement in the conflict. Several months later, two brigades of American soldiers established Camp Floyd south of Salt Lake City, the largest garrison in the nation until the Civil War. With the threat of a bloody conflict diminished, Mormon refugees began returning to their homes. Though tensions between the Mormons and the federal government continued for decades, the Utah War ended the dream of a Mormon state geographically and politically separated from nonbelievers. Henceforth, Utah Territory was clearly a part of the American union, and it was granted full statehood in 1896.
    1859 - The first billiard match to attain international fame was played in Detroit between Michael Phelan of New York City and John Seereiter of Detroit for the championship of the world and a $415,000 purse. Phelan, known as the “father of billiards,” won the championship by a score of 2,000 against his competitor's 1,904. The best run made by Phelan was 129 points. The game was played on a 6-by-12 four-pocket table with four balls. Pushing and crouching were allowed.
    1861 - After months of escalating tension, Major Robert Anderson refused to evacuate Fort Sumter at Charleston, SC. Confederate troops under the command of General P.T. Beauregard opened fire on the harbor fort at 4:30 AM ( the first gun was fired by Edmund Ruffin, a 67-year-old Virginian) and continued until Major Anderson surrendered on Apr 13. No lives were lost despite the firing of some 40000 shells in the first major engagement of the American Civil War.
    1861 - The same morning, off Charleston, SC, the side-wheeler Harriet Lane fired a shot across the bow of the merchantman steamer Nashville to force it show its colors. The Nashville hoisted a U.S. ensign and was allowed to proceed, even though it was a Confederate ship. The Harriet Lane, 270 feet long with a 22-foot beam, had been built by William Henry Webb in 1857 as a Treasury Department revenue cutter and was transferred to the Navy in 1858. It was named after a niece of President James Buchanan and was the first federal steamer named for a woman. On January 1, 1863, the Harriet Lane was captured by Confederate forces in Galveston Bay, after desperately resisting boarding parties from four rebel ships.
    1864 - Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest's Confederate raiders attack the isolated Union garrison at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, overlooking the Mississippi River. The fort, an important part of the Confederate river defense system, was captured by federal forces in 1862. Of the 500-strong Union garrison defending the fort, more than half the soldiers were African-Americans. After an initial bombardment, General Forrest asked for the garrison's surrender. The Union commander refused, and Forrest's 1,500 cavalry troopers easily stormed and captured the fort, suffering only moderate casualties. However, the extremely high proportion of Union casualties--231 killed and more than 100 seriously wounded--raised questions about the Confederates' conduct after the battle. Union survivors' accounts, later supported by a federal investigation, concluded that African-American troops were massacred by Forrest's men after surrendering. Southern accounts disputed these findings, and controversy over the battle continues today. The enlistment of African-Americans into the Union army began after the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and by the war's end 180,000 African Americans had fought in the Union army and 10,000 in the navy.
    1867 - Birthday of Johnny Watson (d. 1963), also known as “Daddy Stovepipe,” Mobile, AL
    1877 - The first catcher's mask is used in a baseball game.
    1883 - Birthday of Imogen Cunningham, pioneer photographer of plants and portraits.
    1892 - George C. Blickensderfer of Stanford, CT received a patent for a portable typewriter.
    1892 - Jazz clarinetist Johnny Dodds birthday
http://www.redhotjazz.com/jdodds.html
    1900 - Joseph Bohomiel “Joe” Lapchick (d. 1970), Basketball Hall of Fame player and coach born at Yonkers, NY. Lapchick played basketball for pay from an early age. In 1923, he joined the original Celtics, one of the greatest pro teams of any era. The Celtics revolutionized the game with Lapchick as the great center. He began coaching at St. John's University in 1937, left for the New York Knicks in 1947, and returned to St. John's in 1957.  The Celtics were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959, and Lapchick followed as an individual in 1966.
