Leasing News

Banks Pushing Leasing into their Playing Field
by Christopher Menkin

No matter how you look at, recession technically over or not, the number of bank failures will pass last years mark, meaning the banking industry still has not recovered from primarily commercial and real estate loans. (mainly commercial for smaller banks, not residential mortgages) Not only has growth slowed down in many areas, but has stopped. Perhaps the banks who have acquired these troubled banks will be able to not only service customer’s deposits, but get lending back and renewed financial involvement in the communities.

Most of these banks that have failed have two years of net income losses, some three years, and definitely a decline in equity and loss of confidence from investors, all who lose everything when the bank fails. The FDIC takes care of depositors, but not the stock holders, many of them community leaders who at one time were able to contribute financial help to non-profits. Most cannot now.

The new bank takes over, often closing branches, and definitely their aim is to clean up the portfolio, not contribute to its losses with more loans in the area. They say there are here to lend, but those that apply and get loans are ones that don’t need to borrow.

What this means to the leasing business, as one leasing company executive explained: "With the current state of affairs in small ticket, I have elected to shutter the small ticket endeavors for the time being. The people I had making calls were getting nowhere and they were let go in early February. We are extremely busy with middle market financings, M and A advisory, larger corporate financings and turnaround work.”

As the small ticket market place has fallen off, many are entering what was once bank territory, meaning middle market financing, small loans as credit card advances for "factoring," and even business vehicle leasing and finance.

One such example comes from a long time reader who asked to have his name removed from the mailing list as he had joined a credit card merchant system company.

“I’ve departed the leasing industry to join Atlas Merchant Services.

“Please remove my name from the list.”

After contacting him and saying Leasing News was sorry to lose a reader, he sent back:

“Please don’t be sorry.

“I’m doing well with Atlas and for the first time in years, I’m having fun with my work.”

Many leasing funders have also moved out of the small ticket marketplace. The independent leasing brokers who can read financial statements and tax returns, knowing their meaning, able to do write-ups, are doing well and have little competition against the telephone solicitors and those who don’t have the experience in middle market transactions.

In the meantime, the government is continuing to both increase bank liquidity, require it, and then on the other hand, wanting to both tighten credit, but at the same time, write more loans. Seems like an oxymoron, such as “Genuine imitation,” “Same difference,” or “Government organization.”

Reminds me of the story of US Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and US Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, both trying to reform banking with another layer of administration. The two decided to show that they understood capitalism, rented a truck, and drove down to South Carolina. There they purchased delicious watermelons for a $1 each, filling up their truck. They drove back to Washington, D.C. and within two hours had sold all their watermelons for a $1 each.

Dodd turned to Geithner and said, “Wow, what a demand! We sold them all.”

Geithner was puzzled, and said, “But we didn’t make a profit. What can we do?”

Dodd answered, “Get a bigger truck?”

Bank Beat---Three Months: 41 Bank Failures

Becoming the sixth bank to fail in Georgia this year, McIntosh Commercial Bank, Carrollton, was closed with CharterBank, West Point, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits.

Formed on November 5, 2002 the four Branches had 59 full time employees and were servicing the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta areas; previously had six branches, two of which were closed before 2010.

Reportedly trouble began at the bank in 2007, and by the end of the following year, losses were evident as 80 percent of their loans were in commercial real estate and development. McIntosh Commercial reported a loss of $19.4 million in 2008 and $8.9 million in 2009. Bank equity had dropped from $17.1 million December 31, 2008 to $8.5 million 2009 and as most of these banks that are being closed now, they had not made a profit in several years. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio: 3.23%.

As of December 31, 2009, McIntosh Commercial Bank had approximately $362.9 million in total assets and $343.3 million in total deposits. The FDIC and CharterBank entered into a loss-share transaction on $263.1 million of McIntosh Commercial Bank's assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $123.3 million.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10066.html

The sixth bank to fail this year in Florida is Key West Bank, Key West, was closed Friday by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Centennial Bank, Conway, Arkansas, to assume all of the deposits of Key West Bank.

This was a small bank with 16 full time employees that was started February 8, 1999 to specialize in mortgage financing. The equity of the bank had gone from $6.1 million end of year 2008 to $52,000 December 31, 2009.

