Leasing News

Pictures from the Past

Bernie Boettingheimer, CLP,
Lease Police Chief then 1989 Conference
Chair for WAEL

A native New Yorker, Bernie graduated from Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y. with a B.B.A in Finance. After four years at D&B he entered the appliance manufacturing and distribution world. During that time he held Officer and Director positions with public corporations, Norge Division of Borg Warner Corp., Fednor Corp., and B-W Acceptance Corp.

As the CEO of ALD, Inc., an OTC manufacturer of commercial laundry and car wash equipment he was the recipient of the prestigious “ E Award “ for excellent growth in export sales by President Ronald Reagan in March, 1982.

In September 1983 he left corporate life to form Pioneer Leasing (later changed to Pioneer Capital Corp). He was a Director of the Western Association of Equipment Leasing (now NEFA) in 1988 & 1989 and Convention Chairman at Camelback, Arizona in May, 1989.

In September, 2004, Pioneer Capital Corp was sold to IFC Credit Corporation and Bernie retired in April 2006. A few months later realizing there was still work to be done for the Leasing Industry, he formed Lease Police, Inc. and serves as its President.

He has been a CLP since 1996.

Why PSFS Stopped Suing Brican America/Now 1,672 Dentists?
Leasing Industry hasn’t learned anything…
by Christopher Menkin

"In late February 2010 PSFS settled its lawsuit with Brican prior to trial as it believed based upon information available to it, continuing to spend a large amount of money on legal fees to pursue a judgment against an apparently insolvent company simply did not make business sense." (1)

The above is a letter intended for the 1,672 lessees of NCMIC Finance Corporation dba Professional Solutions Financial Services (PSFS), Clive, Iowa (a suburb of Des Moines). Owned by Professional Solutions, provider of malpractice insurance, business insurance, credit cards, financial plans, and leasing, they withdrew their suit against Brican America, Miami Florida, for $38 million.

PFSC brought the suit when they said they became aware of a separate marketing agreement and attempted to describe the situation as a “Ponzi” scheme, similar to ReComm, which one of the co-founders was involved.

The basis of the suit is that many dentists, endodontists, optometrists and other professionals were leased a package that included some video equipment, video software, video editing services and a marketing agreement with VisoLasik Medspas. Viso agreed to pay a marketing fee to the lessee for a percentage of screen time in our offices. To the lessee, that made their lease payment, so the equipment and service was basically free.

Many of the dentists stopped paying the leases when the advertising payments halted. PFSC is both threatening those not making payments that they will be sued, as well as offering a discount (on one dentist they offered to knock of $1,000 from the $22,000 owed, the dentist claimed.)

PFSC is aware that there are at least seven internet blogs where dentists, in their situation, are joining together to form class action suits in various states and test the clause of “hell and high water” contracts, agencies, alleged fraud, and a convoluted group of other problems such as in bankruptcy the return of advertising payments, lease payments, personal property tax overcharges, attorney fees (Brican is in Florida and fees may be included).

This again is another test for the leasing industry and the change is primarily the internet allowing groups to form, exchange information, and if the NorVergence scandal didn’t teach anything, as US Manifest (Lyon Financial Services, doing business as U.S. Bancorp Manifest Financial Services in Franklin County Illinois) about losing a case where the software company went out of business should be remembered: US Manifest lost the case because there was no one to service the software in their lease contract ($59 million here, guys, not a small ticket item, and there is no doubt they are completely innocent as US Manifest did not pick out the equipment, the software, and said in their contract they were not responsible for any warranty. But what the heck, they are a bank and therefore a “bad guy.” Look for more such rulings in today’s environment).

The Brican America certainly will be higher, as well as the court and attorney fees. More importantly, some of the attorneys chosen by the various groups in the various states have experienced leasing law professionals who can match Brican America co-counsel Michael Leichtling of Troutman-Sanders experience (2)(although he may be a well-known legal leasing co-author, the last legal advice to Brican and IFC Credit may remove him from the kitchen as an Iron Chef of Leasing. Don’t bring up his SiLo opinions, as it costs the banks millions of dollars. I mean millions!)

The blogs are introducing over seven attorneys to contact, letting those choose who they want. The first has one year as a member of the Florida bar, and little leasing experience; another has a longer license in the state, but no leasing litigation experience, perhaps the first to be recommended on the blog: David H. Charlip, Esq. of the Charlip Law Group, LC, Florida. In his blog to dentists, he points out aleasing case where he made new Florida law in the Florida Supreme Court. Looking it up, it is a commercial landlord – tenant case! It has nothing to do with equipment leasing. And it isn't any heavy duty case. http://www.leasingnews.org/PDF/sc07-1397.pdf

There is Ron Gossett of Gossett and Gossett who won his cases in the NorVergence case (He stated in one response: “I have been practicing law for 34 years, and most recently, about 85% of my practice is devoted to litigating equipment leasing fraud cases. So far, I have been successful in 100% of my equipment leasing fraud cases. I litigate fraud cases throughout the United States, and mostly in federal district courts across the United States. My home state is Florida.") and his co-counsel is Michael Witt, former Wells Fargo leasing and Advanta leasing, located a mile and a half from Professional Solutions but who evidently believes the best venue is Florida.

There is a New Jersey attorney, and a California attorney whose web site says he specializes in entertainment law, Jewelry, and a number of other things that aren't related to equipment finance.

One Dentist on a blog said he wanted to go with an attorney experienced in leasing, citing “You don’t go to an Endodontist for braces.”