    1906 – Johnny Bates of the Boston Beaneaters became the first modern player to hit a homer in his first major league at-abt, when he connected in the 2nd inning against Brooklyn Superbas pitcher Harry McIntire.
    1908 - A fire that began in a dump in the Chelsea section of Boston, Massachusetts spread through the community and ignites oil tanks on the Chelsea Creek, eventually rendering 17,000 people homeless.
    1913 - Jazz vibraharpist and bandleader Lionel Hampton (d. 2002) was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He is best known for his association with Benny Goodman, and for leading his own big band. Hampton was with the Goodman quartet for the legendary 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert, where his performance on such tunes as "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Avalon" established him as a major jazz soloist. Hampton put together his own band after leaving Goodman in 1940, leading an orchestra on and off for more than 30 years. The Lionel Hampton band's theme song was "Flying Home."
    1915 - Birthday of guitarist “Hound Dog” Taylor (d. 1975), Natchez, MS.
http://www.zicline.com/semaine16/houndog.htm
    1917 - Singer Helen Forrest (d. 1999) was born in Atlantic City, NJ. http://www.davidmulliss.com.au/HelenForrest/helenforrest.htm
    1924 - Birthday of Canadian dance band vocalist Lorraine McAllister, in Saskatoon. She was long associated with her husband Dal Richards's Vancouver orchestra.
    1926 - Birthday of Andrew “Blueblood” McMahon, Delhi, LA
    1926 - Smith Wildman Brookhart, Republican of Iowa, was ousted by the US Senate of a vote of 45-41. A recount of the votes in the election had proved the winner to be Daniel Frederic Steck, the Democrat candidate, who served from April 12, 1926 to March 3, 1931.
    1927 - An F5 tornado wiped Rock Springs, Texas "off the map". 235 of the town's 247 buildings were completely destroyed. The tornado was over 1 mile wide when it passed through the town. 74 people were killed.
    1930 - Birthday of vocalist Bob Lee, Tuscaloosa, AL
    1930 - Herbert Khaury, better known as Tiny Tim, was born in New York City. With his ukulele and his squeaky falsetto voice, he became the most successful novelty act of the 1960's. "Tip Toe Through the Tulips," a Top-20 hit in 1966, is the Tiny Tim record most people remember. He died of a heart attack on November 29th, 1996, after performing his signature song at a benefit in Minneapolis.
    1933 - Ruth Bryan Owen, is appointed U.S. envoy to Denmark, the first woman to represent the US as a foreign minister.
    1934 - The highest-velocity natural wind ever recorded occurred in the morning at the Mount Washington, NH, Observatory. Three weather observers, Wendell Stephenson, Alexander McKenzie and Salvatore Pagliuca, observed and recorded the phenomenon in which gusts reached 231 miles per hour--"the strongest natural wind ever recorded on the earth's surface." The 50th anniversary was observed at the site in 1984, with the three original observers participating in the ceremony
    1934 - F. Scott Fitzgerald's “Tender Is the Night” is published, but the novel about rich expatriates is unenthusiastically received during the Great Depression.
http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.html
    1939 - Woody Herman cuts “Woodchopper's Ball.”
    1940 - Pianist/composer Herbie Hancock born Chicago, IL
http://www.herbie-hancock.com/
    1944 - John Kay, leader of Steppenwolf, was born in Germany. His real name is Joachim Krauledat. Steppenwolf began as a Toronto-based band called the Sparrow in 1964. The group moved to the US in 1966 before splitting up in 1967. Kay then formed Steppenwolf, using some of the members of the Sparrow. The name Steppenwolf is taken from the Herman Hesse novel. Steppenwolf had a dozen hits in the late '60s and early '70s, the biggest of which were "Born to Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride." The original band broke up in 1972. After bogus groups began performing under the Steppenwolf name, John Kay reformed the band in the 1980s.