As an example of its foreclosures, this web site is still up listing 36 real estate properties for sale with addresses, maps, photo’s and details:
http://www.bankermls.com/keywest-bank/property_search

The depressed market gave the bank a loss $2.6 million year-end 2008 and loss of $6.5 million in 2009 after a charge off of $5.8 million ($5.2 million in 1-4 residential loans, and the rest in construction and land development.) Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio: 0.09%

As of December 31, 2009, Key West Bank had approximately $88.0 million in total assets and $67.7 million in total deposits The FDIC and Centennial Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $75.8 million of Key West Bank's assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $23.1 million.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10067.html

Desert Hills Bank, Phoenix, Arizona was closed with New York Community Bank, Westbury, New York, to assume all of the deposits.

The six branches had gone from 125 full time employees to 107 full time employees December 31, 2009. The bank had been expanding its branches recently and got caught in the Arizona over building cycle. Regional and community banks operating in Arizona possess more than $750 million in foreclosed properties, according to Phoenix Business Journal research gathered from data reported to the FDIC.

Desert Hills Bank is another example of the downward spiral of banks, as it had lost $24.3 million 2008 and $8.8 million year-end 2009, after showing a charge off of $16.5 million ($7.4 million construction and land development, $5.8 1-4 family residential property, $2 million commercial and industrial loans, $655,000 nonfarm residential and $522,000 multi-family residential. Equity dropped a small amount, being $23.9 million year-end 2008 to $22.7 million year-end 2008. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio: 5.80%

As of December 31, 2009, Desert Hills Bank had approximately $496.6 million in total assets and $426.5 million in total deposits. The FDIC and New York Community Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $325.9 million of Desert Hills Bank's assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $106.7 million
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10069.html

Unity National Bank, Cartersville, Georgia was closed Friday with Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock, Arkansas, to assume all of the deposits. Formed November 30, 1998, the five branches had gone from 86 full time employees December 31, 2008 to 69 December 31, 2009. Net equity dropped from $23.8 million to $9 million the same period, loss of $2 million end of year 2008 to a loss of $15.7 million year-end 2009.

United was heavy into real estate focus, especially residential and commercial development, such as subdivisions and retail strip centers. The bank had a charge off end of year 2009 of $10,297,000 ( $4.12 million 1-4 family residential,$2.2 million commercial loans, $1.9 million construction and land development, $1.4 million nonfarm residential, $500,000 plus to individuals.)Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio: 3.98%

As of December 31, 2009, Unity National Bank had approximately $292.2 million in total assets and $264.3 million in total deposits. The FDIC and Bank of the Ozarks entered into a loss-share transaction on $206.1 million of Unity National Bank's assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $67.2 million.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10068.html

Problem Bank List Grows:
http://cr4re.com/PBLMar2610.html

List of Bank Failures
http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html

Previous Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Bank_Beat.htm

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

NYSDA to New York Attorney General: Investigate Brican

“On behalf of the dental profession in New York State, NYSDA is urging Andrew Cuomo, New York State Attorney General, to investigate lease agreements made between dentists and Brican America, Inc. for its marketing services and products.

“Brican markets specialized computer and television screens with promotional and health messages for patients in medical office reception areas.

“Dentists are claiming that the lease agreements have been breached by Brican, and that their dental practices have been left with lease payments for video equipment that is incompatible with other existing systems.

“Relevant information can be shared with the New York State Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Frauds at 800-771-7755.

“Dentists participating in the Brican program should review their contracts and obligations and consult their attorney with specific questions. To reach a Brican representative, call 1-866-588-6995 or 1-786-388-6995. www.bricanamerica.com”

More from ADA News on this subject:
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=3946

Top Stories March 22--26

Here are the top ten stories opened by readers:

(1) Worldwide Financial Group, California and Nevada
Bulletin Board Complaint
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_24.htm#worldwide

(2) Clarification: Southern California Leasing Gypsies
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_26.htm#clarification

(3) BBB: Rating Leasing Companies
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_26.htm#bbb

(4) Sales makes it Happen---by a Successful Salesman
7 Reasons to Do Business with me
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_24.htm#7_reasons

(5) Bank Beat---Record Seven Banks Closed last week
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_22.htm#bank_beat322

(6) Southern California Leasing Gypsies
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_24.htm#gypsies

(7) From the Desk of Michael J. Witt
A True Story on Documentation Errors
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_26.htm#errors

(8) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
Return Fees
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_22.htm#return_fees

(Tie) (9) Six Certified Leasing Specialists
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_22.htm#six_specialists

(Tie) (9) Trucking Repos Decline, But Why?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_22.htm#repos

(10) BBB: Rating Leasing Companies
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2010/3_26.htm#bbb

Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Are You Prepared?

