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Pictures from the Past—1995—“Dancing the Night Away”

"Dancing the Night Away"--From top right, Ginny Young, Brava Capital, and Robert Rodi, CLP, the American Lease Exchange, show off their moves at Saturday’s ‘Roaring 20’s Dinner Gala.
Inset: Pat Roberts, M&R Leasing, Inc., and Phil Dushey, Global Leasing Services at the Roaring 20’s.”
-- November, 1995 United Association of Equipment Leasing Regional Reporter

Now

Bob Rodi

Ginny Young

Phil Dushey

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Classified Ads---Senior Management

(These ads are “free” to those seeking employment
or looking to improve their position)

Tampa, FL
Executive leader accomplished in leasing operations, finance, sales and marketing seeking new opportunity. Capitalizes on strategic, ideation, communication and analytical strengths to identify opportunities, formulate solutions and articulate strategies that drive increased sales productivity, incremental revenue, operating expense reductions and customer acquisition and retention. Reg.Lindholm@gmail.com

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
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All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

John Kenny
Receivables Management

• End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement
• Fraud Investigations
• Credit Investigations • Asset Searches
• Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections

john@jkrmdirect.com | ph 315-866-1167| www.jkrmdirect.com

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for investigations
and background information provided by John Kenny)

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Lessors Chastised by District Court In E.A.R. Case For Waiting
Three Years To Contest Jurisdiction
—Case Now At Issue With Answers Filed By Lessors

About Three Years Ago, the United States Supreme Court Ruled That a Bankruptcy Court May Not Have Unfettered Jurisdiction to Rope In Third Parties Unconnected To the Bankruptcy On The Theory of Fraudulent Conveyance. In The EAR Bankruptcy Case Against Lessors For Fraudulent Conveyance, the Lessors Only Recently Made That Argument. Court Finds That the Argument Was Made Too Late. Lessors Have Now Answered the Allegations.

By Tom McCurnin
Leasing News Legal Editor

Brandt v. Leasing One Corporation, 2014 WL 1797651 (N.D. Ill. 2014).
In re Acquisition Resources Case No.: 09 B 39937 (2014)

Two years ago, I reported the decision of Stern v Marshal, a United States Supreme Court decision which held that a Bankruptcy Court does not have unfettered jurisdiction to hear every case before it, only “core” matters and only against those parties whom have consented to the jurisdiction of the Court. The case is also noteworthy in that the case involved the late stripper, model and reality star, Anna Nicole Smith.

The case went largely unnoticed until the Ninth Circuit case of In re Bellingham Ins. Agency, Inc., 702 F.3d 553 (9th Cir. 2012) which stated the rule with a bit more clarity than the Supreme Court did—non-parties to a bankruptcy may not be roped into a fraudulent conveyance action. I reported this decision in the context of ongoing litigation involving the Sheldon Player EAR Bankruptcy Decision, suggesting that creditors may not want to file “abundance of caution” proofs of claim in bankruptcy matters which might arguably subject them to bankruptcy court jurisdiction.

The EAR defendants, mostly equipment lessors roped into a never-ending fraudulent conveyance action, did not assert that defense and waited another year or two before asserting it. No surprise—the Bankruptcy Court denied their motion. So they appealed to the District Court—No surprise—The District Court said they were too late in asserting the defense. Where were they two years ago? The facts follow.

EAR was a fraud and a Ponzi scheme. EAR purported to be maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Between 2007 and 2009, EAR engaged in a massive fraud by which it sold equipment at inflated prices and leased the equipment back from various lenders. EAR misrepresented the value of the equipment, and pledged certain equipment multiple times to secure financing. There is no question that the equipment lessors had no knowledge of the fraud—the issue is whether by extending such loans it assisted EAR in conducting the fraud. The theory is that the repayment of the leases and loans were fraudulent conveyances. I know, it sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?

The Lessors finally figured out that the Stern v Marshall and Bellingham cases might have gotten them out of the case, so they filed a motion to “withdraw the reference” (transfer the case to a non-bankruptcy forum) before the new Bankruptcy Judge that overruled their motions to dismiss last year. No big surprise—the Court denied those motions.

Undeterred, the Lessors appealed to the District Court.

On the one hand, the Lessors said that this is an outrage and the District Court has to do something about this jurisdictional mess. On the other hand, the Lessors concede that the Bellingham decision may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court, so maybe this isn’t such a big urgency.

The District Court hearing the appeal dismissed the appeal, due principally because the Lessors failed to act over the past few years. The Court’s rebuke:
“The rulings in Stern, Ortiz, and Wellness were not directly on point, and the parties were not justified in waiting years to pursue the instant motions. In addition, to the extent that the parties claim to have acted pursuant to the above-referenced decisions, the motions to withdraw now before this court were filed a significant amount of time after the decisions in Stern, Ortiz, and Wellness. The parties have failed to explain why it took them years to come to the realization that the adversary proceedings should be withdrawn from the Bankruptcy Case. The movants bear a burden to show the court that withdrawal is appropriate and the movants have failed to provide sufficient information to show that their motions are timely.”

Therefore the District Court threw out the appeals, and the Lessors are back before their new Bankruptcy Judge for seemingly more litigation. Can a summary judgment be part of the plan?

What are the lessons for equipment lessors here?

First, as pointed out in my article a few years ago, the idea that lessors should file proofs of claim as an abundance of caution in a Ponzi-scheme estate from which they may not receive a dividend seems silly to me. Why file the claim and possibly subject the lessor to this type of litigation?