    1945 - ERWIN, HENRY E., (Air Mission) Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 52d Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force. Place and date: Koriyama, Japan, 12 April 1945. Entered service at: Bessemer, Ala. Born: 8 May 1921, Adamsville, Ala. G.O. No.: 44, 6 June 1945. Citation: He was the radio operator of a B-29 airplane leading a group formation to attack Koriyama, Japan. He was charged with the additional duty of dropping phosphoresce smoke bombs to aid in assembling the group when the launching point was reached. Upon entering the assembly area, aircraft fire and enemy fighter opposition was encountered. Among the phosphoresce bombs launched by S/Sgt. Erwin, 1 proved faulty, exploding in the launching chute, and shot back into the interior of the aircraft, striking him in the face. The burning phosphoresce obliterated his nose and completely blinded him. Smoke filled the plane, obscuring the vision of the pilot. S/Sgt. Erwin realized that the aircraft and crew would be lost if the burning bomb remained in the plane. Without regard for his own safety, he picked it up and feeling his way, instinctively, crawled around the gun turret and headed for the copilot's window. He found the navigator's table obstructing his passage. Grasping the burning bomb between his forearm and body, he unleashed the spring lock and raised the table. Struggling through the narrow passage he stumbled forward into the smoke-filled pilot's compartment. Groping with his burning hands, he located the window and threw the bomb out. Completely aflame, he fell back upon the floor. The smoke cleared, the pilot, at 300 feet, pulled the plane out of its dive. S/Sgt. Erwin's gallantry and heroism above and beyond the call of duty saved the lives of his comrades.
    1945 - *HASTINGS, JOE R., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 386th Infantry, 97th Infantry Division. Place and date: Drabenderhohe, Germany, 12 April 1945. Entered service at: Magnolia, Ohio. Birth: Malvern, Ohio. G.O. No.: 101, 8 November 1945. Citation: He fought gallantly during an attack against strong enemy forces defending Drabenderhohe, Germany, from the dug-in positions on commanding ground. As squad leader of a light machinegun section supporting the advance of the 1st and 3d Platoons, he braved direct rifle, machinegun, 20mm., and mortar fire, some of which repeatedly missed him only by inches, and rushed forward over 350 yards of open, rolling fields to reach a position from which he could fire on the enemy troops. From this vantage point he killed the crews of a 20mm. gun and a machinegun, drove several enemy riflemen from their positions, and so successfully shielded the 1st Platoon, that it had time to reorganize and remove its wounded to safety. Observing that the 3d Platoon to his right was being met by very heavy 40mm. and machinegun fire, he ran 150 yards with his gun to the leading elements of that unit, where he killed the crew of the 40mm. gun. As spearhead of the 3d Platoon's attack, he advanced, firing his gun held at hip height, disregarding the bullets that whipped past him, until the assault had carried 175 yards to the objective. In this charge he and the riflemen he led killed or wounded many of the fanatical enemy and put 2 machineguns out of action. Pfc. Hastings, by his intrepidity, outstanding leadership, and unrelenting determination to wipe out the formidable German opposition, cleared the path for his company's advance into Drabenderhohe. He was killed 4 days later while again supporting the 3d Platoon.
    1945 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 63, on the 83rd day of his fourth term, dies of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia, with the love of his life with him (no, it wasn't Eleanor); Vice-President Harry S. Truman was sworn in as President the next day.  Roosevelt, 32nd president of the US, was the only president to serve more than two terms--- he was elected to four consecutive terms. He died in Warm Springs, Georgia with the woman he loved present (it was not Eleanor Roosevelt).

    1945 - Antlers, Oklahoma was leveled by an F5 tornado. 600 buildings were destroyed and 700 were damaged. 69 people were killed and 353 were injured. This disaster would have commanded national and local attention if it was not overshadowed by the death of President Roosevelt. Even nearby local newspapers had more information on the president than the tornado.