It never stops amazing me how little people know about the product called “commercial equipment leasing”. When asked about leasing they give equipment finance answers. Level payments over 36, 48, or 60 months with a $1 purchase option is not leasing it is a “disguised conditional sales contract” or a lease intended as a security.

Commercial equipment leasing is a product that provides a multitude of structures including but not limited to support for the lessee’s cash flow needs, expensing requirements and matching the actual term of “use” of the equipment. To set yourself apart from the competition you need to understand and be able to present a proposal that covers at least three separate structures that meets the lessee’s circumstances and follows the tax, legal, and accounting requirements. You may need to explain some of the accounting or tax requirements to explain your proposal so are you prepared?

The 50% federal depreciation bonus, extended to cover this year, may look like a lessee would be out of his head to accept any lease that prevents this advantage, however, do you know if that is attractive or why it may not? This tax advantage does not take away the standard needs for matching cash flow and tying the lease term to the actual term of use. Do you know how to create a lease that fails the rules so it is a non-tax lease and is a capital lease that can accomplish the lessee’s wants? Do you know how to fail the economic test with a residual and an identical purchase option? Are you prepared to ask the correct questions so you can determine what the lessee’s structural needs are? Do you have the correct tools to price or structure an irregular transaction? Have you reviewed your documentation lately so it matches what your bookkeeping capabilities are? And, are your people ready to match wits with your competition in a very tight market?

Training is expensive in a tough economic time however it is more expensive to avoid it, because without proper training you will miss those transactions that could have made the difference and you will have failed to maximize earnings from the deals you gave rate away to secure. Knowing what to offer and how to sell it goes way beyond selling skills. You need product knowledge and good leasing skills. Every time congress burps our product changes and we need to be able to present it in light of what is going on in the economy. We need to adapt and understand new ways.

Efficiency in operations comes from everyone knowing as much as possible so mistakes do not occur and an occasional reorganization to make the passing of information better does a lot to reduce time and costs. Training for the whole company or even paying for training for your funding source may open opportunities that improve work flow or at least provide a much better understanding of what leasing is all about. You need to understand that change starts with information and information comes from constant training.

This is a career builder so do not wait for the company to pay for it go out and get training to improve your qualifications and improve your abilities. Then you may be worth more!

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

He invites your questions and queries.

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

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

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Dayton, Ohio--Adopt-a-Dog

Winchester
Pet ID #: 9420017
Breed: German Shepherd Dog Mix
Size: Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Color: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Adult
Winchester is: already neutered

"Winchester is a handsome shepherd mix who originally came to us from another shelter found as a stray. He was adopted and just recently returned because they could not provide enough time for Winchester. He is loving and playful, has a lot of energy and just needs someone to help him adjust to family life. Winchester is eager to learn and knows some basic commands but he is still a puppy at heart and needs a family with patience and love.

"This pet comes with a 30-day gift of Sheltercare pet insurance, the number one brand of pet insurance for adopted pets. Over 2.5-million adopted pets have already been insured!

"This pet has been microchipped and registered with 24PetWatch, the number one lost pet recovery service for adopted dogs and cats. Over 3.1-million pets registered."

