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Headlines---
Classified Ads-- Sr. Credit Officer/Sr. Management
Leasing Industry "Help Wanted"
Please Write Cook County Commissioners
Readers Respond to "Leasing Company Name With Held"
Ken Greene-An Attorney's Perspective-"Advance Payments"
"Ethical Decisions as Value Maximizing Behavior"
by Calvin M. Boardman, PhD
CENTRIX Financial/Portfolio Financial Servicing
First Business Fin. Elects Jan Eddy to Board
Washington State UAEL Region Holiday Mixer Dec.30
This Border ##### Denotes Press Release (Not Written By Leasing News)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classified Ads-- Senior Credit Officer/Senior Management
Senior Credit Officer experienced in middle- market leasing; structured, vendor and 3rd party to the fortune 1000. Proactive team builder, originations capable with strong work ethic. Email: kyletrust@hotmail.com
Senior Management: Baltimore, MD
25 year veteran of commercial and equipment leasing seeking a senior management position with leasing or asset based financing company in the southeast (Florida preferred)
Email: kellogg_md@yahoo.com
Senior Management: Denver, CO. Fortune 500 GM/SVP wants to team up with aggressive lender looking for Western expansion mid-market equip. finance/leasing. 20+ years experience within Rocky Mountain/ Southwest and Ca markets. Email: legal@csotn.com
Senior Management: Irvine, CA.
Credit executive, portfolio manager and syndication facilitator. Extensive business building experience in small and mid-ticket operations. Highly innovative. Fortune 100 audit and technology skills. Bottom-line manager. Email: lenhubbard@bigfoot.com
Senior Management: Long Island, NY
Degree Banking/Finance. 13 years leasing exp. Now prez young leasing company where promises were not met. Interested in joining established firm with future. Email:bob33483@yahoo.com
Senior Management: Portfolio Management Consultant; 25+years experience in Collections, Customer Satisfaction, Asset Management, Recoveries, Continuous Process Improvement, Back end Revenue Generation, Cost per Collection Analysis. $5+Billion Portfolio expertise. Email: efgefg@rogers.com
Senior Management: San Francisco, CA., 25 years experience w/global leasing company, sales,marketing,business dev., P&L responsibility, asset mgmt, brokering and re- marketing. Interested in joining an est. firm with a future. Email:rcsteyer@yahoo.com
Senior Management: Tampa FL.20+ years of small to middle ticket finance, operations and sales management experience. Outstanding record of revenue enhancement, operational improvement and team development. Email: rlindcpa@earthlink.net
full list of those seeking employment at: http://64.125.68.90/LeasingNews/JobPostings.htm
___________________________________________________________________
Leasing Industry “Help Wanted”
|
About the company: Five Point Capital, Inc. is a rapidly growing San Diego based national equipment finance company. We are continually looking to add talented people to our growing force who have the same ambitions and drive to make Five Point Capital #1 in our industry. www.fivepointcapital.com |
|
Is seeking Account Executives ready to roll up their sleeves in establishing strategic financing alliances with select vendors and manufacturers in healthcare, industrial and technology market place segments. Proven track record of success in equipment financing a must. Specific industry and collateral experience is a plus. Hiring now in major markets throughout the country. Email your resume to eokeeffe@ifccredit.com About the Company: IFC Credit Corporation is a fast growing, national equipment finance company providing a broad range of financing solutions to small business and middle-market clients. IFC offers equipment financing and leasing, customer finance programs for equipment vendors, and venture leasing services to emerging growth companies. The company is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Morton Grove, Illinois. |
 Stable funding source seeks experienced leasing representative; book of business required; remote office capability; send resume to jobs@balboacapital.com and reference leasingnews in subject line. |
|
About the company: Five Point Capital, Inc. is a rapidly growing San Diego based national equipment finance company. We are continually looking to add talented people to our growing force who have the same ambitions and drive to make Five Point Capital #1 in our industry. www.fivepointcapital.com |
|
About the company: Five Point Capital, Inc. is a rapidly growing San Diego based national equipment finance company. We are continually looking to add talented people to our growing force who have the same ambitions and drive to make Five Point Capital #1 in our industry. www.fivepointcapital.com |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where is Larry Brittingham?
A few years ago he used to be with JDR and prior to that Advanta. A reader is
trying to reach him.
Please Write Cook County Commissioners
ELT News
Industry members nationwide are urged to write the Cook County Commissioners in Illinois to explain the harmful impact of a proposed 4% lease tax that would pyramid atop the Chicago Transaction Tax. MidAmerica Association of Equipment Lessors President Clyde Cady, president of Facility Capital Corporation in Chicago, stresses every contact with Commissioners is critical before the final vote expected on Tuesday, December 9.