At one time there was an exclusive club of leasing attorneys, but those days are over, as the internet had passed faxing information and makes every case available in seconds (think about it.)

In the meantime, there appears to be a few leases Brican American holds as Brican Financial. Chuck Brazier former Colonial Pacific, Sierra Cities, Centerpoint, Pinnacle, to name a few (to point out he is not a novice) has been communicating with individual dentists as “manager” to negotiate a settlement with these lessees. Recently he is signing emails "President, Brican Financial". He originally said he would have a proposal on Friday, then Monday, then Tuesday. So far the dates keep getting postponed.

At the same time, many of the dentists want to keep the equipment and service, willing to pay fees for the product; that they find useful. There are a few others who don’t want to fight it, but just continue to make payments ( although if the video service and support stops from a related Brican America company, they may think otherwise.)

And the beat goes on…

PFSC Letter to Dentists:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Professional_Solutions_March_2010.pdf
Michael Leichtling bio
http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/Leichtling_bio.html

Previous Articles on Brican America scandal:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/brican_america.htm

Sales makes it Happen

by Gerry Egan

It may be time to ‘fire’ some vendors - Part II

I chose to focus on vendors not as companies but as individual reps and focused on developing close personal relationships with the top performers in each vendor's office. The interesting thing is, once I changed how I looked at that, it actually became very easy to do. It was certainly easier than chasing undoable deals from weaker salespeople.

The trick is to identify the top performers and, again, that's just a matter of thinking a little differently. Once I stopped calling about vendor leasing programs, I started calling about specific sales ideas that not only attracted top performers but actually repelled average performers; an idea I borrowed from ReMax Realty. Sales meetings were also a good way to identify them. That’s easy to do by the questions they asked.

See, average performers are looking for excuses, (your rates are too high, your credit is too tight, etc), but top performers are looking for ways to leverage their time. They know that a few dollars one way or another isn't the difference in them making a sale or not but a person who can help them get demos or follow up on demos, (just to give a couple of examples), is incredibly valuable to them. I provided follow up calls after demos to help some of the reps I worked closely with see where they stood in the process. They weren’t all lease prospects but it didn’t take much time and made me a sales partner providing a critical service to a busy, high producing sales rep. I’ll invest that kind of time any time.

Now, once I have a true sales partnership with a top performing salesperson in a vendor I can target just the kind of customers I know I can get approved and funded which supports one of my Core Principles; it's easier to find transactions for funding I've got than it is to find funding for transactions I've got.

Rather than just responding to whatever business they happen to be doing then hoping I could find funding for it, I could target prospecting and demos towards classes of prospects I knew my funding sources were predisposed to approve. Since I was helping a top performing sales rep get marginal sales improvement, he or she didn’t care where it came from

The 80% group, the average performers, can take a lot of your time, too. They’re not that busy so spending time shopping rates is easy for them. And not having a lot of good prospects they’re more than willing to spend limitless time on any kind of prospect they do have and are glad for you to do the same.

This was all so easy to learn and so easy to work. The hardest part was making the decision to change my thinking and my own perception of my role. I made the decision to differentiate myself; the rest just flowed from that.

I still maintain that if you had a close working relationship with the just the top salesperson at ten different vendors, you'd have trouble keeping up with the business. And, as to a touch economy, guess which salespeople in the vendor's office last longest in tough times?

If you wonder if changing how you see your vendors and yourself would be worth it for yourself, simply apply my time, tested and foolproof marketing test. Ask yourself this. Would you rather work that way or compete with someone who does? Let me put that another way. If I followed you around for the next couple of months and I made a point of developing a personal relationship with the top salesperson at each of your vendors and you didn't, would it help your business or hurt your business?

"It may be time to ‘fire’ some vendors." Part I:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_3.htm#vendors

See you in Atlanta!!!!!!!!

Gerry Egan
www.LearnLeasing.com
Phone: 919-790-1266
Email: GerryEgan@LearnLeasing.com

In sales we get paid the same for a maybe as we get paid for a no ---but a maybe takes longer to collect.

Gerry Egan since 1981 has been involved in Equipment Leasing training, education, and has written many articles. He is unique in his consulting profession as " We broker leases, hold our own leases and discount leases to local banks in addition to managing and servicing the leasing programs for a couple of small banks."

About Gerry Egan:
http://forequipmentleasing.com/Joomla/content/view/25/45/

Previous Sales Makes it Happen Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.html

Alexa Report: Leasing Web Site Popularity

Rankings are divided into United States only and World Wide, among all web sites. The lower the number, the most visited. The higher the number, the less visited and rank among all the web sites on the internet. The list includes lease association and trade publication for the leasing industry.

