Leasing Industry Job Wanted
Credit

Experienced credit underwriter, financial analyst & vendor program manager seeks part time, remote work opportunity to assist in managing/evaluating vendor programs, loss pool analysis, credit requests, restructurings and workout situations. Emphasis on asset based and secured financing to the middle and large ticket market. Multiple industry experience including: Commercial, Industrial, Manufacturing, Transportation, Construction and Distribution segments. Interested in approximately 20 to 30 hours per week, no benefits required. East Coast Location. Contact: ch2capital@gmail.com

Post a Free Ad that You are Looking
Limited to 100 Words

http://leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

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House Committee Approves $25 Billion
Restaurant  Grant Program
By Caity Roach, Editor, Coleman Reports

Tom Bené, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, declared, “As we approach the one-year mark of pandemic-related dining restrictions, we know that virtually every restaurant in every community has been impacted. The year ahead will be critical as we continue to advocate for much-needed recovery funds to help get our industry back on track.”

According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, the restaurant sector finished 2020 at nearly 2.5 million jobs below its pre-coronavirus level with over 110,000 eating and drinking places still closed due to restrictions on indoor dining or difficulty adapting to take-out. In response, the House Small Business Committee recently approved a bill that appropriates $25 billion in assistance for restaurants and other food and drinking establishments. The bill now goes to the House Budget Committee to be included in a comprehensive aid package that will likely get voted on later this month.

Here is what we know about the proposed Restaurant Revitalization Fund program:

Restaurant Revitalization Grants will provide eligible small business restaurants with up to $10 million per entity, with a limitation of $5 million per physical location.

Grants are calculated by subtracting 2020 revenue from 2019 revenue. The grant size is then reduced by any amounts received from a PPP loan.

Grants may be used for a wide variety of expenses, including payroll, mortgage, rent, utilities, supplies, food and beverage expenses, paid sick leave, and operational expenses.

During the first 21 days, applications from restaurants owned, operated, and controlled by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will receive priority.

$5 billion of the $25 billion appropriated for the program will be set aside for businesses with less than $500,000 in 2019 annual revenue.

“The measure establishes a $25 billion grant program for independent restaurants that have been dealt a tremendous blow by the pandemic,” says House Small Business Committee Chairwoman, Nydia M. Velázquez. “We heard in Committee hearings that while the PPP was helpful in the short run, it didn’t meet their long-term needs. Restaurants need a long-lasting solution to make it through these cold, winter months.”

The bill also includes provisions to:

• Expand Paycheck Protection Program eligibility and increase program funding
• Allocate $15 billion for the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance program
• Provide $25 billion for a new program at the SBA offering assistance to restaurants and other food and drinking establishments.
• Establish the Community Navigator pilot program to increase awareness of and participation in COVID-19 relief programs
• Provide an additional $1.25 billion for the SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program
• Appropriate $840 million for administrative costs to prevent, prepare and respond to the COVID–19 pandemic, including expenses related to PPP, aid to Venues, and grants to restaurants.
• Fund $460 million for the disaster loan program
• Allocate $25 million for SBA’s Office of Inspector General for oversight, to remain available until expended.

Coleman Reports
 28081 Marguerite Pkwy.
#4525, Mission Viejo, CA 92690
bob@colemanreport.com

Top Ten Leasing News
February 8 to February 12

(Stories most opened by readers)

(1) Don't Ever Give Up!
    Placard
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_08.htm#dont

(2) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
    and Related Industries
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_12.htm#hires

(3) There is No Elevator
     Placard
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_12.htm#elevator

(4) Funders Looking for Broker Business
     Updated
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_08.htm#looking

(5)  New York Legislature Moves to Expand Reach
  of Small Business Truth-in-Lending Act
    By Robert L. Hornby, CSG Attorneys at Law
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_10.htm#ny

(6) Marijuana Leasing and Finance Becoming More Popular
    Among the Most Request Leasing News Receives
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_12.htm#marijuana

(7) Mapped: the Wealthiest Billionaire
    in Each U.S. State in 2021
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_08.htm#mapped

(8) Story Credit Lessors - Lenders List for COVID-19 - Updated
    "C" & "D" Lessees, Business Loans, Working Capital
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_08.htm#story_credit

(9)  LeasePolice.com and LeasePoliceplus.com are Down
    By Christopher Menkin, Editor
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2021/02_10.htm#lp

(10) Bruce Springsteen’s blood alcohol well under the legal
     limit report says
https://www.app.com/story/news/local/courts/2021/02/10/springsteen-blew-0-02-quarter-legal-limit-source-says/6712582002/

 

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Leasing News
Help Wanted Ads

Regrets

The Ultimate Hire by Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners

Remember when you didn’t buy that Apple stock?
Remember when you didn’t ask out the boy or girl?
Remember when you didn’t take that job because you were scared?
Remember when you played it to safe?

Remember when you didn’t go after that big, crazy goal?

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now.

The biggest regret from people who are dying is that they didn’t take enough chances and chase what they really wanted. Now is that time, because if you fail, it doesn’t matter. No one cares anyway.

Stay Safe and get outside of your comfort zone, you are already there.

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin/

"What is the Ultimate Hire? The Ultimate Hire is the professional that every business, team or leader needs in their organization. This is the high performance individual that always rises to the top, brings the team to the next level and can significantly add to the bottom line. The Ultimate Hire is the person that you can't afford to be without. Finding, Attracting, Hiring and Retaining these professionals is critical to the success of your business. We have identified these traits and can help you find these top professionals."

The Ultimate Hire Collection:
http://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/ultimate.html

 

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Keep it Simple

Sales Makes it Happen
by Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Top originators in the commercial equipment leasing and finance industry can easily describe their products and processes to any vendor or end-user. The business is not difficult. Originators often make it more complicated than it needs to be. A business needs equipment, a vendor wants to sell his products, and a financing professional has a simple process to allow the transaction to occur.

I have advised originators to explain their products and processes to a 10-year-old child. If the explanation it too hard for a 10-year-old to understand, then it's too complicated for most vendors and end-users.