Second, lessors should, before entering into the litigation field, do their homework and thoroughly research every defense. I realize that up front research of every defense on a case like this may be expensive, perhaps $20,000 or more. But in a fraudulent conveyance case, where the trustee’s lawyer is on a contingency, the client is probably in the case for the long haul. Would researching Stern v Marshal have been that expensive?

Third, the idea that bankruptcy judges can never hear any portion of a fraudulent conveyance case is wrong. In light of Marshal v Stern, what we are seeing is that the Bankruptcy Judge defers the matter to the District Court Judge for trial, with the Bankruptcy Court handling pre-trial matters.

The bottom line to this case is that research and timely prompt responses to new developments should be made at the very earliest opportunity. Here the Lessors waited years to make their arguments.

In a related development, it seems that all the equipment lessors have filed Answers to the Trustee’s Complaint, and that the Bankruptcy Court will be setting trial dates very soon. While I have doubts as to the legal theories of the Trustee that an equipment lease can be a fraudulent conveyance, it seems this case is on auto-pilot. The EAR bankruptcy seems to be the gift that keeps on giving—for all the law firms involved. Let’s all hope for a late Christmas gift, which would be a victorious summary judgment, although with this judge, I have my doubts.

EAR Charter Case PDF

EAR Schedule PDF

Tom McCurnin is a partner at Barton, Klugman & Oetting
in Los Angeles, California.

Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ave.
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Direct Phone: (213) 617-6129
Cell (213) 268-8291
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com
Visit our web site at www.bkolaw.com
Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org

Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/leasing_cases.html

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First American Equipment Finance Now Employs Most CLPs;
Adds CLP Associate

The Certified Lease Professional (CLP) Foundation is pleased to announce that First American Equipment Finance now employs the most CLPs (27) after six individuals successfully passed the CLP Exam. In addition, they employ the first CLP Associate which is the designation offered to those with only two years’ experience in the equipment finance industry.

The six new CLPs are:

Sonia Cliffel, Vice President

Jen Fitch, Senior Vice President

Sandy Grossman, Vice President

Christina Lord, Assistant Vice President

Alfred Quinto, Assistant Vice President, Project Manage

Sara Whitford, Assistant Vice President

The first CLP Associate is Nick Borkowski, Assistant Vice President

When asked why he pursued the CLP designation, Alfred Quinto, CLP stated, “I know that the knowledge and information gained by studying for the CLP will me make more rounded as a leasing professional. It is one thing to be in the industry, learning about one aspect of the business, and it is another to be able to have an understanding of every aspect of the business. As a Certified Lease Professional, I am confident that I am able to better serve my internal and external clients and be a better consultant for them.”

Bill Verhelle, CEO First American Equipment Finance, a City National Bank company stated, “We greatly value our relationship with the Certified Lease Professional Foundation. The CLP program has become an important part of our employee development program.”

The CLP designation identifies an individual as a knowledgeable professional to employers, clients, customers, and peers in the equipment finance industry. There are currently 232 Certified Lease Professionals and Associates throughout the world. For more information, call Reid Raykovich, CLP at (206) 535-6281 or visit www.clpfoundation.org.

Companies with More than One CLP

1. First American Equipment Finance – 27
2. Financial Pacific Leasing – 23
3. Orion First Financial – 9
4. Allegiant Partners- 10 (includes Clearview and First Star)
5. ECS Financial Services – 7
6. Arvest Equipment Finance – 6
7. GreatAmerica Financial Services – 6
8. Ascentium Capital LLC – 5
9. Banc of California - 4
10. Innovative Lease Services, Inc. – 4
11. Maxim Commercial Capital – 4
12. Bank of the West – 4
13. Canon Financial Services-3
14. FSG Leasing - 3
15. LeaseTeam-3
16. Pacifica Capital - 3
17. GO Capital- 2
18. Alliance Funding Group -2
19. Finance Capital -2
20. Padco Financial Services- 2
21. Pinnacle Business Finance- 2
22. Portfolio Financial Servicing- 2
23. TEQ Lease – 2

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Rosemont, Illinois

Billing Specialist

Leasing Experience, knowledge LeasePlus preferred,
click here for more information

Accounts Receivable Specialist

Experienced Collector/AR Associate
click here for more information

http://www.elasalle.com
Awards & Recognition

STRADA Capital recently moved into its new facility and is hiring Top Sales Producers to work in our Equipment Financing and Working Capital Divisions.

High Level Performance, Collaborative Creativity, Integrity and Transparency define our Culture. The Company offers generous commission plans, industry leading support and benefits.

Email your resume to: SalesCareers@STRADAcapital.com

www.STRADAcapital.com
The Place where Professionals Prosper

For information on placing a help wanted ad, please click here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Hwanted/Hwanted-post.htm

New Hires---Promotions in the Leasing Industry

Frances Tseng now the Assistant Vice President, Project Manager at First American Equipment Finance

John Adams was hired as AVP, AML Operations Manager

Mark Kelly is now Vice President, Business Development Officer at Hudson Valley Bank

Kirstin Gooldy was hired as Chief Financial Officer at Powerstorm Capital Corp.

Carol Stewart is now Director of Client Service at RGP

- Marc Gingold Appointed To Fleet Advantage Executive Team.

The appointment of Marc Gingold as Vice President of Syndication will enhance the relationships between Fleet Advantage their clients and finance partners. Marc will be responsible for managing commercial lease transactions for syndication; credit, collateral and financial analysis; and developing and nurturing relationships with finance partners. Gingold has held a number of executive positions in management and operations, with an emphasis on equipment leasing. Prior to joining Fleet Advantage, Gingold was Senior Vice President of Canon Financial Services, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Oce Financial Services.