Alexa Ranks Leasing Media Web Sites
US rankings

Rank	3/9/2010	2/9/2009	WEBSITE NAME
1.	42,853	52,989	www.leasingnews.org Leasing News
2.	168,085	177,315	www.naelb.org* National Assoc. of Equip Leasing Brokers
3.	172,625	105,050	www.ibaa.org Ind Community Bankers of America
4.	284,188	267,126	www.monitordaily.com Monitor Daily
5.	510,163	no data	www.lessors.com eLessors Networking Association
6.	639,488	661,062	www.clpfoundation.org CLP Foundation
7.	697,988	218,749	www.elfaonline.org
8.	753,419	797,642	www.cfa.com Commercial Finance Association
9.	1,104,615	408,545	www.Worldleasingnews.com World Leasing News

	no data	535,576	w www.leasefoundation.org Equip. Leasing & Fin Fndn
	no data	636,220	www.nefassociation.org National Equipment Finance Assoc.
	no data	no data	www.iicl.org Institute of International Container Lessors
	no data	no data	www.executivecaliber.ws Exec Caliber-Jeffrey Taylor
	no data	no data	www.aglf.org Assoc of Government Leasing Financing
	no data	no data	www.Leasingpress.com Leasing Press
	no data	no data	www.leasingnotes.com Leasing Notes
	no data	no data	www.leaseassistant.org Lease Assistant
	no data	no data	www.leasecollect.org Lean -Lease Enforcement Att Net
	no data	no data	www.nationalfunding.org
	no data	no data	www.lesseeadvocate.com Lessee Advocate

Alexa Ranks Leasing Media Web Sites
World rankings

Rank	3/9/2010	2/9/2009	WEBSITE NAME
1.	206,092	195,057	www.leasingnews.org Leasing News
2.	511,131	546,517	www.ibaa.org Ind Community Bankers of America
3.	811,265	943,250	www.naelb.org* National Assoc. of Equip Leasing Brokers
4.	941,401	816,790	www.elfaonline.org
5.	971,811	818,036	www.monitordaily.com Monitor Daily
6.	1,501,026	1,659,013	www.lessors.com eLessors Networking Association
7.	2,431,502	2,315,026	w www.leasefoundation.org Equip. Leasing & Fin Fndn
8.	2,461,221	2,478,479	www.cfa.com Commercial Finance Association
9.	2,522,534	2,457,598	www.Worldleasingnews.com World Leasing News
10.	2,997,636	4,265,774	www.clpfoundation.org CLP Foundation
11.	3,405,139	2,039,553	www.leasinglife.co.uk The Journal for Asset Finance
12.	4,385,440	4,156,504	www.iicl.org Institute of International Container Lessors
13.	4,564,824	4,621,503	www.nefassociation.org National Equipment Finance Assoc.
14.	4,629,419	5,556,944	www.aglf.org Assoc of Government Leasing Financing
15.	7,374,464	7,314,666	www.lesseeadvocate.com Lessee Advocate
16.	9,225,813	9,139,079	www.nationalfunding.org
17.	12,334,700	12,320,422	www.leasingnotes.com Leasing Notes
18.	12,766,112	6,229,377	www.executivecaliber.ws Exec Caliber-Jeffrey Taylor
19.	19,837,593	21,594,149	www.leasecollect.org Lean -Lease Enforcement Att Net
20.	19,665,457	22,280,486	www.Leasingpress.com Leasing Press

David G. Mayer's Business Leasing and Finance News is not included in the Alexa report list as it does not have its own individual site and Alexa finds Patton Boggs, LLP Attorneys at Law. The rating is not valid as it includes all those who visit and communicate with the law firm. When Business Leasing and Finance News has its own individual web site, it will be included in the Alexa survey.

*It should be noted that NAELB web site "list serve" requires logging onto their site, meaing their e-mails are counted as a visit to the site, whereas they are "list serve" communication. These are technically visits to the web site, but primarily to use "list serve."

The Alexa tool bar works on most browsers. They are partnered with Google.

You may download their free tool bar A graph and analysis of the last three months are available.

SEATTLE

Meet and learn from Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

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

Sales and Operations
click here for course information and to register

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

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

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

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

All stories are in the Leasing News archives and can be found with a search. Since there are over 5,000 pages, the search usually comes up with the one most opened.

If you don't first see what you are looking for, some tips are making a more definitive search, just as you would on any search engine.

Another tip, is at the bottom of the results, is a key to make changes for the search. Most often, "sort by date" is the most helpful as it brings you first the most current articles on the subject.

Another idea is to go to the index, and choose the letter and look to see if the subject is in the archive.

Advance Search gives a better definition.

Archives is by chronological order and if you think it was May, 2008, you can see all the headlines from stories in May, 2008 and scroll through them.

On the top tool bar, you can find The Lists. Here you will see all the lists, and it may have the information you are looking for rather than doing a "search."

The bottom tool bar as the advisory board list, Leasing News Policy and Mission, as well as a shortcut to cartoons or placards or classified ads, as well as the site map which is also on the top of the top tool bar. This is the best place to start on any web site when you are looking for something you can find right away.

New Hires---Promotions

Richard Andersen was named operations manager for its lease advisory and distribution services group, Key Equipment Finance, Superior, Colorado. Previously he was senior vice president and chief operating officer with Silvermark Capital, a division of Sterling Bank, Houston, Texas. He was director of vendor services and capital markets for American Express Business Finance, Inc., and directed portfolio acquisition and syndication there. He began his banking career while completing a BA in economics and finance at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he became president and CEO of the student credit union. He has served as a member of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association's Funding Committee board since 2007.

Jeremy M. Eaves promoted to vice president of human resources, Key Equipment Finance, Superior, Colorado. He joined the company in 2005 as director of human resources. Before that, he was lead human resource consultant for ING from 2000-2005. From 1998-2000, he was a leadership and professional development corporate trainer for Oppenheimer Funds. His pervious experience was in higher education administration at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Bill Gallagher hired as regional manager of the Mid Atlantic Region, Merchants Leasing, Hooksett, New Hampshire. He will be focusing on the unique needs of corporate and government fleet customers in Pennsylvania and several surrounding states. In addition, he will provide consulting support for new clients who are looking for creative solutions to effectively manage their fleets.