A sample letter and profiles of Commissioners including mailing addresses click on “Cook County [Chicago] Lease Tax Letters and Testimony” at
http://www.elaonline.com/GovtRelations/State/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Respond to “Leasing Company Name With Held”
“I read the story on the above. I've been a broker in the leasing business for over 20 years and it is obvious that the Leasing Co. and ‘Mr Name Withheld’ are committing an immoral if not illegal act. Any legitimate broker or leasing company that takes a deposit and then refuses to return it , in my opinion is doing an illegal act and also has no moral stand. If there was some legitimate expenses involved, like credit reports or other reports paid for by the leasing co. or broker, then they should get reimbursed for this only and not keep the whole amount of the deposit.
“In my experience over the years, any finance co. , leasing co. or bank that tried to play games with the deposits I automatically excluded them from by list of financing sources.
“Let's put the facts forward, with names, and let them defend their untenable position.”
Sincerely, Art Olson, President,
Machinery Leasing Co, Willard, OH
--
“Based on the facts I see, I do not think the money should be kept unless
their was a specific agreement stating such that the money was earned once
the transaction was approved.
“I do not think you can keep advance rents if you do not fund the transaction, even if someone deceives you. To me, you would need an agreement outlining the conditions that the money would be earned in the event the lease does not fund.
“On smaller transactions, an agreement like this is usually not plausible. I'd just consider it good luck that I had a chance to dodge a potential bullet if I was being deceived.”
Gary Trebels
---
“A question or two for you. Do you have two set of standards? One for a
‘Jeff Beier’ a relatively unknown in the industry and a second one for
‘Mr Popular’. And, if ‘Mr. Popular’ has the belief and conviction that
he is ethical in his dealings, then why doesn't he want his name in
print?
Steve Reid, CLP
VP Marketing, Leasing Division
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
2230 W. Chapman Ave #200
Orange, Ca 92868
800-700-9858
714-938-0288 (fax)
email: reidst@sbbt.com
--
“I really enjoy your newsletter and the information it provides for the
industry. I am responding to your article about ‘Leasing Company’s Name
Withheld’.
“My first thoughts are that if "Mr. Name with held" felt he had done
everything right then there would be nothing to hide concerning this
transaction. With as much fraud that goes on within this industry, your
newsletter is one of the few ways we can at the least be informed about
possible "problem" funders or brokers. “
Brian Griffin
Vice President-Sales
Mantis Financial
--
“How could you not print the name of a legitimate complaint just because he
is a friend of one of your cronies? When you do this you lose all
credibility as a provider of "Accurate, fair and unbiased news for the
equipment Leasing Industry". Furthermore, I would think your potential
liability for publishing these complaints would go up significantly now that
it can be shown that you are prone to favoritism in what you publish.
“Either publish the guy's name or stop publishing complaints all together.”
Jeff Wetter
jwetter@flexlease.com
--
“I've always believed your newsletter was not ‘fair & accurate’ Mr. Menkin. I've read past newsletters where you praise specific brokers and individuals in the industry who have reputations as liars, con artists, and criminals. Apparently, these individuals/companies have "friends" on your advisory board and complaints are never posted against them. As a casual reader of your newsletter, I find it highly unprofessional of you not to print the names of the parties involved in the third complaint.
“Your claim that members of your advisory board ‘"do not want it printed with names as Mr. Leasing Company Name With Held is their friend’ is pathetic. If the complaint appears to be legitimate for the Leasing News Bulletin Board, names should be reported, period.
“You seem to have no problem reporting the complaints against Mr. Beier and Mr. Hartley since they have no friends on your "advisory board."
“Too bad for Beier and Hartley. Great to know that you are not biased.”
( anonymous)
(For the record, our advisory board members are listed on our website:
Bob
Baker,
Wildwood Financial, St. Louis, MO
Steve
Crane,
Bank of the West, Walnut Creek, CA
Phil
Dushay,
Global Leasing, New York, NY
Steve
Geller,
Leasing Solutions LLC, Wesley Hills, NY
Ken
Greene,
Attorney, Greenbrae, CA
Bruce
Kropschot,
Kropschot Financial Services, Vero Beach, FL
Fred
St. Laurent,
Managing Director, TheBlassGroup, Atlanta, GA.
Charlie
Lester,
LPI Financial, Marietta, GA
Shari
Lipski,
Marketing Manager, Edwin C. Segal Ltd., Northbrook, IL.
Bob
Rodi,
LeaseNow, Warrendale, PA
Bob
Teichman,
Teichman Financial Training, Sausalito,CA
Paul
Torresl,
San Francisco, CA.