Contact this shelter to adopt Winchester...
Shelter: Humane Society of Greater Dayton
Pet ID #: 9420017
Phone: (937) 268-7387
- Let 'em know you saw "Winchester" on Adopt-a-Pet.com!
E-mail: r_kinninger@humanesocietydayton.org

Website: http://www.humanesocietydayton.org
Address: 1661 Nicholas Rd.
Dayton , OH 45417

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

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

[headlines]
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    1638 - The first permanent white settlement in Delaware was established. Swedish Lutherans who came to Delaware were the first to build log cabins in America. The first English colonists did not know how to build houses from logs but those who lived in the forests of Scandinavia, Germany and Switzerland did. German pioneers who settled in Pennsylvania built the first log cabins there in the early 1700s. The Scots-Irish immigrants who settled in the Appalachian highlands after 1720 made the widest use of log cabins and by the time of the American Revolution, log cabins were the mainstay among settlers all along the western frontier.
    1756- the first stage route linking Philadelphia and New York City was completed. The roads were poor in Colonial times and affected meetings in Philadelphia... By 1766, the Flying Machine, a box wagon that ran from Camden , New Jersey to what is now Jersey City, New Jersey was the fastest way to travel. The 90-mile trip took two days and passengers had to use a ferry at each end. The first major turnpike in America was completed in 1794 between Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pa. The large profits that could be realized by sponsoring such a company led to the construction of many such roads throughout America, often in areas where they were not necessary. Lancaster Turnpike, 62 miles long, was the first macadam road in the U.S. In 1806 today the first appropriation by Congress was made to build the Great National Pike, also known as the Cumberland Road as it linked Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois.
    1790-birthday of John Tyler, tenth president of the US (Apr 6, 1841-Mar 3, 1845). Born at Charles City County, VA, Tyler succeeded to the presidency upon the death of William Henry Harrison. Tyler's first wife died while he was president, and he remarried before the end of his term in office, becoming the first president to marry while in office. Fifteen children were born of the two marriages. In 1861 he was elected to the Congress of the Confederate States but died at Richmond, VA, Jan 18, 1862, before being seated. His death received no official tribute from the US government.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jt10.html
    1806-Congress appropriated $30,000 as part of a program to build national highways, starting with what was called the Great National Pike, later to be known as the Cumberland Gap, built in sections from 1806 to 1940 between Cumberland, MD, and Vandalia, ILL. Total cost was $6,821,246. In 1856 the road was turned over to the states though which it passed.
    1814 - In the Battle at Horseshoe Bend, Alabama, Andrew Jackson beat the Creek Indians.
    1847 - Some 12,000 US forces led by General Winfield Scott occupied the city of Vera Cruz after Mexican defenders capitulated.
    1848-ice jam in Niagara Falls. For the first time in recorded history, Niagara Falls stopped flowing. An ice jam in the Niagara river above the rim of the falls caused the water to stop.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar29.html
    1856-Clipper ship "Nightingale" sailed from London to San Francisco in 121 days, a world record.
    1865 - The final campaign of the war begins in Virginia when Union troops of General Ulysses S. Grant move against the Confederate trenches around Petersburg. General Robert E. Lee's outnumbered Rebels were soon forced to evacuate the city and begin a desperate race west. Eleven months before, Grant moved his army across the Rapidan River in northern Virginia and began the bloodiest campaign of the war. For six weeks, Lee and Grant fought along an arc that swung east of the Confederate capital at Richmond. They fought some of the conflict's bloodiest battles at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor before they settled into trenches for a siege of Petersburg. Lee's army was dwindling in size to about 55,000, while Grant's continued to grow--the Army of the Potomac now had more than 125,000 men ready for service. On March 25, Lee attempted to split the Union lines when he attacked Fort Stedman, a stronghold along the Yankee trenches. His army was beaten back, and he lost nearly 5,000 men. Grant seized the initiative, sending 12,000 men past the Confederates' left flank and threatening to cut Lee's escape route from Petersburg. Two days later, the Yankees struck at Five Forks, soundly defeating the Rebels and leaving Lee no alternative. He pulled his forces from their trenches and raced west, followed by Grant. It was a race that even the great Lee could not win. He surrendered his army on April 9 at Appomattox Court House.