"Marc is a focused solutions provider and expert in lease structuring and creative problem solving", added Holland. "He brings additional depth to our team, particularly as it relates to managing our funding partner relationships

- Capital One Bank announced it appointed Richard Levenson to the newly-created role of senior vice president of Portfolio Management in Capital One’s Commercial & Specialty Finance Group. Levenson is based in New York and will be responsible for a broad range of portfolio management activities on behalf of Capital One Business Credit.

We are delighted to welcome Richard to the Business Credit group; his outstanding career and track record of success makes him a great fit with our high performing organization,” said Dan deBrauwere, Head of Capital One Business Credit. “His appointment reflects our commitment to develop a leading, national asset-based lending platform and expanding our commercial and specialty business nationwide.”

Levenson joined Capital One from Citibank, where he worked for the last two years as a credit director and national portfolio manager for its asset-based business. Prior to Citibank, he worked at Bank of America Business Credit for more than 30 years in a variety of portfolio- and credit-focused roles in the asset-based lending business, rising to the senior vice president level.

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ELFA Announces Business Council
Steering Committee Election Results

Washington, D.C. – The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association has announced the results of the association’s September 2014 Business Council Steering Committee elections. The Business Council Steering Committees are the association’s primary constituent bodies and are an integral part of ELFA’s operations, providing critical input on the direction of the association and serving as a bridge between the membership and the Board of Directors and staff. Each committee analyzes the needs of companies in the segment it represents and recommends to the Board of Directors how to meet those needs. The committee members are elected by the Business Council membership for a term of two years on a staggered basis.

The Captive and Vendor Finance Business Council Steering Committee represents financial services organizations that provide sales-assisted financing and vendor and manufacturer support activities, either on a third-party or captive basis. The following individuals will serve on the committee in 2015. Asterisks indicate members who were newly elected or re-elected in the September 2014 elections.

Brian Madison, Key Equipment Finance (Chair)
Shawn Arnone, Century Tokyo Leasing
Ron Arrington (Board Liaison)
James Elwood, Bank of the West*
David Gilmore, John Deere Financial
Gene Karger, Toyota Financial Services*
Keith Large, AGCO Finance
Randy Montrose, Skyjack Financial Services*
Nick Small, CIT*
Michael Sweeney, EverBank Commercial Finance*
Daniel Waller, GE Capital Markets
David Walton, Caterpillar Financial Services

The Financial Institutions Business Council Steering Committee represents bank-related organizations and other financial institutions (commercial banks, investment banks, and multi-line finance companies) involved in single transactions over $5 million. The following individuals will serve on the committee in 2015. Asterisks indicate members who were newly elected or re-elected in the September 2014 elections.

Alan Sikora, First American Equipment Finance, a City National Bank Company (Chair)*
Bob Blee, GE Capital Markets
Peter Bullen, Key Equipment Finance*
Tom Cira, Bridge Capital Leasing, Inc.*
David Coutu, Massmutual Asset Finance LLC
Michael Doyle, BTMU Capital Leasing and Finance*
Jeff Elliott, Huntington Equipment Finance
Dave Farrell, Banc of America Leasing
Randall Gaston, Prime Alliance Bank
Brian Griffin, MB Financial Bank (Board Liaison),
Joe Hines, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Equipment Finance Group*
Dan McKew, Capital One Equipment Finance*
David Miele, Citizens Asset Finance
Tom Petersen, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
Rod Roberts, Prudential Capital Group
Michael Romanowski, Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation*
Tom Vasilakos, PNC Equipment Finance LLC*
Dave Verkinderen, US Bank Equipment Finance*

The Independent Middle Market Business Council Steering Committee represents non-bank-related organizations primarily involved in transactions between $250,000 and $5 million, either individually or through lines. The following individuals will serve on the committee in 2014. Asterisks indicate members who were newly elected or re-elected in the September 2013 elections.

Gary LoMonaco, Forsythe/McArthur Associates (Chair)*
Craig Ault, CSI Leasing*
William Besgen, Hitachi Capital America (Board Liaison)
Michael Brigante, Nations Equipment Finance
Connie Eimers, Vision Financial Group
John Heist, Jr., Summit Funding Group*
Jonathan Hibma, EFFI Finance*
Brian Holland, Fleet Advantage
Donald Link, Hitachi Capital America*
Shad Peterson, Sasser Family Holdings*
Tom Rutherford, TIP Capital
Marci Slagle, Varilease Corporate Finance*
Carol Virgin, CHG-MERIDIAN USA*
Neil Whitman, NewStar Equipment Finance*

The Service Providers Business Council Steering Committee represents companies that providing a variety of services in support of the equipment finance industry, including legal, accounting, software and systems support, and other specialized professional services. The following individuals will serve on the committee in 2015. Asterisks indicate members who were newly elected or re-elected in the September 2014 elections.

Daniel Nelson, Tamarack Consulting (Chair)
Brett Boehm, TBF Financial*
Donna Christensen, Corporation Service Company*
Alex Darcy, Askounis & Darcy, P.C.
Jon Gerson, Executive Solutions for Leasing and Finance
Mitch Kaufman, IFS Technology Solutions
Bill Phelan, PayNet (Board Liaison)
Barry Ripes, PayNet*
Michael Toglia, Equipment Finance Advisor
Jeff Van Slyke, LeaseTeam
David Wiener, The Alta Group*

The Small Ticket Business Council Steering Committee represents financial services organizations primarily involved in transactions under $250,000, either individually or through lines. The following individuals will serve on the committee in 2015. Asterisks indicate members who were newly elected or re-elected in the September 2014 elections.