Many years ago, I had an employee (an originator), who believed that it was his responsibility to explain every detail of the financing process to every vendor or end-user that he spoke with. He wanted to wow them with his knowledge and 100% understanding of every aspect of his products and processes. It took him 20 to 30 minutes on every call to explain why the company needed a completed application. He made the process appear to be laborious; he could talk anyone out of ever applying for a loan. We cut his explanation down to just a few words, "The first step is for you to complete and sign our application so that we can make a credit decision ASAP and move the process forward." He listened to the advice and simplified his presentation. His activity increased. His portfolio grew and his income expanded. He learned that vendors and end-users wanted an easy and concise process.

Keep it simple!

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Sales Makes it Happen articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.htm

 

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Funders Taking "New" Broker Business List
Four Do Not Require that Brokers Be Licensed

BSB Leasing, Inc.
Bankers Capital
C.H. Brown Company
Forum Financial Services
TimePayment Corp.

The following “funders” have informed Leasing News they will consider business from “new” third party originators.  Many companies require a certain length of time in business and other requirements, such as a specific volume of business.  These “funders” will consider submissions from those new in the leasing and finance business:

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Tom Williams, President e-Lease, reports from
St. Petersburg, Florida that migration is happening to his state

“The migration to Florida is real. There was not one space available at U-Haul for an additional truck. Not sure how they get these back up North. Hopefully the new transplants love craft beer!!!”

Tom Williams

tom@elease.com

Source: LinkedIn

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

GreatAmerica Closes on 20th Term Securitization
$631,500,000 to Institutional Investors

GreatAmerica Financial Service Headquarters

(Cedar Rapids, IA) – GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation completed its 20th term securitization of $631.5M in privately placed bonds with institutional investors. GreatAmerica uses proceeds from its securitizations to pay off debt in its warehouse and credit facilities and to support future originations and business operations.

Strong demand for GreatAmerica bonds came in the form of 55 orders placed for over 5 times the amount offered ($3.3B in orders for $632M in bonds). This eclipsed the record 3:1 demand for the company’s 19th securitization in February 2020. In a repeat of the last three years’ term securitizations, 93.4% of the bonds were rated AAA. There were 28 unique investors, including 3 new investors. GreatAmerica has issued over $7.5B in bonds since 1995.

GreatAmerica Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tony Golobic, said, “This is essentially a report card that grades our operational strength. The demand for our bonds from institutional investors is a great affirmation of the consistency we continue to bring to the small-ticket segment and a testament to the hard work of our team members.”

The Standard and Poor’s presale report said GreatAmerica “is distinct from many other small ticket equipment leasing companies because it benefits from long tenure and senior management continuity.”

Additionally, the Fitch presale report noted “strong and consistent earnings in terms of both ROA and ROE over the past decade and through periods of economic declines” and “consistency of operating performance and asset quality” in their assessment of GreatAmerica operational strengths.

About GreatAmerica
GreatAmerica is the largest family-owned, small ticket national commercial equipment finance company in the U.S. and is dedicated to helping manufacturers, distributors, and dealers be more successful and keep their customers for a lifetime. GreatAmerica was established in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1992 and today is organized into six divisions. It has a staff of over 600 employees with offices in Iowa, Georgia, and Minnesota. GreatAmerica also offers innovative non-financial business services to help their customers grow. www.greatamerica.com

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American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers
Celebrates 30th Anniversary

LOUISVILLE, KY– The American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (AACFB) is excited to celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2021. This March will mark 30 years since the National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers (NAELB), now AACFB, was officially incorporated back on March 15, 1991 and the association is planning to celebrate the milestone all year long.

The NAELB/AACFB was initially organized in the fall of 1990 when a group of brokers and funding sources came together in Atlanta to discuss their concerns about vendor fraud. Following that meeting, several industry leaders volunteered to help form an association for the commercial finance broker, run by the brokers. Shortly after, 132 brokers had expressed interest in the newly forming association and several funding partners pledged their support. Thus, the association was born and dedicated itself to a mission of supporting independent brokerages and facilitating networking with funding partners and service providers. The association has grown exponentially from those early years and has succeeded in supporting thousands of commercial finance professionals. The ideals of ethical practices and continuing education formed the cornerstones of the organization back then and are still very much a part of its core mission today.

To celebrate 30 years of “Success by Association” the AACFB is planning a number of promotions and special recognitions throughout 2021. The association will also be using a special logo in recognition of the anniversary. This logo is being featured in AACFB publications, on its website and social media platforms, and staff e-mail signatures throughout the year.

AACFB President Cindy Downs remarked, “This is an incredible milestone for the AACFB. The fact that this association is not only still around but active and thriving is a testament to the passion and forethought of our founders and to the ongoing dedication and hard work of our volunteers and staff. The commercial finance industry has seen a lot of changes over the past 30 years but the AACFB has been able to innovate and adapt to the times. I am excited to celebrate this achievement but also to see the ongoing success of the AACFB and our members.”

About American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (AACFB)
The American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (AACFB), formerly the NAELB, is the premier trade association empowering independent commercial finance brokers. The AACFB represents the expanding interests of its growing membership by providing best practice education and networking opportunities, while promoting a culture of ethics. For more information visit: www.aacfb.org

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

CFO Roundtable Webinar March 10  1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST
Open for Free for ELFA Members and Non-Members

This is a rare opportunity to pose questions and listen to the views of a distinguished group of panelists as they cover topics that are important to CFO’s in 2021. The topics presented will be based on what concerns you, and your suggestions will be collected during the registration process. Your input and questions will be addressed first!

While the final list of topics will depend on your input, some of the topics that may be addressed during the session include:

• Accounting and Financial Reporting  - Issues that may impact your teams, including lease modifications, restructurings, sales-type lease recognition of leases with variable payments and potential new lease structures
• Business Footprints  – What are your organization’s strengths given the changing business environment? Where should your company be doing business?  
•  Income Taxes -  How may federal income tax law changes by the new President and his administration affect lease investments, including existing portfolios and tax assumptions used in pricing models.
• Business Economics – How should business address margin compression, new loss assumptions and potential changes in government policy?  Will lessees seek to further monetize their operational assets such as real estate, through sale and leasebacks?  
• Risk Assumptions – Are your risk models (credit and asset) in need of change? Are declining industries to be fully avoided?