    1867-birthday of Denton True “Cy” Young, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, born at Gilmore, OH. Young is baseball's all-time winningest pitcher, having accumulated 511 victories in his 22-year career. The Cy Young Award is given each year in his honor to major league's best pitcher. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937. Died at Peoli, OH, Nov 4, 1955.
    1867 - Congress approved the Lincoln Memorial.
    1867-the North American Pact: this act of the British Parliament established the Dominion of Canada, uniting Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The remaining colonies in Canada were still ruled directly by Great Britain until Manitoba joined the Dominion in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905 and Newfoundland in 1949. Union was proclaimed July 1, 1867.
    1882-the first Knights of Columbus charter was granted by the state of Connecticut. This Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization has grown into a volunteer force of Knights and family members totaling nearly six million who annually donate tens of millions of dollars and volunteer hours to countless charitable projects.
    1886 -- Coca-Cola is created (with cocaine—legal in this day and age).
    1886 - Atlanta, GA, was drenched with a record 7.36 inches of rain in 24 hours.
    1893 - US Congressman James Blount arrived in Hawaii to investigate the change in government. He later reported to Congress that annexation to the US was being forced and that the people of Hawaii supported their queen.
    1906-birthday of E. Power Biggs, an American citizen, well-known Baroque organist who helped establish the organ as a concert instrument. Biggs refused to perform on electronic organs, but sought out and recorded on organs surviving from the era of Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel. After arthritis forced him to retire, he published early organ music. Biggs was born at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, and came to the US in 1930 at the age of 24. He died Mar 10, 1977, at Boston.
http://web.wt.net/~pallas/BiggsSite.htm
    1918--Singer Pearl Bailey birthday
http://www.wic.org/bio/pbailey.htm
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_bailey_pearl.htm
    1920 - Clear Spring, MD, received 31 inches of snow in 24 hours to establish a state record.
    1925 -- Late March. Black leaders protest the showing of D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation, scheduled to open at the Rialto Theatre in Charleston on April 1, on the grounds it violated a 1919 state law prohibiting any entertainment which demeaned another race. Mayor W. W. Wertz & the West Virginia Supreme Court supported their argument and prevented the showing of the film.
   1936---Birthday of Judith Guest, author. Her novel, Ordinary People, was the first unsolicited manuscript accepted by Viking Publishers in 30 years. The movie version won four Academy Awards, including best picture.
    1940-Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Band cuts “ Fools Rush In.”
    1944---Top Hits
Besame Mucho - The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen
Mairzy Doats - The Merry Macs
Poinciana - Bing Crosby
So Long Pal - Al Dexter
    1945 - Providence, RI, hit 90 degrees to establish a March record for the New England area
    1945 - DIETZ, ROBERT H . Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division. Place and date: Kirchain, Germany, 29 March 1945. Entered service at: Kingston, N.Y. Birth: Kingston, N.Y. G.O. No.: 119, 17 December 1945. Citation: He was a squad leader when the task force to which his unit was attached encountered resistance in its advance on Kirchain, Germany. Between the town's outlying buildings 300 yards distant, and the stalled armored column were a minefield and 2 bridges defended by German rocket-launching teams and riflemen. From the town itself came heavy small-arms fire. Moving forward with his men to protect engineers while they removed the minefield and the demolition charges attached to the bridges, S/Sgt. Dietz came under intense fire. On his own initiative he advanced alone, scorning the bullets which struck all around him, until he was able to kill the bazooka team defending the first bridge. He continued ahead and had killed another bazooka team, bayoneted an enemy soldier armed with a panzerfaust and shot 2 Germans when he was knocked to the ground by another blast of another panzerfaust. He quickly recovered, killed the man who had fired at him and then jumped into waist-deep water under the second bridge to disconnect the demolition charges. His work was completed; but as he stood up to signal that the route was clear, he was killed by another enemy volley from the left flank. S/Sgt. Dietz by his intrepidity and valiant effort on his self-imposed mission, single-handedly opened the road for the capture of Kirchain and left with his comrades an inspiring example of gallantry in the face of formidable odds.