Kris Darby, Western Equipment Finance (Chair)*
John Beard, LEAF Commercial Capital
Jeffery Berg, DLL*
Hugh Connelly, Univest Capital
Joseph T. (Tom) Ellis, US Bank Equipment Finance*
Dawn Gillette, Direct Capital Corporation
Miles Herman, LEAF Commercial Capital (Board Liaison)
Marty Klees, GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation*
Paul Knowlton, Union Bank
David Normandin, Banc of California
Mark Scardigli, Marlin Leasing Company

About ELFA
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) is the trade association that represents companies in the $903 billion equipment finance sector, which includes financial services companies and manufacturers engaged in financing capital goods. ELFA members are the driving force behind the growth in the commercial equipment finance market and contribute to capital formation in the U.S. and abroad. Its 580 members include independent and captive leasing and finance companies, banks, financial services corporations, broker/packagers and investment banks, as well as manufacturers and service providers. For more information, please visit www.elfaonline.org. Follow ELFA on Twitter @ELFAonline

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Evolving Landscape Of Alternative Lending Industry
Directly Affects Equipment Leasing Business

Founder and CEO of National Funding, David Gilbert, shares remarks from his Featured Panel at ELFA’s 53rd Annual Convention.

National Funding, one of the country’s largest private lenders of small business loans, today released remarks from Founder and CEO David Gilbert’s recent panel discussion at the 53rd Annual Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) Convention on the topic of the evolution of the equipment leasing industry.

Focusing on the changing landscape of alternative lending, David Gilbert; along with co-panelists Ben Gold, president of Quick Bridge Funding, and Brad Peterson, managing member at Channel Partners LLC; discussed the shifting landscape of the market from the perspective of delivery channels, changing products and changes in customer behavior; best practices and how to avoid common mistakes for marketing effectively to different types of businesses; and how to embrace the evolving technology and offer more than one product.

“Since the recession of 2008, the lending and leasing industry has seen a large impact in both the landscape as a whole and customer behaviors; many new players have joined the alternative lending space and are driving change for small ticket lending,” said Gilbert. “It is important to understand how the business has evolved from purely equipment leasing to that of offering working capital as another option.”

Research shows that banks aren’t moving quickly enough to keep up with the changing industry, and they seem less inclined to lend to small businesses, which is why alternative lending is growing so rapidly. The business has evolved into a multi-faceted industry, encompassing traditional products such as equipment leasing, and new cash-only products such as Merchant Cash Advance, Working Capital and Daily Payment loans. According to Gilbert, some of the biggest changes being seen today are quicker approvals driven by new technology, greater access to funding sources, and new product and payment schemes designed to meet both the borrower’s abilities to pay and the lender’s need for quality.

“Some alternative lenders only offer one product, whereas many customers prefer a choice of products that address all of their immediate business needs; therefore a customer is less likely to be cornered into a product that is not 100% in line with their needs,” added Gilbert. “This is why alternative lenders need a selection of many products, to ensure their customers find a solution that both meets a budget and meets the financing need.”

With the landscape of small business lending shifting, methods of acquisition are making a shift as well. Gilbert, Gold and Peterson emphasized that lenders understand the changing behavior of their customers who are shopping for financing. While traditional mail and the internet are still viable acquisition methods, customers more frequently seek personalized attention and guidance regarding their individual businesses and most appropriate products to fit their needs. For this reason, National Funding’s team is specifically committed to spending time with customers so that they feel comfortable with the process, and fully understand the product offerings and their options.

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BB&T/Citi deals lead branch M&A in Texas

By Salman Aleem Khan and Zuhaib Gull

Texas has the second-highest number of bank branches involved in pending and completed sales announced in 2014 due to Citigroup Inc.'s planned divestiture of 41 offices to BB&T Corp.

A total of seven branch sales transactions, three completed and four announced, have popped up in the state since June 30, 2013. The total value of deposits transferred in deals, based as of the time of announcement, is estimated to be around $4.18 billion. Almost 84% of that total for deposits is related to BB&T/Citi transactions.

SNL Image

BB&T has already bought 22 of Citi's Texas branches in a deal that closed June 13. In the June deal, Citigroup sold most of its branches in the Austin, Bryan-College Station and San Antonio markets to BB&T, and in the pending deal, it plans to sell most of its branches in the Dallas, Houston, Midland and Odessa markets.

Data compiled by SNL shows a prosperous banking environment in Texas. The state has seen considerable loan growth over the last five quarters, it has a robust economy and the population is projected to see significant growth. The FDIC's Summary of Deposits data shows branches in Texas have grown deposits by more than 10%, year over year, as of June 30, 2014. While there has been a spike in deposits across Texas, the number of branches since June 30, 2013 has fallen by 54 offices to a total of 6,847, as of Oct. 23.

SNL Image

According to a transcript of an Oct. 16 conference call, BB&T CEO Kelly King said the company is now the 13th-largest bank in Texas. He added, "We've got a ways to go, a long way to go, frankly, to get into the top five."

Prior to the deals with Citi, BB&T had 54 branches in Texas with deposits worth $1.47 billion, as of June 30, 2013. After the deals, BB&T would have 124 branches in the state. Meanwhile, Citi had 105 active branches at that time with $4.84 billion in deposits.