Rob
Yohe,
Yohe and Associates, Stilwell, KS
Ginny
Young,
Brava Capital, Orange, CA
(( This is what I said at the beginning of the article: “Several of the Leasing News Advisory Board members do not want it printed with names as "Mr. Leasing Company Name With Held" is their friend, several believe it should be printed with names as it is a ‘legitimate complaint,’ some don't want to get involved "at all, and others say it is the ‘editor's job’ to make these decisions. “
(As with all boards, you get a cross section. Please let me state for the record, it was perhaps two who were opposed; one said I was being “very sanctimonious:” The overwhelming majority wanted me to print it with names. It is true a few cautioned about issues, perhaps two said it was the editor’s decision and not the advisory board ( which it really is) and one said he did not want to give an opinion. It is a very good board, diverse, and with different points of view. I like it that way. We don’t have any “yes men or women” serving . They
serve to speak their mind. editor)
---
“So without commenting on the merits of the situation, it occurs to me that if ‘Mr. Name Withheld’ had not been a friend of some of your Board members, his name would have been plastered all over this reported complaint, something you just did to Mr. Hartley and Mr. Beier in this issue, and to other mere mortals in the past under similar circumstances.
So, if you're going to play this game, at least play it fairly and either tell everyone who ‘Mr. Name Withheld’ is, or amend your policy to prohibit revealing ANY names when reporting disputes of this kind.
Regards,
Ken
Kenneth D. Goodman, CLP
(It was not against policy.
(It is not uncommon for us not to name the parties, as evidenced in our weekly bulletin board reports (which have turned out to be more monthly, but that is another point.)
Please go here to see previous reports where we do not use names or companies.
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Weekly_Report.htm
(You will see we often "preview" bulletin board complaints without names. Our role is to resolve the complaints, meaning negotiate a settlement. It is the role of an ombudsman. Many newspapers have such a “feature, “often called “Action Line. We are happy to report we resolve up to 80% of those submitted. editor )
Kenneth C. Greene—An Attorney’s Perspective-“Advance Payments”
As I think we all know, this issue of retention of "advance payments" has
been lurking about for quite a while. Years ago, I litigated a case in which
the prospective lessee, prior to financing, had given the broker a first and
last month's payment, together with a security deposit. The broker, after
the lessee sought financing elsewhere, refused to return the money, based on
its contention that the money was an earned and thus non-refundable
"commitment fee", although there was scant documentation supporting that
position. The case was not far from trial when it was settled at a
settlement conference conducted by the judge who was scheduled to hear the
case. It was very much a compromise settlement, which meant, in effect, that
neither side was happy with the result. Interestingly, and perhaps the only
reason the case settled at all, the judge was not altogether convinced of
the merits of either side's legal arguments, as there was virtually no law
on the subject, although he did express empathy for both party's "moral"
position.
Since then, I have always advised clients that there is a meaningful
distinction between advance payments and commitment fees and that if a
broker/lessor truly wants a prospective lessee to confirm that an advance
payment, regardless of its denomination, is non-refundable, in whole or in
part, it should be in writing. The parties should sign a separate proposal
letter (as any agreement on the subject contained in the lease itself, if
the lease never takes effect, is unlikely to be binding). In certain
instances, and particularly in certain states, the parties should agree that
the money be segregated in an interest bearing account.
We had a lively debate on this subject at one UAEL conference. Whereas
there was no consensus amongst the attorneys (is there ever?) as to the
mechanics of such a proposal, it was and still is my position that you can
spell out in a signed pre-lease proposal letter (1) that some or all of the
advance fee is non-refundable (2) whether any refundable monies will be paid
with interest (3) the circumstances under which the fee becomes
non-refundable, as well as those events which require that the fees be
returned, i.e. the broker/lessor's inability to obtain financing (4) whether
the monies will be placed in a segregated "escrow" account and (5) any other
relevant issues. This can be a laborious process and may not always be
conducive to the use of boilerplate forms, though a broker/lessor can adopt
the usage of several different types of letters depending upon the nature of
the transaction, and/or modify them as needed.
I know that, particularly in the small ticket leasing world, the
broker/lessor is always reluctant to add more documentation, when the trend
over the past ten years or more has been to minimize and simplify the paper
process. Whether to adopt this suggested practice in this competitive market
is no doubt a business decision each company must make. In doing so,
however, a leasing company should at a minimum be well aware of the risks of
not documenting the agreement regarding advance fees, as invariably the
parties will later insist there was no agreement, take contrary positions,
with all the problems ensuing from this type of disagreement. There are many
more than I can outline here.
Today, with the leasing industry the focus of legislative, judicial, and
media scrutiny more than ever, it is an unfortunate corollary that those
engaged in leasing are better served if they avoid the temptation to put
everything in a single document. It is my advice that they act to protect
their interests, even if it means an extra step in the application process.