    1945--GARMAN, HAROLD A. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th Medical Battalion, 5th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Montereau, France, 25 August 1944. Entered service at: Albion, Ill. Born: 26 February 1918, Fairfield, Ill. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 25 August 1944, in the vicinity of Montereau, France, the enemy was sharply contesting any enlargement of the bridgehead which our forces had established on the northern bank of the Seine River in this sector. Casualties were being evacuated to the southern shore in assault boats paddled by litter bearers from a medical battalion. Pvt. Garman, also a litter bearer in this battalion, was working on the friendly shore carrying the wounded from the boats to waiting ambulances. As 1 boatload of wounded reached midstream, a German machinegun suddenly opened fire upon it from a commanding position on the northern bank 100 yards away. All of the men in the boat immediately took to the water except 1 man who was so badly wounded he could not rise from his litter. Two other patients who were unable to swim because of their wounds clung to the sides of the boat. Seeing the extreme danger of these patients, Pvt. Garman without a moment's hesitation plunged into the Seine. Swimming directly into a hail of machinegun bullets, he rapidly reached the assault boat and then while still under accurately aimed fire towed the boat with great effort to the southern shore. This soldier's moving heroism not only saved the lives of the three patients but so inspired his comrades that additional assault boats were immediately procured and the evacuation of the wounded resumed. Pvt. Garman's great courage and his heroic devotion to the highest tenets of the Medical Corps may be written with great pride in the annals of the corps.
    1951 – 23 rd Annual Academy Awards at the RKO Pantages Theater in Los Angeles was hosted by Fred Astaire. Best Picture (of 1950) was "All About Eve" (“It's all about women --- and their men!”), produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It won six Oscars in all, including Best Supporting Actor for George Sanders, Best Director and Best Writing/Screenplay for Joseph L. Mankiewicz; Best Costume Design/Black-and-White for Edith Head and Charles Le Maire; and Best Sound/Recording (20th Century-Fox Sound Dept.). "All About Eve" also was nominated eight other times. The Best Actor award went to José Ferrer for "Cyrano de Bergerac" and the Best Actress was voted to be Judy Holliday for "Born Yesterday". Best Supporting Actress was Josephine Hull for "Harvey". Best Music/Song prizes were awarded to Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the Nat King Cole classic, "Mona Lisa", from "Captain Carey, U.S.A.".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148477.html
    1951 - The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I" opened on Broadway. "The King and I" starred Yul Brynner, age 31, http://www.geocities.com/crawfordgirl/yulramses.html in the role of the King of Siam -- the king who, along with his subjects, valued tradition above all else. Anna, the English governess hired to teach the King's dozens of children, was portrayed by Gertrude Lawrence. Ms. Lawrence and Mr. Brynner acted, danced and sang their way into our hearts with such memorable tunes as: "Getting to Know You", "Shall We Dance", "Hello, Young Lovers", "I Whistle a Happy Tune", "We Kiss in a Shadow", "I Have Dreamed", "Something Wonderful", "A Puzzlement", and "March of the Siamese Children". "The King and I" ran for a total of 1,246 outstanding performances at New York's St. James Theatre.
    1951 - In one of the most sensational trials in American history, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are convicted of espionage for their role in passing atomic secrets to the Soviets during and after World War II. The husband and wife were later sentenced to death and were executed in 1953.
    1951 - The Chinese rejected MacArthur’s offer for a truce in Korea.
    1952---Top Hits
Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Please, Mr. Sun - Johnnie Ray
(When You Feel like You're in Love) Don't Just Stand There - Carl Smith
    1953 - U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel George L. Jones, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, became the 30th ace of the Korean War.
    1954-born at Scranton, PA, Karen Ann Quinlan became the center of a legal, medical and ethical controversy over the right to die. She became irreversibly comatose on Apr 14, 1975. A petition filed by her adoptive parents in New Jersey's Superior Court, Sept 12, 1975, sought permission to discontinue use of a respirator, allowing her to die "with grace and dignity." In 1976 the petition was upheld by New Jersey's Supreme Court. Quinlan lived nearly a decade without the respirator, until June 11, 1985. Her plight brought into focus the ethical dilemmas of advancing medical technology--the need for a new understanding of life and death; the right to die; the role of judges, doctors and hospital committees in deciding when not to prolong life. Make sure you have written documents, properly executed in conformance with your state's law, to express your intentions regarding medical decisions (including "life support" systems that only prolong death), which may need to be made under circumstances in which you may no longer be able to make them for yourself.