Gallagher will report to Gary Scanlon, national sales manager, and will be located in Exton, Penn. He has more than 25 years of experience, and has held senior and executive leadership positions at PHH Arval, McCullagh Leasing and GE Capital in the United States and Canada.

David K. Mullen was named the Regional Manager for TD Equipment Finance, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. His territory will include eastern and central Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He previously served he served as a Vice President at Omni Capital, a division of Omni National Bank. He held similar positions at CitiCapital, ABN AMRO and Textron Financial. Mullen is a member of the Commercial Finance Association. Mullen holds an MBA from DePaul University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Isenberg School of Management

Steve Michels hired as regional sales manager of the West Coast, Southern Region, Merchants Leasing, Hooksett, New Hampshire. Understanding the financial and fleet leasing needs of businesses in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada will be his first priority. Michels will report to Gary Scanlon, national sales manager, and will be located in Templeton, Calif. He has more than 25 years experience in the fleet leasing industry and has held senior sales management positions at PHH Arval, NationsBanc Leasing and GE Capital.

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

Orion First Financial, LLC and Executive Solutions for Leasing and Finance, Inc.
announce a new partnership

Orion First Financial, LLC and Executive Solutions for Leasing and Finance, Inc. are proud to announce the formation of a partnership in order to provide their clients with trusted expert resources which extend beyond their individual product offerings.

According to Ms. Gerson, Founder and President of Executive Solutions, “In order to maintain our position as a premier search firm, we believe it is necessary to continually reinvent ourselves by providing additional essential products and services. Orion First Financial’s commitment to excellence compliments our insistence on superior performance. We are excited to be able to partner with a firm which shares our values and takes personal pride in every customer interaction.”

David T. Schaefer, President, Orion First Financial commented, “Orion is delighted to be associated with Executive Solutions. Orion believes in building long-term relationships with professional companies that support the leasing industry and bring value to Orion’s clients. With Orion’s servicing capabilities, Executive Solutions talent resource capabilities, and our combined capital markets expertise, our companies now offer an even greater value proposition.”

About Orion First Financial, LLC
Orion First Financial, LLC, is a leader in lease and loan account servicing, portfolio management, and strategic advisory services for the commercial equipment finance industry. Orion’s comprehensive servicing suite includes lease invoicing and payment processing, sales and personal property tax reporting, collections, workouts, repossessions and remarketing. Orion also offers expert guidance on credit underwriting, portfolio valuation, credit/loss analysis and due diligence procedures. Orion distinguishes its servicing programs through superior customer service, delinquency and default management and has implemented and continues to make use of the best technology and information tools available.

About Executive Solutions for Leasing and Finance, Inc.
Executive Solutions for Leasing and Finance, Inc. conducts retained, contingency and hybrid searches for all functional roles within the leasing industry. Clients range from small regional firms to Fortune 50 companies. ESLF can recruit niche specialists from various companies or lift an entire team out in order to provide immediate market entrée complete with inherent expertise, minimal ramp up time and fast revenue production for clients. Executive Solutions is able to assist companies looking to place unusual programs or individual transactions by tapping into our network of traditional and non-traditional capital sources. Additionally, our funding expert provides a soup to nuts solution for companies seeking additional funding.

Contact Information
David T. Schaefer
(253) 857-9610
dtschaefer@orionfirst.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dtschaefer
www.orionfirst.com

Teri Gerson
(908) 654-1550
terigerson@exsolutions.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/exsolutions
www.exsolutions.com