What are you most interested in hearing about?

Who should attend:  CFO’s, Finance Directors and individuals supporting these functions, ideally those who have strategic input into their organization’s overall business direction.

Panelists:
•       Timothy Kolber, Managing Director, Deloitte
•       Joseph Sebik, Director, Tax Reporting, Siemens Corporation
•       Mamta Shori, Chief Financial Officer, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
•       Vincent Tesoriero, Vice President, Controller, Marlin Capital Solutions
•       Others to be named

Moderator: John Bober, Director, The Alta Group

Sponsored by LTi Technology Solutions

Register:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5696489891617691150

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

All American
St. Petersburg, Florida  Adopt-a-Dog

Goose
Male
2 Years, 3 months
64 lbs.

This boy can't wait to be "On the Road Again"...to your home!! Goose is a sweet, well-mannered boy with a heart of gold to match those gorgeous eyes. He is a two-year-old, 64 pound, All-American boy who will do best in a home with no small children.

All of our animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.

Adoption fees: dogs, $200

Pet Pal Animal Shelter
405 22nd Street South St.
Petersburg, FL 33712
727-328-7738

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Leasing News Advisor
Allan Levine

Mr. Levine joined the advisory board June 6, 2007

Allan Levine, Partner
MADI$ON CAPITAL
11433 Cronridge Drive
Owings Mills, Md. 21117
alevine@madisoncapital.com
Direct Line: 443.796.7337
Office: 443.796.7333
Fax: 443.796.7200
Equipment and Vehicle Leasing Solutions
www.madisoncapital.com

Allan Levine is Past President of Madison Capital, LLC, and has been in the vehicle and equipment leasing and finance business since 1971. In 1974, Allan started Fox Auto & Truck Discount Leasing Company. In 1987, the name changed to Fox Valley Leasing, which merged with Harbor Leasing to become Madison Capital in August of 1997.
 
Allan has served on many boards and committees throughout the leasing industry and been active in community organizations.  Allan was on the board of the local chapter of the National Vehicle Leasing Association. He has served on The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Committee for Independent Leasing Companies (ILC) and its Future Council group. He was VP and board member of The Jewish Community Center for years, and is past chair of The Gordon Center (a 550-seat boutique venue for the performing arts). Allan was as a Big Brother in that local organization. Allan is a past Chairman of the Board of The Chimes, an international not-for-profit serving over 20000 individuals with development disabilities and employs more than 2300 employees.  Allan was on the Board of The Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors, now NEFA, and was the Editor of The Independent, which was its’ newsletter. In addition, Allan also served on the advisory board of Maryland Financial Bank, a small community bank. He has also served, at the board and committee levels, additional local philanthropic and community organizations. One of Allan’s most recent and most fun board stints was serving on the board of the Maryland Zoo, the 4th largest in the US.

As he ages, he serves on the board of Woodholme Country club (his local golf stop). That is the best way to control his tee times. And, Allan still works as a Madison partner selling to his large client base.

Allan is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he played lacrosse.  Allan is married and has 7 grandchildren. Allan plays golf and works out regularly to keep the energy level needed to support the rigors of the leasing and financing industry.

News Briefs---

Fauci Awarded $1 Million Israeli Prize For
     'Speaking Truth to Power' Amid Pandemic
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-liv5/968059128/fauci-awarded-1-million-israeli-prize-for-speaking-truth-to-power-amid-pandemic

Ban on New Foreign Workers Left U.S. Jobs
    Unfilled, Even in COVID-19 Downturn
https://www.wsj.com/articles/ban-on-new-foreign-workers-left-u-s-jobs-unfilled-even-in-covid-downturn-11613409911

Biden announces DOD China task force
baseline assessment of department policies, programs and processes
https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2021/02/14/biden-announces-dod-china-task-force/Biden announces DOD China task force

 

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You May Have Missed---

Biden’s Trade Policy Stresses Investment in U.S. Jobs
 trade policy reveals to put North America workers on center stage
https://www.cfo.com/global-business/2021/02/bidens-trade-policy-stresses-investment-in-u-s-jobs/

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Sports Briefs---

Veteran Petit in agreement with A's on $2.55M, one-year deal
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Veteran-Petit-in-agreement-with-A-s-on-2-55M-15951046.php

Opinion: J.J. Watt is leaving Houston
     because Texans made staying unthinkable
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/mike-freeman/2021/02/12/j-j-watt-leaving-houston-because-texans-made-staying-unthinkable/6737084002/

Patrick Mahomes Cradles Pregnant Fiancée Brittany Matthews'
     Bump in Valentine's Day Dinner Photos
https://people.com/parents/pregnant-brittany-matthews-patrick-mahomes-enjoy-valentines-day-dinner/

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California Nuts Briefs---

California's low kindergarten attendance creates first-grade problem
https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/California-s-low-kindergarten-attendance

Los Angeles School District to open school vaccination
   sites to administer shots to district staff
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-15/lausd-school-vaccination-site-for-teachers-staff

Guy Fieri Saves Butcher Shop Where He Worked His First Job
https://www.sonomamag.com/guy-fieri-saves-ferndale-butcher-shop-buying-building/?gSlide=1

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

L'Ecole announces new wine bar in downtown Walla Walla
     in the Marcus Whitman Hotel
https://www.union-bulletin.com/subscriber_only/lecole-announces-new-wine-bar-in-downtown-walla-walla-in-the-marcus-whitman-hotel/article_3c5c7496-4c66-5387-b638-945c5635d7c9.html

Wine tariffs are crushing US importers
https://nypost.com/2021/02/14/wine-tariffs-are-crushing-us-importers/