As of Oct. 23, pro forma of M&A, Citi would operate in Texas with seven branches and $978.4 million of deposits. Furthermore, BB&T's deposits would sum up to $6.23 billion, almost 325% higher than the balance on June 30, 2013, according to analysis by SNL. BB&T, however, would continue to carry a deposit market share of less than 1%, based on branch deals completed and pending after June 30, 2014. JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo & Co. and Bank of America Corp. hold most of the state's deposits with a collective market share of almost 48%.

SNL Image

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

Equipment Leasing in Latin America Enters Mature Growth Phase

Equipment leasing and asset finance has continued its sustained growth pace in many Latin American countries, while others such as Brazil kept declining, according to the Alta LAR 100 report.

The Alta LAR 100, produced by The Alta Group Latin American Region (Alta LAR) since 2004, identifies industry trends, estimates county-by-county portfolio values, and ranks the region’s top 100 leasing companies. Alta is the leading global consultancy focused on equipment leasing and asset finance.

The firm is introducing the latest Alta LAR 100 at its XII Latin American Leasing Conference on Nov. 6 in Miami. The Alta LAR 100 report estimates that the region’s overall equipment leasing and finance portfolio value in 2013 decreased 1.03% primarily because of Brazil’s poor performance. Brazil , home to the largest Latin American economy, descended to the third place in portfolio size, below Colombia and Chile . For the second year in a row, taking Brazil out of the equation, overall portfolio values in the region would have increased 16.25%.

“Brazil is no longer a significant player in the equipment leasing and financing industry in Latin America. Its industry leaders refused to innovate and adjust themselves to the challenges of the times, in spite of the fact that they still have one of the most favorable tax environments for leasing,” wrote Rafael Castillo-Triana, CEO of Alta LAR. “Now, it is time to focus in the countries that are experiencing growth through innovation, financial penetration, and adjustment of value propositions to their customers. The key countries are Mexico , Chile , and Colombia .” The report cites several specific developments that have contributed to the emergence of these equipment financing markets.

“A common feature that explains the development of the markets that are growing is the emergence of highly professional players that have reinforced their asset management capabilities,” Castillo-Triana added. “Most of the growth in Mexico, Chile, and Colombia is due to the emergence of operating leases and renting. At the same time, the leasing industries in Argentina and Bolivia , while still not very active in operating leases, show outstanding growth and higher penetration in fixed capital formation of their respective economies.”

One of the key findings of the Alta LAR 100 for the 2013 year-end is the interesting progress made by the independent lessors, that is, the companies that are neither controlled by a bank nor an equipment manufacturer. While only eight independents ranked among the 100 largest lessors in year-end 2012, 15 independents made the ranking in 2013. This indicates that the market is evolving beyond the control of the banking sector. Private investors are deploying resources for the growth of the leasing industry.

Independent companies are proving the resiliency of the leasing industry in Latin America. Their sustainability and role in enhancing private investment in capital goods is a good indication of the importance of the leasing industry in Latin America ’s economic development.

Another interesting observation is the change of multinational presence in the equipment leasing and financing industry. An industry formerly dominated by U.S. multinationals is today dominated by “multilatinas” from the region, namely Itau, Bancolombia, and GrupoAval. European-based multinationals showed a mixed performance in 2013, the presence of U.S.-headquartered multinationals declined significantly, and a relative newcomer, Canada’s Scotiabank, gained ground. China, through the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, entered into the group of multinationals active in the equipment leasing and financing industry.

Download a complimentary summary of the report here

The direct URL is:
http://www.thealtagroup.com/sites/default/files
/Alta_LAR_100_Yearend_2013_Report_Summary.pdf

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

Vedder Price Named National “Law Firm Of The Year”
In Equipment Finance By U.S. News – Best Lawyers

For the second year in a row, U.S. News – Best Lawyers, a publication of U.S. News & World Report, has named Vedder Price "Law Firm of the Year" for Equipment Finance in its annual "Best Law Firms" rankings. Only one firm in each of 87 practice areas can obtain the prestigious title of "Law Firm of the Year."

"We are thrilled to receive recognition as ‘Law Firm of the Year’ for our equipment finance practice for the second year in a row,” commented Dean N. Gerber, Chair of Vedder Price's Global Transportation Finance team. “The team has worked diligently to provide high-quality legal guidance to our clients in the aviation, rail and maritime industries in line with Vedder Price’s overall expectation of delivering responsive, results-oriented services.”

"Best Law Firms" rankings by U.S. News – Best Lawyers are based on the collection of evaluations from clients, peer reviews and the review of additional information provided by law firms during a formal submission process.

About Vedder Price: Vedder Price is a thriving general-practice law firm with a proud tradition of maintaining long-term relationships with its clients, many of whom have been with the firm since its founding in 1952. With approximately 300 attorneys and growing, Vedder Price serves clients of all sizes and in virtually all industries from offices in Chicago, New York, Washington, DC, London and San Francisco.

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Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

Two robust dramas ("Fury," "John Wick") hit theaters, while a pair of sleepers ("Life of Crime," "Begin Again") and a master's works ("The Complete Jacques Tati") come to DVD.

In Theaters:

Fury (Columbia Pictures): After a terrific comic turn in "Inglourious Basterds," Brad Pitt goes to a more serious battleground in this solid war drama, directed by David Ayer ("Street Kings"). Set in 1945 as the conflict in Europe nears its brutal end, the story follows tough Army Sergeant "Wardaddy" Collier (Pitt, in fine commanding form) as he leads his crew of men inside a tank behind enemy lines. As they get closer and closer to Nazi leaders, the soldiers have to deal with danger from every side, from the skirmishes hiding just around the corner to the inexperienced new grunt Swan (Shia LeBeouf) in their midst. Can they survive long enough to make it back home? Depicting life and death in this hellish landscape with relentless intensity and a cracking supporting cast, the movie is a forcefully visceral portrayal of combat.