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

[headlines]
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    1656 - In the colony of Virginia, suffrage was extended to all free men regardless of their religion.
    1681 - English Quaker William Penn received a charter from Charles II, making him sole proprietor of colonial American territory of Pennsylvania.
    1769 - Philadelphia merchants finally agree among themselves to support an intercolonial no importation movement. Effective 1 April, they ban the import of nearly all British trade goods until the Townshend Acts are repealed.
    1775 - The Transylvania Company sends Daniel Boone and 30 woodchoppers to cut the Wilderness Road from Fort Wautauga to the mouth of the Kentucky River.
    1776 - "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine was published.
    1776- Charleston,S.C., set up an independent government under a temporary local constitution that was to be in effect until an agreement with England could be reached. John Rutledge was chosen presi dent. This government, said to be the first independ ent government within the recognized borders of the colonies, successfully defended Charleston against the British army and fleet on June 28, 1776, thus freeing the South from attack for nearly three years. Culture was also flourishing here and New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, but most of all in Charleston. In the mid-eighteenth century musical concerts were flourishing in the colonial centers, and musical societies, music dealers, and instrument makers all benefited. the first music society in America was founded in Charleston, the St. Cecila Society in 1762. In Europe, Charleston was considered the chief cultural center of the colonies, and many artists, actors and musicians chose to settle there when they immigrated to America. Other cities could boast of cultural achievements as well. In Boston a group of gentlemen sponsored a concert in Faneui Hall as early as 1744, and in 1954 the first concern hall in Boston was opened by Gilbert Dubois. Philadelphia boasted four organ makers who produced spinets and virginals as well as organs.
“In 1762, the women of Charleston founded the St. Cecila Society as a musical organization; however, by the 1840's, the society had become more of a cotillion club than an organization to provide quality music to the socially refined. The society held their largest ball annually during February (just before lent) in Hibernian Hall on Meeting Street. A contemporary remarked "the membership remains exclusive and its affairs somewhat secret." Even today, the club remains secretive and its historical records and membership lists remain off-limits to non-members.”
http://www.ego.net/us/sc/myr/history/riceles.htm
    1849-Besides being an attorney, Abraham Lincoln was an inventor, as on this day he received a patent for a device for “buoying vessels over shoals” by means of inflated cylinders.
    1854-Hallie Quinn Brown, women's right activist, born Pittsburgh, PA.
    1862-The first paper money was issued in the US on this date in 1862. The denominations were $5 (Hamilton), $10 (Lincoln and $20 (Liberty).
    1864-Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was made general in chief by Pres. Lincoln, replacing Gen. Henry W. Halleck.
http://www.mscomm.com/~ulysses/
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mcc&fileName=017/page.db&recNum=
0&itemLink=D?mcc:4:./temp/~ammem_pRfu::
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwgrant.gif
    1865- Battle of Monroe's Crossroads, North Carolina, one of the largest Calvary battles of the war between two flamboyant generals
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/cavclash.htm
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/mcattack.htm
http://www.bragg.army.mil/culturalresources/monroe's_crossroads.htm
http://www.townofaberdeen.net/MalcolmBlue_FarmskillsFestival.htm
    1867-American sociologist, founder of the Nery Street Settlement at New York City, Lillian D. Wald birthday. The Henry Street Settlement was the first nonsectarian public health nursing service. Born at Cincinnati, OH; died at Westport, CT, Sept. 1, 1940.
    1876- Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first telephone message to his assistant in the next room: “ Mr. Watson, come here, I want you,” at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Born at Edinburgh, Scotland, Bell acquired his interest in the transmission of sound from his father, Melville Bell, a teacher of the deaf. Bell’s use of visual devices to teach articulation to the deaf contributed to the theory from which he derived the principle of the vibrating membrane used in the telephone. Bells other accomplishments include a refinement of Edison’s phonograph, the first successful phonograph record and the audiometer.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar10.html
    1880- Salvation Army Commissioner George Scott Rail ton and seven women officers landed at New York to officially begin the work of the Salvation Army in the United States.
    1903-Playwright and politician Clare Booth Luce born at New York City. Luce wrote for and edited Vogue and Vanity Fair as well as writing plays, three of which were later adapted into motion pictures---The Women(1936), Kiss the Boys Goodbye(1938) and Margin of error(1939) She served in the US House of Representatives(1943-47) and as ambassador to Italy(1953-56)---the first woman appointed ambassador to a major country. Luce died Oct 9, 1987 at Washington, DC.
    1903 –Birthday of legendary trumpet player Bix Beiderbecke.
http://www.redhotjazz.com/bix.html
http://www.citypaper.net/articles/020702/mus.cds1.shtml
    1912 - The barometric pressure reached 29.26 inches at Los Angeles, CA, and 29.46 inches at San Diego CA, setting all-time records for those two locations.
    1924- Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians made their first recordings at a session in Richmond, Indiana. Two songs were released on the Gennett label.
http://www.bigbandsandbignames.com/GuyLombardo.html
    1922 - Dodge City, KS, reported a record 24 hour total of 17.5 inches of snow.
    1924-Tenor sax/Trumpet player Bunny Williams born Magnolia, MS
http://www.alligator.com/artists/album.cfm?AlbumID=al2803&ArtistID=036
    1922-Dodge City, Kansas was buried under 17.5 inches of snow in 24 hours -- the city's biggest 24 hour snowfall on record
    1933 -Major earthquake in Long Beach CA
http://nisee.berkeley.edu/long_beach/long_beach.html
    1935 - On Victor Records, Nelson Eddy recorded "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life". The song was from the film, "Naughty Marietta". Later, Eddy recorded the song with Jeanette MacDonald.
    1937 - An audience of 21,000 jitterbuggers crowded the Paramount Theatre in New York City to see the ‘King of Swing’, Benny Goodman.