Point Reyes is not a wine destination.
    This vintner says climate change could make it one
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/Point-Reyes-is-not-a-wine-destination-This-15944408.php

California Syrah: top Mendocino County wines
https://www.decanter.com/premium/california-syrah-top-mendocino-county-wines-453098/

The Best Value Red Wines Selling at Trader Joe’s Right Now
https://uproxx.com/life/trader-joes-red-wine-value/

Guy Fieri opens Flavortown Kitchen delivery
    -only restaurants across US
https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/guy-fieri-opens-flavortown-kitchen-delivery-only-restaurants-across-us

Wine List Secrets Revealed
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2021/02/wine-list-secrets-revealed

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

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

This Day in History

      1690 - French and Indian forces from Montreal attacked and burned Schenectady, New York. This was known as King William's War (1689-1697) named after an Indian leader. It was also known as the French and Indian Wars. These were a series of military conflicts between Great Britain and France that lasted three-quarters of a century. Hostilities in King William's War began in 1690, when, in the course of a few months, Schenectady, N.Y., was burned by the French and Indians, and colonial English forces launched attacks on Port Royal (now Annapolis Royal), Nova Scotia, and on Quebec. Despite further raids by the French and Indians, the war ended in a stalemate. The Treaty of Ryswick and its European counterpart, the War of the Grand Alliance, by which these wars were ended, restored colonial possessions to their prewar status. In the 1720’s, the French would expand to and entrench the Mississippi Valley, erecting forts at the Kaskaskia and Illinois rivers, Cape Breton Island, Lake Champlain and the Wabash River, making more friends with the Indians.
    1719 - Fraunces Tavern, the earliest residential building remaining in Manhattan, was built at 54 Pearl and Board streets in New York.  Originally built as a residence for Stephen De Lancey, it was purchased for a tavern by Samuel Fraunces in 1762, where he opened it as the Queen's Head Tavern. It became famous for its wines and food and was a gathering place for the Sons of Liberty and other organizations before the American Revolution and for British officers during their occupation of the city. Fraunces himself was a patriot and his tavern was the center of the celebration on the occasion of the British evacuation of New York. In its Long Room, George Washington bade farewell (1783) to his officers. Fraunces sold the tavern in 1785. When Washington returned (1789) to New York as president, Fraunces became steward of his household, maintaining that position even after Philadelphia was made the capital. Fraunces Tavern has been owned since 1904 by Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York Inc., which carried out a major conjectural reconstruction, and claim it is Manhattan’s oldest surviving building. The museum interprets the building and its history, along with varied exhibitions of art and artifacts. It is a tourist site and a part of the American Whiskey Trail and the New York Freedom Trail.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a New York City designated landmark. In addition, the block on which Fraunces Tavern is located is a National Historic Landmark District and a New York City designated landmark district.
http://www.frauncestavern.com/fraunces_history.htm
http://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/
    1741 - Benjamin Franklin published what was to be America’s second magazine, "The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle."
    1760 - Cherokee Indians, held hostage at Fort St. George by South Carolina Governor Lyttleton, are killed in revenge for Indian attacks on frontier settlements that broke a peace treaty of December, 1759. This leads to a renewal of Cherokee attacks.
    1804 - The first Marine Corps commando raid was made in North Africa by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, who led 74 volunteers, including 8 Marines under Sergeant Solomon Wren, in a 20-minute raid to burn the U.S.S. Philadelphia, which had been captured by the Tripolitans and was lying under the protection of their shore guns. The raiders killed or captured all the enemy but two and set the Philadelphia afire. During the First Barbary War, US Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a military mission that famed British Admiral Horatio Nelson later called the "most daring act of the age." In June of 1801, US President Thomas Jefferson ordered US Navy vessels to the Mediterranean Sea in protest of continuing raids against US ships by pirates from the Barbary states — Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripolitania. US sailors were often abducted along with the captured booty and ransomed back to the US at an exorbitant price. After two years of minor confrontations, sustained action began in June of 1803 when a small US expeditionary force attacked Tripoli harbor in present-day Libya. On 31 October 1803, the US frigate Philadelphia ran aground near Tripoli and was captured by Tripolitan gunboats. The Americans feared that the well-constructed warship would be used not only as a formidable addition to the Tripolitan navy, but also as an innovative model to build future Tripolitan frigates.  On 16 February 1804, hoping to prevent the Barbary pirates from gaining this dangerous military advantage, Lt. Decatur led the expedition into Tripoli harbor to destroy the captured American vessel. After disguising himself and his men as Maltese sailors, Decatur’s force of seventy-four men, which included nine US Marines, sailed into Tripoli harbor on a small two-mast ship. The Americans approached the USS Philadelphia without drawing fire from the Tripoli shore guns, boarded the ship, and attacked its Tripolitan crew. After setting fire to the frigate, Decatur and his men escaped without the loss of a single American. The Philadelphia subsequently exploded when its gunpowder reserve was lit by the spreading fire. Six months later, Decatur returned to Tripoli Harbor as part of a larger US offensive, and emerged as a hero again during the so-called "Battle of the Gunboats," a naval battle that saw hand-to-hand combat between the Americans and the Tripolitans…thus in the Marines’ Hymn, “…to the shores of Tripoli.”
    1810 - Congregationalist missionary Cushing Eells (d. 1893), founder of a seminary, Whitman College, the oldest educational institution in Washington State, was born in Blandford, Massachusetts. Eells helped open Washington and Oregon Territory to U.S. settlement.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb16.html
    1812 - Birthday of Henry Wilson (d. 1875), 18th vice-president of the US, Farmington, NH. He changed his name in 1833 to Jeremiah Jones Colbathm, moved to Massachusetts where he ran and was elected to the U.S. Senate. Shortly after taking office, he suffered a stroke which he kept as secret as possible, but he died after suffering a second stroke in 1875
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000585
http://www.usatrivia.com/Vpndth.html