    1958-Connie Francis enjoys her first chart success as "Who's Sorry Now?" reached Billboard's #4 spot. Over the next ten years she will place 55 more songs on the Billboard hit parade.
    1960---Top Hits
The Theme from "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith
Wild One - Bobby Rydell
Puppy Love - Paul Anka
He'll Have to Go - Jim Reeves
    1961- District of Columbia residents were given the right to vote in presidential elections under the 23rd Amendment.
    1962 - Jack Paar left his highly successful late night TV talk show after five years. He left behind a salary of $250,000 and an estimated audience of eight-million people, including my family. My father and I would stay up late every night, watching this show together. It was our favorite. On Friday nights, we had poker games and watched it while we played. Fill-in hosts were used, including one who would ultimately win the coveted position of host of "The Tonight Show". He was Johnny Carson.
    1964-534 Broadway, San Francisco. Comedian Lenny Bruce, wearing only his birthday suit fell out of the Swiss American Hotel`s second story window into the parking lot on. He landed on his feet, breaking both ankles and smashing his bones into his hips. But he was conscious. The hospital attendants taped his mouth shut as his language was disturbing to them.
    1968---Top Hits
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Love is Blue - Paul Mauriat
La - La - Means I Love You - The Delfonics
A World of Our Own - Sonny James
    1971 -- Lt. William Calley is convicted of the premeditated murder of at least 22 Vietnamese civilians at My Lai 4. He was paroled in November, 1974.
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mylai/
myl_bcalleyhtml.htm
    1971 -- Led Zeppelin registers all six of its albums on the charts simultaneously, a feat never before made in pop history.
    1971 -Charles Manson is sentenced to life imprisonment after 9 1/2 month trial-- longest in California history until then.
    1975-Last U.S. troops flee Vietnam. Saigon would fall a month later. The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular foreign war in U.S. history and cost 58,000 American lives. As many as two million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians were killed.
    1976 - 48th Academy Awards were held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. Hosts for the gala were Goldie Hawn, Gene Kelly, Walter Matthau, George Segal and Robert Shaw (Saul Zaentz, Michael Douglas, producers) selected as the Best Picture of 1975 "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" . It also scored the Best Director prize for Milos Forman, the Best Actor honor for Jack Nicholson and the Best Actress Oscar for Louise Fletcher, plus the Oscars for Best Writing to Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben. The Best Supporting Actor nod went to eighty-year-old George Burns for "The Sunshine Boys" and Best Supporting Actress was Lee Grant in "Shampoo". The Best Music/Song winner was Keith Carradine for "I'm Easy" from "Nashville". Other favorite winning and nominated flicks from the year 1975 include: "Dog Day Afternoon" which won the Oscar for Best Writing/Original Screenplay (Frank Pierson); "Jaws" which was awarded gold statuettes for Best Sound (Robert L. Hoyt, Roger Heman, Earl Mabery, John R. Carter), Best Film Editing (Verna Fields); and Best Music/Original Score (John Williams); "The Day of the Locust"; "Funny Lady"; and "Tommy".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149329.html
    1976 - Jennifer Capriati (tennis champion: Olympic gold-medallist [1992], Wimbledon [1990]), born New York, New York.
    1976---Top Hits
December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons
Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
Lonely Night (Angel Face) - Captain & Tennille
Til the Rivers All Run Dry - Don Williams
    1979- the House Select Committee on Assassinations released the final report on its investigation into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy on this day. Based on available evidence, the committee concluded that President Kennedy was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy, although no trail of a conspiracy could be established. They also concluded that on the basis of scientific acoustical evidence two gunmen fired at the President, although no second gunman could be identified. [Note: In December 1980, the FBI released a report discounting the two-gunman theory, stating that the distinguishable sounds of two separate guns were not proven scientifically.] In addition the committee concluded that the possibility of conspiracy did exist in the cases of Dr. King and Robert Kennedy, although no specific individuals or organizations could be pinpointed as being involved.