http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3jtrbg.htm
http://www.savoystyle.com/
    1937- Canadian country singer Tommy Hunter was born in London, Ontario. Hunter joined CBC TV's "Country Hoedown" in 1956 as rhythm guitarist with King Ganam's Sons of the West. "The Tommy Hunter Show" succeeded "Country Hoedown" on the CBC network in 1965. It became one of the most popular TV variety programs in the country, and received international exposure via The Nashville Network pay TV channel in the US. When the CBC cancelled "The Tommy Hunter Show" in 1992, it was the longest-running music show on any North American network. Hunter is known as "Canada's Country Gentleman," and has received several J no Awards as Canada's best male country singer.
    1938 - Jezebel, directed by William Wyler, opened in United States theaters. The film starred Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent, and Fay Bainter. Davis won her second Oscar as a ruthless Southern belle who goes too far to make fiancé Fonda jealous. Bainter received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, and the film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Bette Davis starred in a series of acclaimed films that won her Best Actress nominations for five consecutive years: Jezebel (1938), Dark Victory(1939), The Letter (1940), The Little Foxes (1941), and Now, Voyager (1942). In 1950, she won the New York Film Critics' Best Actress Award for her stunning performance as actress Margo Channing in All About Eve. Her career tapered off in the late 1950s but revived in 1962 with her leading role in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. She spent most of the 1970s doing television work until cancer forced her to slow down. In 1977, she became the first woman to receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, and her filmography includes more than 80 works. She wrote two autobiographies, The Lonely Life in 1962 and This 'N' That in 1987, and has been the subject of many biographies. She died of cancer in 1989.
    1938 - The day: the 10th of the month. The movies being celebrated were for the year 1937, whose numbers add up to 10 (1+9, 3+7); and it was the 10th Annual Academy Awards. We wonder if these winners were superstitious or had some reason to think that the number 10 was lucky. Two awards were won by "The Life of Emile Zola", a Warner Bros. movie, produced by Henry Blanke, Best Picture honors and Best Actor in a Supporting Role to Joseph Schildkraut. Other lucky recipients of the coveted prize awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at Los Angeles’ Biltmore Hotel were Leo McCarey as Best Director for "The Awful Truth"; Spencer Tracy for his Best Actor role (Manuel) in "Captains Courageous"; Luise Rainer for her Best Actress role (O-Lan) in "The Good Earth"; Alice Brady as the Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Molly O’Leary "In Old Chicago") and Harry Owens for his Best Music/Song, "Sweet Leilani" from "Waikiki Wedding".
    1939 - The Little Princess, starring Shirley Temple and based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, opened in United States theaters.
    1940- Dean Torrance of the surfing music duo of Jan and Dean was born in Los Angeles. He went to the same high school I did, University High School in Los Angeles. He really was a “surfer.” In 1959, Dean and Jan Berry had their first top-ten hit, "Baby Talk," which was arranged by the then-unknown Herb Alpert. Their biggest success came in 1963 with the number-one song "Surf City," written by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. In 1966, Jan Berry suffered brain damage when his car rammed into a parked truck in Los Angeles. That ended Jan and Dean's career, although they have performed together occasionally since Berry's recovery in 1973. Dean Torrance turned to designing album covers as head of Kitty Hawk Graphics in Hollywood.
http://www.jananddean.com/
    1941 - The Brooklyn Dodgers announced their players would wear batting helmets for the 1941 season. General Manager Larry McPhail correctly predicted all baseball players would wear the new devices soon
    1941---Birthday of American composer Gary Edwards, Spokane, WA. He has released five CDs including The Coeur d’Alene Suite (classical string orchestra), Cast Out The Demons (R&B style contemporary gospel), Gary’s Country, TroubleClef, a rock CD Gary’s Classical and formed Edwards Music publishing.com company which primarily releases his music.
View his website at
http://edwardsmusicpublishing.com/cart/agora.cgi
to see and hear samples and order his finished musical works and books.
    1944 - Vibraphone player David Friedman born New York City
http://www.dmprecords.com/CD-503.htm
    1945 -ATKINS, THOMAS E. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 10 March 1945. Entered service at: Campobello, S.C. Birth: Campobello, S.C. G.O. No.: 95, 30 October 1945. Citation: He fought gallantly on the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands. With 2 companions he occupied a position on a ridge outside the perimeter defense established by the 1st Platoon on a high hill. At about 3 a.m., 2 companies of Japanese attacked with rifle and machinegun fire, grenades, TNT charges, and land mines, severely wounding Pfc. Atkins and killing his 2 companions. Despite the intense hostile fire and pain from his deep wound, he held his ground and returned heavy fire. After the attack was repulsed, he remained in his precarious position to repel any subsequent assaults instead of returning to the American lines for medical treatment. An enemy machinegun, set up within 20 yards of his foxhole, vainly attempted to drive him off or silence his gun. The Japanese repeatedly made fierce attacks, but for 4 hours, Pfc. Atkins determinedly remained in his fox hole, bearing the brunt of each assault and maintaining steady and accurate fire until each charge was repulsed. At 7 a.m., 13 enemy dead lay in front of his position; he had fired 400 rounds, all he and his 2 dead companions possessed, and had used 3 rifles until each had jammed too badly for further operation. He withdrew during a lull to secure a rifle and more ammunition, and was persuaded to remain for medical treatment. While waiting, he saw a Japanese within the perimeter and, seizing a nearby rifle, killed him. A few minutes later, while lying on a litter, he discovered an enemy group moving up behind the platoon's lines. Despite his severe wound, he sat up, delivered heavy rifle fire against the group and forced them to withdraw. Pfc. Atkins' superb bravery and his fearless determination to hold his post against the main force of repeated enemy attacks, even though painfully wounded, were major factors in enabling his comrades to maintain their lines against a numerically superior enemy force.