    1838 - Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions
    1857 - Gallaudet College (National Deaf Mute College) forms (Washington D.C.)
    1861 - The Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples sign the Treaty of Fort Wise, agreeing to cede their land and live on a small reservation in southwest Colorado. U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Colonel A.B. Greenwood issues medals, blankets, sugar and tobacco. But only six of 44 Cheyenne chiefs sign the treaty, casting doubt on the gala affair's legality.
http://members.tripod.com/~mr_sedivy/colorado2.html
http://www.dickshovel.com/was2.html
    1862 - Surrender of Fort Donelson. With Confederate troops evacuating Bowling Green, KY and other points along the Kentucky line, General Ulysses S. Grant’s forces circled Fort Donelson, KY. After fighting on land and on the Cumberland River, Grant requested surrender of Fort Donelson, stating that “No Terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” This earned him the nickname “Unconditional Surrender Grant.” Confederate General Simon Buckner surrendered the fort, in essence giving the Union Army control of Tennessee and Kentucky and the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Disruption ensued and civilians attempted to flee the area occupied by Federal Troops. Grant was executing his overall strategy to cut supplies to Confederate troops. Only 3000 Rebels escaped.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/donelson.htm
http://www.nps.gov/fodo/
    1868 - The first meeting that organized the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks took place in New York City. It derived from an older social and benevolent organization, the Jolly Corks. The first Exalted Ruler was George W. Thompson.  The Grand Lodge was incorporated on March 10, 1871 in New York and the first Grand Exalter Ruler was George J. Green.
    1878 - Silver dollar became U.S. legal tender
    1884 - Birthday of American filmmaker, explorer and author Robert Flaherty (d. 1951), Iron Mountain, MI.  Called “father of the documentary film,” his films included “Nanook of the North,” “Moana” and “Man of Aran.”
    1899 - Washington D.C. received 1.26 inches of rain in six hours atop a snow cover more than 30 inches deep making it the soggiest day of record.
    1901 - Birthday of Wayne King (d. 1985), Savannah, IL. American saxophonist and bandleader, widely known as “the Waltz King,” his own composition, “The Waltz You Save for Me,” was his theme song.
    1903 – Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen (d. 1978) was born in Chicago.  His characters were Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. His first performances were in vaudeville, then one-reel movie shorts but his real success was on the radio as part of “The Chase & Sanborn Hour.”  Although his regular series never made the transition to television, Bergen made numerous appearances on the medium during his career. After more than 50 years in show business, Bergen retired in 1978 and died shortly thereafter.  His daughter is actress Candace Bergen.
    1903 - -59º F (-51º C), Pokegama Dam, MN (state record)
    1909 – Hugh Beaumont (d. 1982) was born in Lawrence, KS.  Beaumont is best known for his portrayal of Ward Cleaver on the television series “Leave it to Beaver,” originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963.
    1914 - Singing cowboy Jimmy Wakely (d. 1982) was born in Mineola, Arkansas. He made more than 70 movies and was ranked just below Gene Autry and Roy Rogers in popularity. He is best remembered for his 1940's duets with Margaret Whiting - "Slipping Around" and "I'll Never Slip Around Again."
    1915 – Frank “Home Run” Baker, 28, announced his retirement following a contract dispute with Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack. He will sit out the 1915 season. Mack will also have salary problems with Chief Bender, Eddie Plank and Jack Coombs, and rather than compete with the Federal League, he released the stars.  All but Coombs are in the Hall of Fame.
    1916 – Birthday of baritone sax player Charlie Fowlkes (d. 1980), NYC.   
    1916 - Birthday of rocker Bill Doggett (d. 1996), Philadelphia.  His “Honky Tonk” reached #2 in the US R&B charts in 1956.
http://theatreorgans.com/grounds/doodlin/doggett.html
http://www.history-of-rock.com/doggett.htm
    1920 - Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews (d. 2013), lead singer of the Andrews Sisters, was born in Minneapolis. The trio was extremely popular, beginning in the late 1930s and lasting through the next decade. Among their big sellers - "Bei Mir Bist du Schon," "Rum and Coca-Cola" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," which was revived by Bette Middler in 1973.
    1923 - The burial chamber of King Tutankhamen's recently unearthed tomb was unsealed in Egypt, a resplendent mausoleum, spacious and beautifully decorated chamber completely occupied by an immense shrine covered with gold inlaid with brilliant blue faience. Beautiful wooden construction towers nearly to the ceiling filled the great sepulchral hall within a short span of its four walls. Its sides are adorned with magnificent religious texts and fearful symbols of the dead and it is capped with a superb cornice and a tyrus molding like the propylaeum of a temple, in fact, indeed, the sacred monument.
    1932 - The first fruit tree patent was issued to James E. Markham and assigned to the Stark Brothers Nurseries and Orchards Company of Louisiana, MO. The patent was obtained on a peach tree, the fruit of which ripened later than ordinary peaches.
    1935 - Singer Salvatore “Sonny” Bono (d. 1998) was born in Detroit. He first gained success as a songwriter, writing the 1963 hit "Needles and Pins" for the Searchers. In 1964, Bono married his girlfriend, Cher, and the couple began recording under the direction of Phil Spector. Sonny and Cher scored a million-seller in 1965 with "I Got You Babe." As the duo's string of hits continued, Cher became the main attraction. Following a two-year, highly-popular TV show in the early '70s, Sonny and Cher split, both professionally and personally. In 1988, Sonny became mayor of Palm Springs, California. Six years later, he was elected to the US Congress. He was killed in a skiing accident in South Lake Tahoe, while on vacation. 
    1937 - The first synthetic fiber produced entirely from chemicals was nylon, invented by Dr. Wallace Hume Carothers, a chemist at E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE, who obtained a patent for it this day. The patent covered synthetic linear condensation polymers capable of being drawn into strong pliable fibers, as well as the process for making them.
    1938 - Federal Crop Insurance program was authorized as part of FDR’s New Deal.  The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation was a program created to carry out the government initiative to provide insurance for farmers' produce, which means that farmers would receive compensation for crops, even if they were not sustained in that year.