    1982 - The oldest soap opera on network television, "Search for Tomorrow", made a big change. It jumped from CBS, where it grew in popularity for 30 years, to the daytime schedule on NBC. During the change, the program, owned and sponsored by Proctor and Gamble, continued right along with the soap, going from one network to the other the following day. The company wanted to maintain its regular 12:30 p.m. time slot, but CBS had other plans for "Search". NBC agreed to the 12:30 time and "Search" became an NBC property. Lots of celebrities have been featured on "Search for Tomorrow" including: Don Knotts, Sandy Duncan, Lee Grant, Tom Ewell, Roy Scheider and Hal Linden.
    1982 - the 54th Annual Academy Awards, presented this day at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. Talk-show host Johnny Carson acted as host for the party. Two of America's most revered performers, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn scored as Best Actor and Best Actress in "On Golden Pond". The Best Picture (1981) and Best Writing/Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Colin Welland) was "Chariots of Fire" (David Puttnam, producer). It also won the prizes for Best Costume Design (Milena Canonero) and Best Music/Original Score (Vangelis). The Best Director Oscar went to Warren Beatty for "Reds". Best Supporting Actor, John Gielgud, won for his work in "Arthur". The Best Supporting Actress was Maureen Stapleton for "Reds" and Best Music/Song prizes went to Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen for "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" from "Arthur", of course. One of the night's biggest winners (four Oscars -- Art Direction, Sound, Film Editing, Special Effects -- and four more nominations) was "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149517.html
    1984---Top Hits
Jump - Van Halen
Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler) – Alabama
    1989 - The 61st Annual Academy Awards ceremony was presented at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. ( sorry no host was recorded in my source.) "Rain Man" (Mark Johnson, producer) was awarded the Best Picture Oscar with its star, Dustin Hoffman, scoring as Best Actor, Barry Levinson getting the Best Director prize, and Ronald Bass and Barry Morrow picking up the award for Best Writing/Original Screenplay. Best Actress (of all the movies of 1988) was Jodie Foster for "The Accused". The Best Supporting Actor Oscar was won by Kevin Kline for "A Fish Called Wanda" and the Best Supporting Actress was Geena Davis in "The Accidental Tourist". Carly Simon won Best Music/Song for "Let the River Run" from "Working Girl". Other popular movies from 1988 including Oscar winners and non-winning nominees were: "Dangerous Liaisons"; "Mississippi Burning"; "Big"; "Gorillas in the Mist"; "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"; "Beaches"; "Die Hard"; "Beetlejuice", et al.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149738.html
    1989 - Thunderstorms produced torrential rains in northeastern Texas and southwestern Arkansas. Longview TX reported 14.16 inches of rain. More than eleven inches of rain at Henderson TX caused a dam to give way, and people left stranded in trees had to be rescued by boat. Total damage in northeastern Texas was estimated at 10 to 16 million dollars
    1990---Top Hits
Black Velvet- Alannah Myles
Love Will Lead You Back- Taylor Dayne
I Wish It Would Rain Down- Phil Collins
I'll Be Your Everything- Tommy Page
    1993 – 65th Annual Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. Comedian/actor Billy Crystal hosted the show for the fourth straight year. Clint Eastwood was honored with Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for his "Unforgiven". He starred, directed and produced the gritty Western which also won an award for Best Film Editing (Joel Cox) and Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman). Best Actor was Al Pacino for "Scent of a Woman" and the Best Actress prize went to Emma Thompson for "Howards End". Marisa Tomei took home the award for Best Supporting Actress for "My Cousin Vinny". 'Toons winning tune awards was a popular 1990s event at the Oscars and this year was no different. "Aladdin" picked up two: Best Music/Song awarded to Alan Menken (music), Tim Rice (lyrics) for "A Whole New World" and Best Music/Original Score (Alan Menken
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149864.html
    1998-The Indiana Pacers, coached by Larry Bird, set an NBA record for fewest points scored in a game by one team since the advent of the 24-second clock in the 1954-55 season. The Pacers, without their two top scores, Reggie Miller and Rik Smits, managed on 55 points, losing to the San Antonio Spurs, 74-55. Indiana shot 27 percent for the game. The previous record for fewest points was 57 held by three teams.
    1999-the Dow-Jones Index of 30 major industrial stocks topped the 10,000 mark for the first time.
    2004—Top Hits
Yeah!- Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
One Call Away- Chingy Featuring J. Weav
Tipsy- J-Kwon
Solitaire- Clay Aiken

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