    1945 - 300 United States B-29 bombers devastated Japan's capital in what became known as the Great Tokyo Air Raid in World War II. The firestorm they created killed 100,000 people.
http://history.independence.co.jp/ww2/eng/phtop.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/04/11/1018333400535.html
    1948 -- Zelda Fitzgerald and eight other women killed in sanitarium fire in Asheville, North Carolina. Trapped on the third story, she dies at 48. . Both she and her husband were alcoholics, which affected her earlier than it did F. Scott. ( here is corroboration of the date, but go back to the beginning and read the chronological series of her life to better understand their “condition.” Simply put: Once you become a pickle, you can’t go back to being a cucumber.
More information of Zelda Fitzgerald
http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/zeldabib.html
http://www.zeldafitzgerald.com/chronology/chronology_30.asp
    1949—Top Hits
Far Away Places - Margaret Whiting
Powder Your Face with Sunshine - Evelyn Knight
Galway Bay - Bing Crosby
Don’t Rob Another Man’s Castle - Eddy Arnold
    1951-- Mario Lanza's "Be My Love" hits #1
    1955 -Trumpeting their new signing, RCA Victor places a half-page ad in Billboard announcing Elvis Presley as the "new singing rage."
    1956 - Louisa May Alcott's popular novel, Little Women, was again adapted for the screen, and opened in movie theaters on this date. This version starred June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor, Janet Leigh, Rossano Brazzi, and Mary Astor. The film won an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color (1949).
    1957—Top Hits
Young Love - Tab Hunter
Young Love - Sonny James
Round and Round - Perry Como
There You Go - Johnny Cash
    1959 - Tennessee William's play "Sweet Bird of Youth", opened at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City, starring Geraldine Page, Paul Newman, Rip Torn and Diana Hyland. Critics called Page “fabulous” and said Newman was “the perfect companion piece.”
    1959- Elvis Presley's "I Need Your Love Tonight" backed with "A Fool Such as I" is released on RCA Records. The following day, based on advanced orders for the disco totaling nearly one million, RCA ships a gold record for the platter to Elvis, who is stationed in Germany.
    1960 -a heavy snowstorm left 10 inches in Georgia, 22 inches in Tennessee, 24 inches in Kentucky and 15 inches in Virginia. Many buildings collapsed from the weight of the snow.
    1961- Twenty-two year old songwriter Jeff Barry whose "Tell Laura I Love Her" was a Top Ten hit for Ray Peterson, signs an exclusive writing and recording deal with Trinity Music. In 1962, he hooks up with Phil Spector and Shadow Moaton, and with his new wife Ellie Greenwich, they start cranking out the hits. They include "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me" (Crystals), "Be My Baby" (Ronettes), "Chapel of Love" (Dixie Cups), "Do Wah Diddy" (Manfred Mann), "Leader of the Pack" (Shangri-Las) "River Deep , Mountain High" (Ike and Tina Turner), "Hanky Panky" (Tommy James) and "Cherry Cherry" (Neil Diamond).
    1962 - Bruce Channel's "Hey Baby" sat at the top of the Pop chart.
    1965—Top Hits
My Girl - The Temptations
The Jolly Green Giant - The Kingsmen
Eight Days a Week - The Beatles
I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail - Buck Owens
    1965 - Walter Matthau and Art Carney opened in one of Neil Simon’s greatest theatrical triumphs, "The Odd Couple"; which would also become a television hit starring Tony Randall as the tidy Felix Ungar and Jack Klugman as slovenly sportswriter, Oscar Madison.
    1965-Heather Farr, golfer born at Phoenix, AZ. Farr was an outstanding amateur golfer and a promising member of the LPGA tour when she was stricken with breast cancer in 1988. Radical treatment allowed her to fight the disease with great courage for five years without losing her spirit or sense of humor. In Farr’s honor, the LGPA annually present the Heather Farr Player Award to the golfer, “who, through her hard work, dedication, and love of the game of golf, has demonstrated determination, perseverance and spirit in fulfilling her goals as a player.” Died November 20,1993.
    1966----FISHER, BERNARD FRANCIS Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Air Force, 1st Air Commandos. Place and date: Bien Hoa and Pleiku, Vietnam, 10 March 1966. Entered service at: Kuna, Idaho. Born: 11 January 1927, San Bernardino, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
    1967 -DETHLEFSEN, MERLYN HANS Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Major (then Capt.), U.S. Air Force. Place and date: In the air over North Vietnam, 10 March 1967. Entered service at: Royal, Iowa. Born: 29 June 1934, Greenville, Iowa. Citation: Maj. Dethlefsen was 1 of a flight of F-105 aircraft engaged in a fire suppression mission designed to destroy a key antiaircraft defensive complex containing surface-to-air missiles (SAM), an exceptionally heavy concentration of antiaircraft artillery, and other automatic weapons. The defensive network was situated to dominate the approach and provide protection to an important North Vietnam industrial center that was scheduled to be attacked by fighter bombers immediately after the strike by Maj. Dethlefsen's flight. In the initial attack on the defensive complex the lead aircraft was crippled, and Maj. Dethlefsen's aircraft was extensively damaged by the intense enemy fire. Realizing that the success of the impending fighter bomber attack on the center now depended on his ability to effectively suppress the defensive fire, Maj. Dethlefsen ignored the enemy's overwhelming firepower and the damage to his aircraft and pressed his attack. Despite a continuing hail of antiaircraft fire, deadly surface-to-air missiles, and counterattacks by MIG interceptors, Maj. Dethlefsen flew repeated close range strikes to silence the enemy defensive positions with bombs and cannon fire. His action in rendering ineffective the defensive SAM and antiaircraft artillery sites enabled the ensuing fighter bombers to strike successfully the important industrial target without loss or damage to their aircraft, thereby appreciably reducing the enemy's ability to provide essential war material. Maj. Dethlefsen's consummate skill and selfless dedication to this significant mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
    1967- Sonny and Cher guest star as "Jerry and Ramona" on tonight's "The Hot Number Affair" episode of the NBC-TV spy spoof The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
    1968 -- César Chávez breaks his fast at a mass in Delano's public park with 4,000 supporters at his side, including Senator Robert Kennedy.
    1969 - James Earl Ray was sentenced in Memphis, Tennessee, to 99 years in prison for the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968. The King family believes he is not the one who pulled the trigger.