    1942 - On Bluebird Records, Shep Fields and his orchestra recorded "Jersey Bounce."  It hit #1 for four weeks in 1942 as an instrumental recorded by Benny Goodman and his orchestra and charted that same year by Jimmy Dorsey (#9) and Fields (#15).  It was covered by numerous bands and orchestras including Glenn Miller, Harry James, Jan Savitt and Red Norvo.  Jersey Bounce was also a popular nickname for several B-17 and B-24 bombers during World War II.
    1943 - Record cold prevailed in the northeastern U.S. The mercury plunged to 43 degrees below zero at Concord, NH and to -39 degrees at Portland, ME. The morning low of -32 degrees at Falls Village, CT established a state record, yet the afternoon high that day was 20 degrees above zero
    1945 - McCARTER, LLOYD G., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Corregidor, Philippine Islands, 16 19 February 1945. Entered service at: Tacoma, Wash. Born: 11 May 1917, St. Maries, Idaho. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He was a scout with the regiment which seized the fortress of Corregidor, Philippine Islands. Shortly after the initial parachute assault on 16 February 1945, he crossed 30 yards of open ground under intense enemy fire, and at pointblank range silenced a machinegun with hand grenades. On the afternoon of 18 February he killed 6 snipers. That evening, when a large force attempted to bypass his company, he voluntarily moved to an exposed area and opened fire. The enemy attacked his position repeatedly throughout the night and was each time repulsed. By 2 o'clock in the morning, all the men about him had been wounded; but shouting encouragement to his comrades and defiance at the enemy, he continued to bear the brunt of the attack, fearlessly exposing himself to locate enemy soldiers and then pouring heavy fire on them. He repeatedly crawled back to the American line to secure more ammunition. When his submachine gun would no longer operate, he seized an automatic rifle and continued to inflict heavy casualties. This weapon, in turn, became too hot to use and, discarding it, he continued with an M-l rifle. At dawn the enemy attacked with renewed intensity. Completely exposing himself to hostile fire, he stood erect to locate the most dangerous enemy positions. He was seriously wounded; but, though he had already killed more than 30 of the enemy, he refused to evacuate until he had pointed out immediate objectives for attack. Through his sustained and outstanding heroism in the face of grave and obvious danger, Pvt. McCarter made outstanding contributions to the success of his company and to the recapture of Corregidor.
    1948 - The first daily newsreel telecast was the 20th Century-Fox Movietone News telecast, first presented over the National Broadcasting Company’s East Coast network. The program was sponsored by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
    1950 – Television’s longest-running prime-time game show, "What's My Line?," begins on CBS and ran through 1967.  “What's My Line?” won three Emmy Awards for "Best Quiz or Audience Participation Show" in 1952, 1953, and 1958 and the Golden Globe for Best TV Show in 1962.  After its cancellation by CBS in 1967, it returned in syndication as a daily production which ran from 1968 to 1975. There have been several international versions, radio versions, and a live stage version.  In 2013, TV Guide ranked it #9 in its list of the 60 greatest game shows ever.
    1951 – New York City passed a bill prohibiting racism in city-owned or city-assisted housing
    1951 - Top Hits
“My Heart Cries for You” - Guy Mitchell
“Tennessee Waltz” - Patti Page
“If” - Perry Como
“There’s Been a Change in Me” - Eddy Arnold
    1951 - KYLE, DARWIN K., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kamil-ni, Korea, 16 February 1951. Entered service at: Racine, W. Va. Born: 1 June 1918, Jenkins, Ky. G.O. No.: 17, 1 February 1952. Citation: 2d Lt. Kyle, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon had been pinned down by intense fire, he completely exposed himself to move among and encourage his men to continue the advance against enemy forces strongly entrenched on Hill 185. Inspired by his courageous leadership, the platoon resumed the advance but was again pinned down when an enemy machine gun opened fire, wounding 6 of the men. 2d Lt. Kyle immediately charged the hostile emplacement alone, engaged the crew in hand-to-hand combat, killing all 3. Continuing on toward the objective, his platoon suddenly received an intense automatic-weapons fire from a well-concealed hostile position on its right flank. Again leading his men in a daring bayonet charge against this position, firing his carbine and throwing grenades, 2d Lt. Kyle personally destroyed 4 of the enemy before he was killed by a burst from an enemy submachine gun. The extraordinary heroism and outstanding leadership of 2d Lt. Kyle, and his gallant self-sacrifice, reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service. 
    1955 - Elvis Presley performs two shows at the Odessa Senior High School Field House in Odessa, TX. In the audience is local singer Roy Orbison, who would later recall: "His energy was incredible. His instinct was just amazing."
    1957 - The Del-Vikings' "Come Go with Me" enters the pop charts.  The song was originally recorded by them in 1956 and was released on Fee Bee Records. When the group signed with Dot Records in 1957, the song became a hit, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming the group's highest-charting song.
    1957 - Elvis Presley's "Too Much" enters the pop chart. It will become the first of four chart toppers for Presley this year
    1957 - Tab Hunter's "Young Love" hits #1
    1958 - One of the greatest snowstorms of the mid-20th century struck the northeast. 39 inches of snow fell at Callicoon, New York. Boston, Massachusetts recorded 19.4 inches which was the greatest 24-hour snowfall ever recorded until January 1978. The same storm dumped 14 inches at Washington, DC and 15.5 inches at Baltimore, Maryland. 43 people were killed as a result of the storm and damage totaled $500 million.
    1959 - Birthday of Ice T, rap singer and actor, born Tracy Morrow, Newark, NJ.
    1959 – Tennis great John McEnroe was born in Weisbaden, West Germany.  Often considered among the greatest in the history of the sport, he was known for his shot-making artistry and volleying skills, as well as his confrontational on-court behavior that frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities.  McEnroe attained the No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles, finishing his career with 77 singles and 78 doubles titles; this remains the highest men’s combined total of the open Era.  At the majors, he won seven singles titles (four US Open, three Wimbledon) and nine men's doubles titles.
    1959 - Fidel Castro was sworn in as prime minister of Cuba, replacing Miro Cardona, after leading a guerrilla campaign that ousted right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista on January 1. He will soon nationalize all industry in the name of the people, he declares, creating what he calls a Communist government with ties to the USSR.  The financial subsidy from the USSR is part of a long-range goal to establish a military base against the United States, as the United States has established surrounding the Soviet Union.
    1959 - Top Hits
“Stagger Lee” - Lloyd Price