    1947 - David Letterman Birthday, born Indianapolis, Ind.
http://www.intac.com/~fredman/letterman/bio.htmlhttp://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow//
    1950 - Top Hits
If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake - Eileen Barton
Music, Music, Music - Teresa Brewer
Peter Cottontail - Gene Autry
Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams
    1952 - Buddy Morrow records “Night Train.”
http://www.buddymorrowproductions.com/
    1955 - The Kansas City Athletics, transplanted from Philadelphia, opened their first season in their new home by defeating the Detroit Tigers, 6-2, at Municipal Stadium. The A's finished the year in sixth place with a record of 63-91. They never won a pennant in Kansas City and moved to Oakland after the 1967 season.
    1954 - Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" for Decca Records on this day. The song was recorded at the Pythian Temple, “a big, barn like building with great echo,” in New York City. "Rock Around the Clock" was formally released a month later. Most rock historians feel the tune, featured in the 1955 film "Blackboard Jungle", ushered in the era of rock 'n' roll. It hit number one on June 29, 1955 and stayed there for eight weeks, remaining on the charts for a total of 24 weeks. The record has now sold over 25,000,000 copies.
    1955 - The polio vaccine developed by American physician Dr. Jonas E. Salk was "safe, potent and effective." Incidence of the dreaded infantile paralysis, or poliomyelitis, declined by 95 percent following introduction of preventive vaccines. The announcement of the discovery of a vaccine against polio, was made on the ten year anniversary of the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt from complication of the disease, his deteriorating illness kept from the public for perhaps up to two years as others ran the government. With the end of the World War II only months away, the nation and the world were stunned by the "sudden" death of the President shortly into his fourth term of office.   
    1957 - Alan Freed's “Rock 'n' Roll Easter Jubilee” opens for a ten-day run at Brooklyn Paramount. Buddy Knox, Charlie Gracie and Bo Diddley are also included on the show.
    1958 - Top Hits
Tequila - The Champs
He's Got the Whole World (In His Hands) - Laurie London
Book of Love - The Monotones
Oh Lonesome Me - Don Gibson
    1961 - At the third annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Ray Charles wins three trophies, including Best Pop Single for "Georgia On My Mind". Marty Robbins took home a statue for Best Country and Western Performance for "El Paso"
    1963 - Police use dogs and cattle prods on peaceful civil rights demonstrators in Birmingham, Alabama.
    1963 - Bob Dylan performs a spectacular concert at Town Hall in New York, which is recorded for a never-released live album on Columbia
    1964 - Arnold Palmer won his fourth Masters title and became the first golfer to make career earnings of $506,496
    1966 - The Atlanta Braves brought Major League baseball to the South but lost their regular season opener, 3-2, to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 12 innings. The Braves finished the season in fifth place with a record of 85-77. They won the first division pennant in 1969.
    1966 - Top Hits
The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler
(You're My) Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers
Daydream - The Lovin' Spoonful
I Want to Go with You - Eddy Arnold
    1966 - Jan Berry, a classmate of mine at University High School in Los Angeles and half of the hit making surf-rock vocal duo, Jan & Dean, runs his Corvette into an parked truck on L.A.'s Whittier Boulevard. Berry suffers total physical paralysis for over a year as well as extensive brain damage which makes it nearly impossible to return to performing. They do give it a try in 1973 but are not well received. He was never the same as before the accident.  The pair started their hit streak in 1958 with "Jennie Lee" and followed with "Baby Talk", "Surf City", "Sidewalk Surfin'", "Drag City", "Dead Man's Curve", "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" and "Popsicle."  Jan's accident ended their career as hit makers, although they attempted a comeback in 1978 after the TV biographical movie, “Dead Man's Curve.”
    1967 - 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.
    1967 - "Busted," a benefit for the SF Mime Troupe, included
Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Moby Grape Andrew Staples, The Loading Zone, at Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco
    1969 - After scoring a series of instrumental hits in the early 1960s including "Walk Don't Run" and "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue", The Ventures were back on Billboard's Hot 100 for the last time with the theme from the TV show, “Hawaii Five-0.”