    1970 - The U.S. Army accuses Capt. Ernest Medina and four other soldiers of committing crimes at My Lai in March 1968. The charges ranged from premeditated murder to rape and the "maiming" of a suspect under interrogation. Medina was the company commander of Lt. William Calley and other soldiers charged with murder and numerous crimes at My Lai 4 in Song My village. The My Lai massacre became the most publicized war atrocity committed by U.S. troops in Vietnam. Allegedly, a platoon had slaughtered between 200 and 500 unarmed villagers at My Lai 4, a cluster of hamlets in the coastal lowlands of I Corps Tactical Zone. Only 14, including Calley and Medina, were eventually charged with crimes. All eventually had their charges dismissed or were acquitted by courts-martial except Calley, who was found guilty of murdering 22 civilians. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but his sentence was reduced to 20 years by the Court of Military Appeals and further reduced later to 10 years by the Secretary of the Army. Proclaimed by much of the public as a "scapegoat," Calley was paroled in 1974 after having served about three years.
    1973- Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was released in America, where it would spend over 740 weeks on the chart.
    1973—Top Hits
Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
Love Train - O’Jays
’Till I Get It Right - Tammy Wynette
    1977- Pink Floyd's album "Animals" was certified platinum - one million copies sold - in the US.
    1978- “The Incredible Hulk” premieres on TV. A wonderfully campy action series based on the popular Marvel comic books as well as a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde story. Bill Bixby played the erudite scientist, Dr. David Banner, who accidentally exposed himself to a gamma radiation. When provoked, Banner metamorphosed into the shirt-shredding, body-baring, green-skin, snarling Neanderthal Hulk. The 6’5” 275-lb former Mr. Universe, Louis Ferrigno, played the largely non-speaking part of the Hulk.
    1978 - The Bee Gee's "Night Fever" moves into the #1 spot on the chart. It replaces another Gibb Brothers tune, "Stayin' Alive."
    1979 - Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" hits #1
    1981 - New Denver Broncos owners Edgar F. Kaiser, Jr., named Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Dan Reeves head coach. In 12 seasons, Reeves too the Broncos to three Super Bowls and compiled a 117-79-1 record.
    1981—Top Hits
I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
Keep on Loving You - REO Speedwagon
Do You Love as Good as You Look - The Bellamy Brothers
    1982- known as the Jupiter effect, the much-talked-about and sometimes-feared planetary configuration of a semi-alignment of the planets on the same side of the sun occurred on this date without causing any of the disasters or unusual natural phenomena that some had predicted.
    1985 - The Dallas Mavericks' Dick Motta became the fourth coach in the National Basketball Association to win 700 games as the Mavs beat the New Jersey Nets 126- 113. The three other coaches in NBA history to have that many wins were: Red Auerbach (938 games), Jack Ramsey (733 games) and Gene Shue (717).
    1986-A Green Beret camp was overrun by about 2000 North Vietnamese troops after a 72-hour siege. About 200 U.S. and South Vietnamese troops were killed or captured at the Special Forces base in the Ashau Valley.
    1986 -severe thunderstorms and tornadoes hit Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. A total of 19 tornadoes occurred. 3 of the tornadoes in Indiana reached F3 intensity (winds 158-206 mph). A densely populated subdivision of southeast Lexington, Kentucky was heavily damaged by a tornado. 20 people were injured and 900 homes were damaged or demolished. A very strong thunderstorm downburst hit the Cincinnati area. At the Greater Cincinnati airport, windows were blown out of the control tower, injuring the 6 controllers on duty. At Newport, Kentucky, 120 houses were destroyed from winds estimated from 100 to 140 mph.
    1989—Top Hits
Lost in Your Eyes - Debbie Gibson
The Lover in Me - Sheena Easton
The Living Years - Mike & The Mechanics
I Still Believe in You - The Desert Rose Band
    1989 –Thirty-four cities in the central and southwestern US reported record high temperatures for the date. The high of 85 degrees at Hanksville, Utah was a record for March and Pueblo, Colorado equaled their March record of 86 degrees. Hill City, Kansas warmed from a morning low of 30 degrees to an afternoon high of 89 degrees.
    1990 - According to Billboard Magazine, New Kids on the Block receive 125,000 calls a day to their 1-900 number.
    1990 - American Jennifer Capriati, at 13 years and 11 months, became the youngest player ever to reach the final of a professional tennis tournament, an event in Florida.
    1993-Giants Hire a Woman PA Voice: The San Francisco Giants made baseball history by hiring Sherry Davis to be the team’s public address announcer. Davis, a legal secretary, became the first woman PA voice in the major leagues after having done voice-over work since 1981.
    1993- Michael Jackson, in a live TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, said he had an inherited disorder that causes skin pigmentation to fade. He denied altering most of his face, but did admit to minor cosmetic surgery. Jackson also said he finds the comfort in children and animals that he missed in a friendless, workaholic childhood. In the wake of Jackson's first solo interview in nearly a decade, sales of his "Dangerous" album, released 14 months earlier, skyrocketed
    1995- Citing the labor unrest as the reason, former Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan announces he is leaving baseball to return the NBA.
    2003 - Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, makes his first recording since leaving the business and becoming a Muslim in 1978, covering his own 1971 hit "Peace Train" in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
    2004 - When asked by Senator John McCain to renegotiate the major league baseball's contract in regard to the use of controlled substances, Donald Fehr refuses to comply. Although the union boss condemns the use of steroids, he believes the players oppose random drug testing as a violation of privacy, an argument countered by the Arizona republican as unacceptable and promised congressional action if the status quo.
    2008 - Pop diva Madonna, rocker John Mellencamp, singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, British Invasion pioneers The Dave Clark Five and instrumental Rock legends The Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a ceremony at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

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