“16 Candles” - The Crests
“The All American Boy” - Bill Parsons
“Billy Bayou” - Jim Reeves
    1960 - The U.S. Navy submarine USS Triton set sail from the New London, CT submarine base to begin the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe.
    1961 – Chicago insurance executive Charles O. Finley, having failed to buy the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, bought the remaining 48% of the Kansas City Athletics from the estate of Arnold Johnson. 
    1963 - The Beatles' first big hit, "Please, Please Me," reached number one on the British charts. Another song from the pens of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it stayed at the top spot for only one week. When it was released in the US the following year, sales totaled more than one million. "Please, Please Me" was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 13 weeks, getting as high as number three.
    1964 - Because of the extraordinary success of their first appearance the week before, Ed Sullivan promptly signed the Beatles for a second television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The return visit received the second-highest ratings ever for the show (the highest was from the week before) and became one of the highest-rated shows in the history of television: 70 million.
    1967 - Top Hits
“I’m a Believer” - The Monkees
“Georgy Girl” - The Seekers
“Kind of a Drag” - The Buckinghams
“Don’t Come Home a’Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” - Loretta Lynn
    1967 - *MONROE, JAMES H., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Bong Son, Hoai Nhon Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1967. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 17 October 1944, Aurora, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His platoon was deployed in a night ambush when the position was suddenly subjected to an intense and accurate grenade attack, and 1 foxhole was hit immediately. Responding without hesitation to the calls for help from the wounded men Pfc. Monroe moved forward through heavy small-arms fire to the foxhole but found that all of the men had expired. He turned immediately and crawled back through the deadly hail of fire toward other calls for aid. He moved to the platoon sergeant's position where he found the radio operator bleeding profusely from fragmentation and bullet wounds. Ignoring the continuing enemy attack, Pfc. Monroe began treating the wounded man when he saw a live grenade fall directly in front of the position. He shouted a warning to all those nearby, pushed the wounded radio operator and the platoon sergeant to one side, and lunged forward to smother the grenade's blast with his body. Through his valorous actions, performed in a flash of inspired selflessness, Pfc. Monroe saved the lives of 2 of his comrades and prevented the probable injury of several others. His gallantry and intrepidity were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
    1967 - *SMITH, ELMELINDO R., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Platoon Sergeant (then S/Sgt.), U.S. Army, 1st Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1967. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii. Born: 27 July 1935, Honolulu, Hawaii. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During a reconnaissance patrol. his platoon was suddenly engaged by intense machinegun fire hemming in the platoon on 3 sides. A defensive perimeter was hastily established, but the enemy added mortar and rocket fire to the deadly fusillade and assaulted the position from several directions. With complete disregard for his safety, P/Sgt. Smith moved through the deadly fire along the defensive line, positioning soldiers, distributing ammunition and encouraging his men to repeal the enemy attack. Struck to the ground by enemy fire which caused a severe shoulder wound, he regained his feet, killed the enemy soldier and continued to move about the perimeter. He was again wounded in the shoulder and stomach but continued moving on his knees to assist in the defense. Noting the enemy massing at a weakened point on the perimeter, he crawled into the open and poured deadly fire into the enemy ranks. As he crawled on, he was struck by a rocket. Moments later, he regained consciousness, and drawing on his fast dwindling strength, continued to crawl from man to man. When he could move no farther, he chose to remain in the open where he could alert the perimeter to the approaching enemy. P/Sgt. Smith perished, never relenting in his determined effort against the enemy. The valorous acts and heroic leadership of this outstanding soldier inspired those remaining members of his platoon to beat back the enemy assaults. P/Sgt. Smith's gallant actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and they reflect great credit upon him and the Armed Forces of his country
    1968 - GRAVES, TERRENCE COLLINSON, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Force Reconnaissance Company, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1968. Entered service at: New York Born: 6 July 1945, Corpus Christi, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon commander with the 3d Force Reconnaissance Company. While on a long-range reconnaissance mission, 2d Lt. Graves' 8-man patrol observed 7 enemy soldiers approaching their position. Reacting instantly, he deployed his men and directed their fire on the approaching enemy. After the fire had ceased, he and 2 patrol members commenced a search of the area, and suddenly came under a heavy volume of hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force. When 1 of his men was hit by the enemy fire, 2d Lt. Graves moved through the fire-swept area to his radio and, while directing suppressive fire from his men, requested air support and adjusted a heavy volume of artillery and helicopter gunship fire upon the enemy. After attending the wounded, 2d Lt. Graves, accompanied by another marine, moved from his relatively safe position to confirm the results of the earlier engagement. Observing that several of the enemy were still alive, he launched a determined assault, eliminating the remaining enemy troops. He then began moving the patrol to a landing zone for extraction, when the unit again came under intense fire which wounded 2 more marines and 2d Lt. Graves. Refusing medical attention, he once more adjusted air strikes and artillery fire upon the enemy while directing the fire of his men. He led his men to a new landing site into which he skillfully guided the incoming aircraft and boarded his men while remaining exposed to the hostile fire. Realizing that 1 of the wounded had not embarked, he directed the aircraft to depart and, along with another marine, moved to the side of the casualty. Confronted with a shortage of ammunition, 2d Lt. Graves utilized supporting arms and directed fire until a second helicopter arrived. At this point, the volume of enemy fire intensified, hitting the helicopter and causing it to crash shortly after liftoff. All aboard were killed. 2d Lt. Graves' outstanding courage, superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit throughout the day were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