John Wick (Lionsgate): Keanu Reeves returns to the action field in this taut thriller, which would make a fabulous double-bill with the recent Liam Neeson "A Walk Among the Tombstones." Reeves stars as the title character, a man coping with the death of his wife (Bridget Moynahan) when he's attacked by a trio of hoods. As he tracks the men down, John discovers that their leader is the son of a Russian underworld boss (Michael Nyqvist), with whom he shares a dark secret. With his life in danger, John must slip back into the old identity he hoped to have abandoned: a deadly professional assassin. The action sequences are all top-notch, no surprise as first-time directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski are former stuntmen. The result is one of the season's craftiest thrillers, powered by a cast that includes John Leguizamo and Willem Dafoe.

Netflix Tip: Netflix Tip: A dependable supporting player who radiated warmth and intelligence, Elizabeth Peña (1959-2014) was always a welcome screen presence. So check out some of her best roles, which include "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (1984), "La Bamba" (1987), "Jacob's Ladder" (1990), and "Lone Star" (1996).

On DVD:

Life of Crime (Lionsgate): The great novelist Elmore Leonard may no longer be with us, but adaptations of his work continue to hit the silver screen. This latest one, directed by Daniel Schechter, may not reach the heights of "Jackie Brown" or "Out of Sight," but it captures some of the writer's distinctively wry tone. Jennifer Aniston stars as Mickey, a bored Detroit housewife whose life takes a sharp turn when she's kidnapped by a pair of dopey small-time criminals, Ordell (Yasiin Bey) and Louis (John Hawkes). Their plan is to hold her hostage for one million dollars, a plan that does not go smooth at all when Mickey's husband (Tim Robbins) refuses to send any money their way, and Mickey herself proves to be a very wily captive. Featuring excellent performances, this modest caper offers plenty to delight for audiences tired of mammoth special-effects.

Begin Again (Anchor Bay): Acclaimed Irish filmmaker John Carney ("Once") serves up another melodically soulful drama with this engaging study of romance among songwriters. Mark Ruffalo stars as Dan, a New York record-label executive who, at the end of a very bad day, meets nonprofessional guitar player Greta (Keira Knightley). Going through a rough period of her following a breakup with her much more successful boyfriend (Adam Levine, of Maroon 5), Greta takes to singing in hopes of creating a name for herself. Impressed with her raw talent, Dan takes her under his wing, causing further tension with his daughter (Hailee Steinfeld) and ex-wife (Catherine Keener). Tackling such topics as relationships, family and creativity with an emotional, sincere touch, Carney's movie is a joyous breeze in a season of muggy releases.

The Complete Jacques Tati (Criterion): With only half a dozen movies under his belt, French star and director Jacques Tati is cherished as one of the greatest comic filmmakers of all time. So both longtime fans and newcomers have reason to celebrate this box set from Criterion, which includes all of his films in pristine, restored versions. They include his rare debut "Jour de Fete" (1949), as well as the classic comedies starring the endearing semi-silent character that made him a legend, the bumbling Monsieur Hulot: "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday" (1953), "Mon Oncle" (1958), his singular masterpiece "Playtime" (1967), and the underrated "Trafic" (1971). Mixing whimsical visual humor with an ineffably melancholy worldview, this collection of films is a veritable treasure trove for movie lovers.