    1969 - The Fifth Dimension score their first #1 and their eighth Billboard Top 40 hit with "Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In".
    1974 - Top Hits
Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver
Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede
Bennie & The Jets - Elton John
A Very Special Love Song - Charlie Rich
    1981 - First flight of shuttle Columbia . Two astronauts (John Young and Robert Crippen), on first manned US space mission since Apollo-Soyuz in July 1976, spent 54 hours in space (36 orbits of Earth) before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, Apr 14.
    1981 - The space shuttle Columbia is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, becoming the first reusable manned spacecraft to travel into space
    1982 - Top Hits
I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
We Got the Beat - Go-Go's
Make a Move on Me - Olivia Newton-John
Big City - Merle Haggard
    1983 - Harold Washington is elected the first black mayor of Chicago.
    1985 - The first US Senator to fly in space was Jake Garn, Republican Senator for Utah, who joined the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery as a “congressional observer” when the shuttle lifted off from Cape Canaveral, FL, on April 12, 1985. A former Navy pilot, Garn had taken several months of astronaut training. Another senator, John Herschel Glenn, Jr., of Ohio, was an astronaut in the 1960's, before he entered politics.
    1985 - Key West, Florida set a new record for April rainfall in a 24 hour period as 6.06 inches of rain were recorded, eclipsing the previous record of 6.04 inches which fell on April 29, 1941. In addition, the heavy rainfall shattered the old record for this date set back in 1931 when 1.49 inches of rain fell. 
    1987 - “21 Jump Street” premiers on TV. Youthful big city cops busted crime in the local schools and colleges in this Fox police drama. Starred Johnny Depp as Tom Hanson, Holly Robinson Peete as Judy Hoffs, Dustin Nguyen as H.T. Ioki, Peter DeLuise as Doug Penhall, Frederic Forrest as Captain Jenko, Steven Williams as Captain Adam Fuller and Richard Grieco as Dennis Booker. It was one of the Fox network's early hits.
    1987 - Larry Mize, 28, hit a miracle shot -- a 140-foot chip -- to win the Masters golf title in Augusta, GA. Mize defeated Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros in a playoff.
    1988 – Singer Sonny Bono succeeds in his bid to become mayor of his hometown, Palm Springs, CA.
    1989 - Twenty-two cities in the south central and eastern U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date, including Elkins WV with a low of 15 degrees, and Baton Rouge LA with a reading of 37 degrees.
    1990 - Top Hits
Love Will Lead You Back - Taylor Dayne
I'll Be Your Everything - Tommy Page
All Around the World - Lisa Stansfield
Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart - Randy Travis
    1993 - The Grateful Dead sang the US national anthem before the San Francisco Giants' home opener at Candlestick Park.
    1996 - The Detroit Red Wings set a National Hockey League record by winning their 61st regular season game, 5-3, over the Chicago Blackhawks. The previous record was held by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Detroit finished the season with 62 wins, 13 losses and 7 ties.
    1996 - Duluth, Minnesota recorded 1.7 inches of snow on this day to raise its seasonal snowfall total to 132.8 inches -- its snowiest winter on record. The old record was 131.6 inches set back in 1949-50.
    2000 - In San Francisco, the North Beach Playground and Pool was renamed the Joe DiMaggio North Beach Playground and Pool. The Recreation and Park Commission voted 20 years earlier to rename the park after DiMaggio.
    2008 - With her latest single, "4 Minutes," Madonna beats Elvis as the artist with the most al-time Top Ten Hits on the Billboard charts (37).
    2010 - One-inch diameter hail falls in Fresno, CA. Two condominiums are destroyed by thunderstorms in California's San Joaquin Valley. Up to three funnel clouds were also seen in the region.

NBA Champions:
    1954 - Minneapolis Lakers
    1958 - St. Louis Hawks