These little headaches can help to prevent much larger ones down the road.
Ken Greene
Kenneth C. Greene
Law Offices of Kenneth C. Greene
980 Magnolia Avenue Suite 6C
Larkspur, CA 94939
Vox: 415 461 3777
Fax: 415 461 3733
E-Mail: keng@kengreenelaw.com
Website: www.kengreenelaw.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Ethical Decisions as Value Maximizing Behavior”
By Calvin M.Boardman, PhD
Journal of Equipment Lease Financing Fall 2003 Vol. 21/No. 2
(signature publication of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation.
(The Foundation, provides its publications and resources free to those studying and researching in the equipment lease financing industry and to industry professionals.)
“Moral standards supersede an individual’s self-interest.The
community can decide that a person should not lie or cheat even
though it may be in that person’s self-interest to do so.”
http://two.leasingnews.org/loose_files/Ethical%20Decisions%20
as%20Value%20Maximizing%20Behavior.pdf
Some excerpts:
“For example, if you hear any of the
following phrases, examine the situation carefully
for possible lapses in ethical judgment:
1. Everybody else does it.
2. If we don’t do it, someone else will.
3. That’s the way it has always been done.
4. We’ll wait until the lawyers tell us it’s wrong.
5. It doesn’t really hurt anyone.
6. The system is unfair.
7. I was just following orders.
“To the extent an industry promotes and polices itself
to the point where ethical decision-making is the
norm, the entire industry will benefit.
“5. Was there evidence of a dispute resolution
process when allegations of unethical
behavior were levied against members?
Result: Only the ELA and UAEL websites
provided information about their dispute
resolution review process.
“6. Was there a clear process for the association
to prosecute that behavior by referrals to
criminal prosecutors or expulsion from the
association? Result: ELA, UAEL, NAELB,
and EAEL all provided information about
their procedures for the investigation of ethical
violations and the potential ramifications
of such procedures. The ELA and
UAEL procedures appeared to be more
complete than the others. The CLP and
AGL&F websites had no such reference.
“7. How many steps did the visitor to an association’s
website have to take to locate that
association’s code of ethics or code of fair
business practices? Result: Only UAEL,
NAELB, and CLP provided reference to
their code of ethics or standards of behavior
on their home page. One had to search further
on the other associations’ websites to
locate their codes.
“IS A HAVING A CODE
OF ETHICS IMPORTANT?
There are a number of reasons for going through
all the effort to have such a code “including
demonstrating a concern for ethics by the organization,
transmitting ethical values of the organization
to its members, and impacting the
ethical behavior of those members,” say Thomas
Wotruba et al.9 But in spite of these compelling
motivations, the evidence is mixed as to whether
these codes make a difference in practice.”
This is a nine page article by Calvin M. Boardman, PhD, Professor of Finance at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City written
expressly for the Journal of Equipment Lease Financing.
Note: The Foundation, provides its publications and resources free to those studying and researching in the equipment lease financing industry and to industry professionals
AGL&F –Association of Government Leasing and Finance www.aglf.org/
CLP-Certified Leasing Professional Foundation www.clpfoundation.org/
ELA –Equipment Leasing Association www.elaonline.com
EAEL-Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors www.eael.org
NAELB—National Association of Equipment Brokers www.naelb
UAEL-United Association of Equipment Leasing www.uael.org
http://two.leasingnews.org/loose_files/Ethical%20
Decisions%20as%20Value%20Maximizing%20Behavior.pdf
______________________________________________
### Press Release #######################
CENTRIX Financial and Portfolio Financial Servicing Company
Announce Partnership
CENTENNIAL, CO/Portland, OR, - - CENTRIX Financial, LLC, a
financial management and services firm, announced today that Portfolio
Financial Servicing Company ("PFSC") has been selected to become the Backup
Servicer of Record for the CENTRIX Financial portfolio.
As part of this agreement PFSC will provide complete backup contract
administration functions and disaster recovery components for the financial
firm. In addition, PFSC will collaborate with CENTRIX on special projects
aimed to enhance the management of current and future portfolio growth.
"This new agreement with PFSC further bolsters the quality and security of
the product we provide to our clients," said Robert E. Sutton, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of CENTRIX Financial. "PFSC's comprehensive backup
servicing program and systems and their expertise in managing the needs of
large portfolios are a perfect fit with the demands of our business."
"PFSC is pleased to partner with a progressive company such as CENTRIX
Financial," commented Portfolio Financial Servicing Company's President and
CEO, Jerry Hudspeth. "CENTRIX's innovative business model allows it to
serve the interests of many different customer groups and provides the
standard for its market segments."