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November 07

This Day in American History

    1637 - Anne Hutchinson, the first female religious leader in the American colonies, was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for heresy, preaching that faith alone was sufficient for salvation, a belief that contradicted Puritan orthodoxy. She was condemned by an ecclesiastical synod at Newton, Mass, and fled to Rhode Island. She and her family were later massacred by Indians in the wild, “untamed” part of New England.
http://www.annehutchinson.com/
http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0193_Anne_Hutchinson.html
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=33955947
    1700 - The population of the colonies was sparsely scattered over a large area. Below the Delaware River, an isolated farm was the usual settlement, save for Charleston, which had about 250 families. Philadelphia had approximately 700 houses, New York about 5000 inhabitants, Newport, RI less than 200, and Boston, the largest city, about 7000. There were approximately 275,000 inhabitants in the colonies. In 1701, the naming of streets was authorized by the Boston Town Meeting. Previously, only Newport and Philadelphia had officially assigned street names. At the end of seven years, 109 names were submitted for ratification.
    1775 – John Murray, the Royal Governor of the Colony of Virginia, started the first mass emancipation of slaves in North America by issuing Lord Dunsmore’s Offer of Emancipation, offering freedom to slaves who abandoned their colonial masters in order to fight with Murray and the British.
    1776 - Congress chose Richard Bache to succeed his father-in-law, Ben Franklin, as postmaster general. Franklin had sailed for France on behalf of the Continental Congress the previous month.
    1786 – The oldest musical society in the US is founded as the Stoughton Musical Society.
    1805 - Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean. Their survival over the ‘04-’05 winter was attributed to the help of the Nez Perce Indians.
    1811 – William Henry Harrison, commander of 800 U.S. soldiers fighting marauding Indians organized by Tecumseh, beat off a surprise attack led by Tecumseh’s brother Tenskwatawa, called the Prophet, at Tippecanoe River in north central Indiana. The toll of U.S. soldiers was 61 dead, 127 wounded. Subsequently, Harrison’s troops destroyed the Indian confederacy. Tecumseh and many of his followers crossed over into Canada and joined British forces in the War of 1812. The fame for this feat later helped him gain the U.S. presidency.
    1814 - Andrew Jackson attacked and captured Pensacola, Florida, without authorization from his superiors. His aim was to end a threat posed by a small British garrison that had caused trouble in the area. Unknown to Jackson, Major General Sir Edward Pakenham had prepared 3,000 soldiers in Jamaica and was sailing to New Orleans to open a British offensive in the South. Pakenham’s army was supplemented by other soldiers brought from England. The opposing armies met in the famed January 1815 Battle of New Orleans.
    1820 – James Monroe was elected the fifth President of the US.
    1832 - Andrew D. White was born in Homer, NY. An educator and diplomat, White was co-founder and the first president of Cornell University. In 1863, upon his election to the New York Senate, he first met fellow senator Ezra Cornell, a farmer from Ithaca who had made a modest fortune in the telegraph industry.   Around this time, the senators were debating how to best use the higher education funding provided by the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, which allocated money in the form of timber land in the midwest that could be sold as states saw fit. Through effective management by Cornell, New York generated about $2.5 million from its allotted scrip, a greater yield per acre than any state. White and Cornell argued that the money would be more effectively used if it endowed only one university rather than several as was being debated. The two then combined their efforts to form a new university. Cornell insisted that the university be located in Ithaca on his large farm on East Hill, overlooking the town and Cayuga Lake…”Far above Cayuga’s waters…” White ultimately agreed and convinced Cornell to give his name to the university "in accordance with [the] time-honored American usage" of naming universities after their largest initial benefactors. On February 7, 1865, White introduced a bill "to establish the Cornell University" and, on April 27, 1865, New York Governor Fenton signed into law the bill endowing Cornell University as the state's Land-Grant institution. White died on campus in 1918.
     1837 - United States abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy was attacked and killed by a pro-slavery mob at his printing works in Alton, Illinois, attempting to protect his printing shop from being destroyed a third time.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov07.html
    1845 - The first presidential voting nationwide took place. On January 23, 1845, “an act to establish a uniform time for holding elections for electors of President and Vice President in all the states of the Union” was approved. The day selected for voting was “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November of the year in which they are to be appointed.” Zachary Taylor was elected President and Millard Fillmore was elected Vice President. The electoral vote was Taylor, 163, Lewis Cass, Democratic candidate, 127. The popular vote was Taylor, 1,370,101: Cass, 1,220,544: Martin Van Buren, Free-Soil and Barnburners candidate, 291,263. Taylor, the second and last Whig president, died after 16 months in office. He died of cholera at the age of 55. Vice-President Millard Fillmore was sworn in on July 10, 1850, as the 13th president of the United States.
    1847 - Lotta Crabtree’s birthday. Taught by the legendary Lola Montez, she was the rage of the English and American stage, leaving a fortune of $4 million. Lotta's Fountain, an ornate drinking fountain which miraculously survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, still stands at Market Street near Kearny; her gift to a city she always loved and returned to frequently.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/bio/lotta.html
http://www.standingstones.com/crabtree.html
http://www.ncgold.com/History/LottaCrabtree/lotta.html
    1864 – The second Congress of the Confederate States of America reconvened.
    1861 - In Belmont, Missouri, Union forces led by Gen. U.S. Grant overrun a Confederate camp but are forced to retreat when Confederate reinforcements arrive.
    1874 - The Republican Party elephant was born on this date. It was created by Thomas Nast's political cartoon in Harper's Weekly, attacking a possible third term for Republican President Ulysses S. Grant.
    1876 - Albert H. Hook of New York City patented the cigarette manufacturing machine.
    1876 - The presidential election gave Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic candidate, a popular vote plurality of 250,000, but Republicans refused to concede on the grounds that returns from Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon were in dispute. Hayes needed the electoral votes of those states to win. On December 6, two different sets of electoral returns were reported from the four states. The electoral vote ultimately was determined by a special 15-member electoral commission. The nation had never faced a dispute over the results of a presidential election. The commission was divided by party lines, and deals were made, it was said, as Rutherford B. Hayes, received 185 electoral votes to Tilden’s 184. Historians state