    1968 - US officials report that, in addition to the 800,000 people listed as refugees prior to January 30, the fighting during the Tet Offensive has created 350,000 more. The communist attack had begun at dawn on January 31, the first day of the Tet holiday truce. Viet Cong forces, supported by large numbers of North Vietnamese troops, launched the largest and best-coordinated offensive of the war, driving into the centers of South Vietnam's seven largest cities and attacking 30 provincial capitals ranging from the Delta to the DMZ.
    1968 - The nation's first 911 emergency telephone system was inaugurated in Haleyville, AL.
    1968 - Elvis Presley was awarded a gold record for his album of hymns, "How Great Thou Art." Although he was popular in the pop music world, Elvis only won 3 Grammy Awards: one for this album, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1970, and one for "He Touched Me" in 1972. He did receive over a dozen Grammy nominations. 
    1968 - At the US Indoor Championships at Salisbury, MD, the longest match in US Tennis Association history pitted Englishmen Mark Cox and Bob Wilson against Americans Charlie Pasarell and Ron Holmberg. After six hours and 23 minutes, Cox and Wilson emerged victorious, 26-24, 17-19, 30-28.
    1969 - *MILLER, GARY L., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. place and date: Binh Duong province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1969. Entered service at: Roanoke, Va. Born: 19 March 1947, Covington, Va. Citation: For conspicuous intrepidity and gallantry in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lt. Miller, Infantry, Company A, was serving as a platoon leader at night when his company ambushed a hostile force infiltrating from Cambodian sanctuaries. After contact with the enemy was broken, 1st Lt. Miller led a reconnaissance patrol from their prepared positions through the early evening darkness and dense tropical growth to search the area for enemy casualties. As the group advanced they were suddenly attacked. First Lt. Miller was seriously wounded. However, the group fought back with telling effect on the hostile force. An enemy grenade was thrown into the midst of the friendly patrol group and all took cover except 1st Lt. Miller. who in the dim light located the grenade and threw himself on it, absorbing the force of the explosion with his body. His action saved nearby members of his patrol from almost certain serious injury. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army. 
    1971 - Aretha Franklin records "Spanish Harlem."
    1972 - Wilt Chamberlin became the first player in NBA history to score 30,000 points. He accomplished this while playing against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix, Arizona, with the Suns winning, 110-109.
    1972 - During his week-long stint as host of the syndicated Mike Douglas Show, John Lennon performs "Memphis" and "Johnny B. Goode" with Chuck Berry, who Lennon refers to as "my hero."
    1974 - Elton John releases "Bennie and the Jets."
    1975 - Top Hits
“You’re No Good” - Linda Ronstadt
“Pick Up the Pieces” - AWB
“Best of My Love” - The Eagles
“Devil in the Bottle” - T.G. Sheppard
    1975 - The music variety series, “Cher'' premieres on CBS-TV.
    1980 - Led Zeppelin's "Fool in the Rain" from "In Through The Out Door" peaks at #21 on the pop chart. 
    1983 - Top Hits
“Down Under” - Men at Work
“Baby, Come to Me” - Patti Austin with James Ingram
“Shame on the Moon” - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
“’Til I Gain Control Again” - Crystal Gayle
    1984 - Skier Bill Johnson became the first, and thus far, the only, American to win the Olympic downhill. Johnson’s victory came at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.
    1985 - In what would be his last fight, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini lost the World Boxing Association lightweight championship crown to Livingston Bramble. In August of 1985, the fighter retired. 
    1985 - Telly "Who Loves Ya Baby?" Savalas brought "Kojak" back to network television after a seven-year absence (1973-1978.) "Kojak: The Belarus File" was aired as a special on CBS-TV, the network that launched the original.
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0089434/
    1985 - Coach Lefty Driesell got his 400th career victory as the University of Maryland defeated Davidson by a score of 65-63.
    1985 - Hall & Oates' "Method of Modern Love" peaks at #5 on the chart
    1985 - Journey lead singer Steve Perry 's "Foolish Heart" peaks at #18 on the chart.
    1987 - A massive ice storm struck Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas. In some areas, ice accumulations reached 3 inches. Across south central Kentucky, 16,000 people were without power for 3 days, making this the worst ice storm in 35 years for the area. In North Carolina, 5 inches of sleet fell at Raleigh and up to 8 inches was reported in Person and Granville counties. Roadways were made impassable due to the thick coating of ice.
    1988 - George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set on You" hits #1 on the chart.
    1990 - Strong thunderstorms developing ahead of an arctic cold front produced severe weather across the southeastern U.S. between mid-morning on the 15th and early evening on the 16th. Thunderstorms spawned thirteen tornadoes, including one which, prior to dawn on the 16th, injured eleven persons near Carrollton, GA. There were also 121 reports of large hail or damaging winds. A late afternoon thunderstorm on the 15th produced baseball size hail at Jackson, MS, and prior to dawn on the 16th, a thunderstorm produced high winds which injured four persons at Goodwater, AL 
    1991 - Top Hits
“Gonna Make You Sweat” (“Everybody Dance Now”) - C & C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
“All the Man that I Need” - Whitney Houston
“One More Try” - Timmy -T-
“Brother Jukebox” - Mark Chesnutt
    1993 - At London's Brit Awards, Rod Stewart invites former members of his old band, The Faces, onstage for an impromptu reunion. Original members Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones join Stewart for renditions of "Stay With Me" and "Sweet Little Rock and Roller." Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman sits in for original Faces bassist Ronnie Lane, who is ill with Multiple Sclerosis.
    2006 - The last mobile Army surgical hospital (MASH) was decommissioned by the United States Army, succeeded by the Combat Support Hospital.
    2011 - Lance Armstrong announced his official retirement from professional cycling.  Armstrong is the 1993 professional world champion and won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005. However, in 2012, he was banned from sanctioned Olympic sports for life as a result of long-term doping offenses. As part of those sanctions, all results going back to August 1998, including his seven Tour wins, were voided.
    2012 - A federal judge in Detroit ordered life in prison for Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian man who tried to blow up a packed Northwest jetliner with a bomb concealed in his underwear.
    2015 – A federal judge order a halt to an executive order of President Obama that allowed approximately 5 million illegal immigrants to remain in the country.