About PFSC
PFSC is the largest independent commercial lease and loan-servicing company
in the U.S. and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. PFSC provides
primary/master servicing, backup/successor servicing, and consulting for
leasing, loan and special asset portfolios. It currently services over $5.0
billion in assets. More information can be found at www.pfsc.com.
About CENTRIX Financial, LLC
Founded in 1990, Denver-based CENTRIX Financial's unique Special Auto
Finance programs have helped to put over 70,000 vehicles on the road in the
last five years alone. In 1998, the Company's CEO, Robert E. Sutton
introduced a new business model that was designed to address the
shortcomings in traditional approaches to the special finance market.
CENTRIX is leading the evolution of the auto finance industry. For
financial institutions, the Company's programs have brought a previously
unknown level of security and profitability to the $200 billion special auto
finance lending industry, while helping auto dealers find new ways to reach
out to a clientele that represents more than 25% of their potential market.
Just as importantly, CENTRIX is providing an underserved consumer group the
keys to new opportunities at competitive financing rates and with
professional service. Today, CENTRIX provides services across the country
through agreements with over 6600 dealerships, has over 550 employees and is
managing a $1 billion loan portfolio.
Please visit www.centrixfinancial.com
<http://www.centrixfinancial.com/> for more information.
CENTRIX Financial -Brandon Borrman(303)225-3585,
bborrman@centrixfinancial.com
PFSC - Eric Gross (503) 721-3226, egross@pfsc.com
### Press Release ######################
First Business Financial Services Elects Jan Eddy to Board of Directors
MADISON, Wis., -- First Business Financial Services, Inc. announced today that Jan Eddy has been elected to its Board of Directors. She is President and CEO of Wingra Technologies and currently serves on the board of First Business Bank.
"I am very excited to have Jan join the First Business Financial Services board," stated Jerry Smith, President and CEO. "I have had the pleasure of serving with her on the bank's board and have been impressed with her tremendous insight and ability to leverage from her remarkable business experience."
Eddy has deep roots in the local business community. She has served as President, CEO and Chairman of Office Solutions Incorporated; Application Development Manager of Lands' End Direct Merchants; and Systems Analyst, Project Leader, and Programmer for the State of Wisconsin.
Jan also serves as a Director of First Business Bank, DEMCO, and FirstLogic. She is on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Technology Council and Meriter Retirement Services, and is an Advisory Board Member for the Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship Program of UW-Madison and the Dane County Economic Strategies Group.
Jan's growing role in the business community parallels industry trends. According to a 2001 Census of Women Board Directors by Catalyst, women hold only 8.9% of board seats in Fortune 501-1000 companies. This percentage will likely rise as proactive organizations team up with accomplished businesswomen like Ms. Eddy.
"I accepted the invitation to join the First Business Financial Services board first and foremost because I believe I can leverage my business expertise to make strategic level contributions," stated Eddy. "The fact that I'm a woman provides additional benefits to the extent that good corporate governance requires representation from all stakeholders -- owners, customers, employees and the local communities in which First Business Financial Services operates. Women are a significant component of each of these categories and deserve representation at the board level."
About First Business Financial Services, Inc.
First Business Financial Services, Inc., a $500 million company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, specializes in commercial banking, asset- based lending, commercial finance, leasing, retirement plans, investment management services, and trustee services. For additional information, visit www.fbfinancial.net .
Web site: http://www.fbfinancial.net
## Press Release ############################
**** Announcement **************************
Washington State UAEL Region
United Association of Equipment Leasing Holiday Mixer
Come ring in the holidays in the lounge at the beautiful
Waterfront Seafood Grill at Pier 70
Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Lounge
Waterfront Pier 70
2801 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98121
206-956-9171
http://www.waterfrontpier70.com/waterfrontpier70/
Details: No Host Bar
Please RSVP: Vicki Shimkus
877-301-7034
*** announcement **************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
News Briefs----
Survey Finds Few Female Directors
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
articles/A33310-2003Dec3.html
Women make gains on boards, but room to grow
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies
/management/2003-12-03-womendirectors_x.htm
Productivity surges at best rate in 20 years, expected to boost hiring
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/
20031203-1342-economy.html
Mandalay Resort Profit Jumps
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32557-2003Dec3.html
Hilton is latest hotel chain to say its own rates won't be undersold
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2003-12-02-hotelweb_x.htm
Judge Orders Independence Federal Savings to Call Meeting
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29961-2003Dec2.html
Bank
of America backs away from asset-management goal
http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2003/12/03/
bank_of_america_backs_away_from_asset_management_goal?mode=PF
Witness says restaurant scheme cost Tyco $600,000
http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2003/12/02/rtr1167055.html
Santa Clara County Poised for Multi-Family Housing Boom
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/7402125.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sports Briefs---
NFL
ref fined half his paycheck
http://www.theredzone.org/news/showarticle.asp?ArticleID=679
Ramsey reinjures foot at end of practice
http://www.theredzone.org/news/showarticle.asp?ArticleID=683
Callahan
should've cried `dumb' weeks ago
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/
football/nfl/oakland_raiders/7402171.htm
In the College Bowl Race, the Crucial Players Are the Programmers http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/04/technology/circuits/04foot.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Gimme that Wine”
Move over Charles Shaw -- here's wine for $1.67 a bottle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/27/WIGDT3AMER1.DTL
Wine
Controversy Strikes the Kansas City Chiefs
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Daily/News/0,1145,2273,00.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Day in American History
1619-A “Thanksgiving” was first held by thirty-eight Englishman who left their ship to eventually start Jamestown in Virginia. Plantations were built on this site. Many remain today.
( lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec04.html )
1674 -French Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette erected a mission on the shores of Lake Michigan, in present-day Illinois. His log cabin became the first building of a settlement that afterward grew to become the city of Chicago.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcoles/french.htm
1776-The first capture of an enemy ship waters was accomplished by the 16-gun brig Reprisal, which sailed for France on December 4, 1776, under the command of captain Lambert Wickes. One of the passengers was Benjamin Franklin, who was traveling incognito to Auray, France, to obtain French assistance. On the way over, the Reprisal captured two British vessels. It captured two others in the Bay of Biscay, one of which was the King’s packet plying between Falmouth and Lisbon. This was the first time an American warship entered enemy waters and the first attempt to block and destroy British commerce at the source.
1779- George Wythe was appointed professor of law and police at the College of William and Mary Williamsburg, VA, where students paid by students paying for the course. This is considered the
first law school in the United States. The first college law school to be permanently organized was the Harvard College School of Law, Cambridge, MA, which was opened 1817.
1786- Mission Santa Barbara was founded. This was a Franciscan Mission for the Indians, located
in Santa Barbara, CA. The present structure is the fourth to stand on the same site. The last one was destroyed by the 1813 earthquake.
http://www.californiamissions.com/cahistory/santabarbara.html
http://www.sbmission.org/home.html
1786-The first National Grange was founded. This was the first organized agricultural movement in the US.
1816- James Monroe was elected president of the United States. Daniel D. Tompkins was elected vice president. Monroe, secretary of state under President James Madison, gained the presidency in a landslide victory of his Federalist opponent, Rufus King of New York. The presidential electoral vote was Madison, 183; King, 34, and four abstentions. The presidential election of 1816 resulted in continuation of the so-called Virginia dynasty of presidents that had begun with Thomas Jefferson’s election in 1800. The Democratic-Republican candidate was James Monroe of Virginia, who had been wounded in the American Revolution, and has served as diplomat, senator and secretary of state. The Federalists by now scarcely existed as a national political party. They nominated Rufus King, who had been a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and one of New York’s first senators. He carried only Massachusetts, Connecticut and Delaware. By 1820, the Federalist party ceased to exist.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jm5.html
1844- James K. Polk was elected president of the United States by a popular vote of 1,337,243 against 1,299,068 for Henry Clay, the Whig candidate, and 62,300 for James B. Birney, the Liberty candidate. Birney’s strong was showing in New York cost Clay the state’s electoral votes and the election. The electoral vote was Polk, 170; Clay, 105. The presidential election campaign of 1844 saw some unusual happenings in American politics. President John Tyler wanted a term in his own right, and a Democratic faction nominated him in 1844. It was clear, however, that he stood no chance, and he withdrew on August 20, becoming the first president who did not stand for a second term. At the Democratic National Convention, former President Martin Van Buren tired to secure the nomination, but could not muster enough support, largely because of his opposition to the annexation of Texas. The Democrats nominated the first so-called dark horse in U.S. History, James K. Polk of Tennessee. The Whigs unanimously nominated Henry Clay of Kentucky for the presidency. There was a third party this year, the Liberty Party, which in 1843 had nominated James. G. Birney of Kentucky on an antislavery platform. The Democratic platform was nationlistic, calling for the annexation of
Texas and control of the entire Oregon Territory, then shared with England. The Whig platform was more general making no reference to Texas or to question of a national bank. The main opposition came from antislavery forces who were opposed because Texas was certain to become a salve state. Others wanted to act lest Great Britain or France develop a relationship with the Republic of Texas, who's independence Mexico refused to recognized. The Texas Annexation Treaty failed to win the necessary two-thirds vote for passage in the Senate on June 8. Henry Clay, in the so-called Alabama letters, stated the he had no objection to the annexation of Texas if it could be done “ without dishonor, without war. Clay’s ambivalence on Texas probably lost him the presidency. It was Tyler, who when elected, pushed the joint resolution, even though the Senate had originally rejected it.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jp11.html
1843- Manila paper was invented by John Mark and Lyman Hollingsworth of South Braintree, MA, partners under the firm name of J.M. and L. Hollingsworth, who received a patent this day. They manufactured it from hemp sales, canvas, and rope.
1851-Felt hats for women were introduced in New York City by John Nicholas Genin, who took low-crowned soft black hats, fastened the left side of the brim of each to the crown, and ornamented it with a black feather. Prior to this time, women wore bonnets. Genin created the new style to celebrate the arrival of Lajos Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, who arrived in New York City on December 5, 1851, on board the Mississippi.
1854 -Birthday of Mary Reed, American Methodist missionary. She died in 1943, having spent the last 52 years of her life ministering to the lepers of India.
1861-Birthday of Lillian Russell.. She was perhaps the first female American “star.” She was a very popular singer and actress, who in 1881 gained fame in the comic opera The Great Mogul. Born Helen Louise Leonard at Clinton, IA, she died June 6, 1922, at Pittsburgh, PA.
1865-Birthday of Luther Hasley Gulick, sports administrator, born at Honolulu, HI. A pioneer in the YMCA, Gulick designed the triangular logo symbolizing the physical, emotional and intellectual development that is still the Y’s goal. While working in Springfield, MA, in 1891, Gulick persuaded Dr. James Naismith to devise an indoor game for use during the winter at the School for Christian Workers. The result was basketball. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. Died at South Casco, ME, Aug 13, 1918
1869-Pipe or screw wrench that was practical was the Stillson wrench, invented by Daniel C. Stillson of Somerville, MA, who obtained a patent this day. Stillson whittled the first model out of wood in 1869.
1875-Boss Tweed escapes prison, fleas to Spain, disguised as a seaman. He was recognized by
a likeness to the famous cartoon about him, captured, and died in debtor’s prison in New York.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec04.html
1903 -- American mystery author Cornell Woolrich born. Since 1938, the suspense fiction of Woolrich, alias William Irish, has been adapted into more than 20 films, best know for writing “Rear Window.” Died an alcoholic September 25,1968
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0941280/
http://www.noircity.com/gallery1.html
http://www.bastulli.com/Woolrich/Woolrich.htm
http://members.toast.net/woolrich/black.htm
1906-Alpha Phi Alpha was formed by members of a social study club, and it became the first
national college fraternity for African-American men. The first president was George B. Kelley. The first chapter was started at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and the second, in 1908, at Howard University, Washington, DC.
http://www.alphaphialpha.net/alpha/legacy/index.html
1908-Football uniform numerals sewn on the players’ uniforms to enable the spectators easily to distinguish the players were used by the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, this day for the game against Washington and Jefferson College. The score was 14-0 in favor of Washington and Jefferson.
The idea was so popular, the sewing of numbers of jersey swept all sports from this game.
1909-Amersterdam News founded in New York, a newspaper devoted to the black community.
http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~aas405a/newspaper.html
AmersterdamNews,org
1915-Birthday of Eddie Heywood, Atlanta, GA; composer of Canadian Sunset, Soft Summer Breeze.
1927-Duke Ellington opens at the Cotton Club in Harlem. He stays there for five years.
1930--Birthday of Harvey Edward Kuenn, Jr., baseball player and manager; born at Milwaukee, WI. Kuenn was a fine-hitting shortstop and outfielder in both leagues. He managed the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers,’~ to the American League pennant. Died at Peoria, IL, Feb 28, 1988
1930-Birthday of guitarist Jim Hall Birthday
http://www.gould68.freeserve.co.uk/JimHall3.html
http://www.lushlife.com/jimhall/
1933 - "Tobacco Road", a play based on Erskine Caldwell’s book, premiered at the Masque Theatre in New York City. The play ran for eight years and 3,182 shows.
1940 – Birthday of Freddy ‘Boom Boom’ Cannon (Frederick Anthony Picariello) (singer: Tallahassee Lassie, Way Down Yonder in New Orleans, Palisades Park, Transistor Sister)
1949---Top
Hits
Don’t Cry, Joe - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Betty Brewer)
I Can Dream, Can’t I? - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Jack
Leonard)
That Lucky Old Sun - Frankie Laine
Slipping Around - Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely
1951- the parking garage that was completely automated was the Park-O-Mat Garage opened in Washington, DC, by the Parking Services company. A car could be parked or returned in 50 seconds. The garage was an open building with 16 floors and 2 basement levels. Two elevators parked 72 cars on a lot 25 by 40 feet. There were no ramps, no aisles, no lanes, and only one attendant, who used push-button controls and did not enter the cars. The “vehicle parking apparatus” was patented on October 14, 1947, by Richard L. Sinclair of Los Angeles, CA
1957---Top
Hits
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
April Love - Pat Boone
Raunchy - Bill Justis
Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers
1961- Syracuse University halfback and Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis became the first African American to be selected first in the NFL draft when he was picked by the Washington Redskins.
1965---Top
Hits
Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds
1-2-3 - Len Barry
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
Make the World Go Away - Eddy Arnold
1969-Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther
Party,
killed by Chicago police while he was sleeping. Mark Clark as also killed. Nearly a hundred bullets had been fired in what police described as a fierce gun battle with members of the Black Panther Party. However, ballistics experts later determined that only one of those bullets came from the Panthers' side. In addition, the "bullet holes" in the front door of the apartment, which police pointed to as evidence that the Panthers had been shooting from within the apartment, were actually nail holes created by police in an attempt to cover up the attack.
http://www.providence.edu/afro/students/panther/hamptonsr.html
http://www.africanpubs.com/Apps/bios/0213HamptonFred.asp?pic=none
http://www.providence.edu/afro/students/panther/hamptonjr.html
http://www.inpdum.com/fred_is_free(spear).htm
1972 - Billy Paul from Philadelphia received a gold record for his smash hit, "Me and Mrs. Jones".
1973---Top
Hits
Top of the World - Carpenters
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Just You ’n’ Me - Chicago
The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
1981- “ Falcon Crest” premiered on television. This nighttime serial was set in Napa County, making the California wine country famous to the general public. It originally focused on Angela Channing’s mined efforts to gain control of the Falcon Crest vineyard winery; later the emphasis turned to crime. Famous actors. were a part of the cast at one time or another include: Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Billy R. Moses, Cliff Robertson, Turner, Gina Lollobrigida, Parker Stevenson, Anne Archer, Ionia, Cesar Romero, Morgan Fairchild, Ken Olin and Mary Mobley. In the season finale, Angela received Falcon Crest ;everyone was happy.
1981---Top
Hits
Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Waiting for a Girl like You - Foreigner
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police
My Favorite Memory - Merle Haggard
1985 - Dallas, Texas became the largest city in the United States to pass a no smoking law for restaurants. ‘Big D’ added another ‘biggest’ to its list.
1987-IBM shipped the first version of its multitasking operating system, OS/2. IBM had developed the system as a way to free itself of MS-DOS, which Microsoft had designed and still owned: Microsoft would code OS/2 to IBM's design specifications. Far from freeing IBM from Microsoft's domination, OS/2 almost accelerated the process. IBM initially developed the program to run on the 286 processor, not the more powerful 386, which contributed to the system's failure to catch on with many businesses. Meanwhile, early versions of Windows continued to gain ground, and with the launch of Windows 3.0 in 1990, Microsoft quickly became the leader in operating systems.
1989---Top
Hits
Blame It on the Rain - Milli Vanilli
We Didn’t Start the Fire - Billy Joel
(It’s Just) The Way That You Love Me - Paula Abdul
It’s Just a Matter of Time - Randy Travis
1991-A sad chapter in U.S. history came to a close when Terry Anderson, an Associated Press correspondent became the final American hostage held in Lebanon to be freed. Anderson had been held since March 16, 1985, one of 15 Americans who were held hostage for from two months to as long as six years and eight months. Three of the hostages, William Buckley, Peter Kilburn and Lieutenant Colonel William Higgins, were killed during their captivity.
1995-The 746-pound Galileo spacecraft launched in October, 1989 from Cape Canaveral, FL, entered Jupiter’s upper cloud layer. It descended by parachute several hundred miles before being crushed and vaporize under intense atmospheric pressure. It found out many things, including that Jupiter’s atmosphere lacked water and complex organic molecules. Galileo itself was the first spacecraft to orbit one of the giant outer plants for a long-term survey, and is considered an historic flight.
1995- Netscape, Sun, and two dozen other vendors announced JavaScript, which helped transform ordinary, brochure-like Web sites into dynamic applications. JavaScript was designed to let developers rapidly create Java applications. Netscape included JavaScript in its Web authoring tool, making it quicker and easier to create interactive Web pages.
1996-The first electric car to be mass-produced using modern technology was the Electric Vehicle One, or EVI, makret by General Motors. The first models were leased to customers in Los Angeles, CA, at a price tag of $34,000. The two-seater coupe was powered by a 137-horsepower, three-phase induction motor that ran on stored energy in a lead-acid battery pack. The EV1 cold travel 70 to 90 miles between chargings, which took 3 to 12 hours. It reached speeds between 25 to 35 mph.
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