Hayes made a bargain with Southern Democrats. It is recorded the new president showed a conciliatory attitude toward the South: the last federal troops were withdrawn and there was no further effort to protect the rights of blacks. Reconstruction was over.
    1876 - Edward Bouchet, became the first African-American to receive a PhD from a U.S. college, Yale.
    1885 - At 9:30 AM, the last spike was driven at Craigellachie, British Columbia, completing the Canadian Pacific Railway’s 2,980-mile transcontinental railroad track between Montreal, Quebec, in the east and Port Moody, British Columbia, in the west.
    1889 - Montana becomes the 41st state.
    1893 - The state of Colorado granted women residents the right to vote, the second state to do so.
    1907 – Delta Sigma Pi fraternity is founded at NYU.
    1908 – Butch Cassidy and The Sundance kid are reportedly killed in Bolivia.
    1910 – The first air freight shipment, from Dayton to Columbus, OH, is undertaken by the Wright Brothers and department store owner Max Moorehouse.
    1913 - A massive blizzard, the Great Lakes Storm that ultimately killed 250, caused over $5 million (about $118,098,000 in 2013 dollars) damage. Winds reached hurricane force.
   1914 – The first issue of The New Republic magazine is published.
    1916 - Woodrow Wilson, 28th U.S. President, was reelected. The outcome of the election was one of the few in U.S. history that hinged on foreign affairs. Europe was fighting a world war, and so far, President Wilson had kept the U.S. neutral. Running with the slogan, "He Kept Us Out of War," Wilson was re-elected by a narrow margin. The very next year, Wilson’s neutrality in the European war ended. The Germans refused to curtail their submarine warfare after 120 Americans were killed aboard the British liner, Lusitania. Congress voted overwhelmingly to go to war and Wilson proclaimed American entrance into World War I a crusade to make the world “safe for democracy.” Thomas R. Marshall was reelected vice president. The election was so close that the outcome was uncertain for three days, when it became clear that Wilson had carried California, but by fewer than 4000 votes. The electoral vote was Wilson, 277: Charles Evans Hughes, Republican candidate, 254. The popular vote was Wilson, 9,128,837: Hughes 8,536,380. In congressional elections, the Democrats lost three seats in the Senate but maintained a 53-42 majority, with one seat going to a minor party. In the House, the Democrats again narrowed their majority over the Republicans, 216-210, with six seats held by minor parties.
    1916 - Republican Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress.
    1917 – While this is not American, its impact on us in the 20th century cannot be minimized. Russia's Bolshevik Revolution took place as forces led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin overthrew the provisional government of Alexander Kerensky.
    1917 - Bassist Howard Rumsey born, Brawley, CA.
http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/rumsey.html
    1918 - Birthday of evangelist Billy Graham in Charlotte, NC. Graham has been a spiritual adviser to several Presidents including Eisenhower and Nixon. Before the civil rights movement, he supported integrated seating for his revivals and crusades; in 1957 he invited Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in NYC. Graham bailed King out of jail in the 1960s when he was arrested in demonstrations. Graham has repeatedly been on Gallup’s list of Most Admired Men and Women. He has appeared on the list 55 times since 1955 (including 49 consecutive years), more than any other individual in the world. In his retirement, Graham has had Parkinson’s disease since 1992, hydrocephalus, pneumonia, broken hips, and prostate cancer. http://www.billygraham.org/mediaRelations/bios.asp?p=1
    1918 – Physicist Robert Goddard first demonstrated tube-launched solid propellant rockets.
    1918 – Germany’s chancellor, Prince Max von Baden, sent delegates to Compiegne, France, to negotiate the agreement to cease hostilities in World War I; it was signed at 5:10 a.m. on the morning of November 11.
    1922 - Al Hirt, great trumpet player and bandleader who gave us "Java", was born in ‘Nawlins’. Nicknamed “Jumbo” and “The Round Mound of Sound”, Hirt died there on April 27, 1999 of liver failure. http://www.epluri.com/NOTfolder/Acts/AlHirtFolder/AlHirtSalute.html
    1929 - The Museum of Modern Art in New York City was opened to the public.
    1930 - Wayne King recorded what would become his theme song, "The Waltz You Save for Me", on Victor records.
    1932 - CBS radio first aired "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". Between 1932 and 1947, Matt Crowley, Curtis Arnall, Carl Frank and John Larkin played Buck over the years.
    1933 – Birthday of composer and conductor John Barry in Yorkshire, England. Barry was the composer and musical genius of many of the scores in the James Bond franchise between 1963-1987: beginning with “Dr. No” through “The Living Daylights”. Lesser known are his compositions that include “Born Free”, “The Lion in Winter”, “Dances with Wolves” and “Out of Africa”. Barry died in 2011 in Oyster Bay, NY.
  1933 - Pennsylvania voters overturned blue laws, thereby permitting Sunday sports.
    1933 – Fiorello H. LaGuardia is elected the 99th mayor of New York.
    1937 - Mary Travers’ birthday in Louisville, KY. Travers was an author, composer, and best-known as the female singer, of “Peter, Paul, and Mary”, one of the most successful folk groups in music history. Peter, Paul and Mary formed in 1961, and were an immediate success. They shared a manager with Bob Dylan and their success included multiple recordings of Dylan songs. An AP obituary on the occasion of her death in 2009, noted: “Their first album, “Peter, Paul and Mary” came out in 1962 and immediately scored hits with their versions of "If I Had a Hammer" and "Lemon Tree". The former won them Grammys for best folk recording and best performance by a vocal group. Their next album, “Moving”, included the hit tale of innocence lost, "Puff, The Magic Dragon", which reached No. 2 on the charts. Their third album, “In the Wind”, featuring songs by Dylan, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and "Blowin' in the Wind" reached the top 10, bringing Dylan's material to a massive audience; the latter shipped 300,000 copies during one two-week period…at one point in 1963, three of their albums were in the top six Billboard best-selling LPs as they became the biggest stars of the folk revival movement and were constants in the nascent college concert tours that proliferated in the period. Their version of "If I Had a Hammer" became an anthem for racial equality, as did "Blowin’ in the Wind”, which they performed at the August, 1963 March on Washington.
The group broke up in 1970, and Travers subsequently pursued a solo career and recorded five albums. The group re-formed in 1978, toured extensively and issued many new albums. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
    1938 - Nazis launched the campaign of terror against Jewish people and their homes and businesses in Germany and Austria. The violence, which continued through November 10 and was later dubbed "Kristallnacht," or "Night of Broken Glass," after the countless smashed windows of Jewish-owned establishments left approximately 100 Jews dead, 7,500 Jewish businesses damaged and hundreds of synagogues, homes, schools and graveyards vandalized. An estimated 30,000 Jewish men were arrested, many of whom were then sent to concentration camps for several months; they were released when they promised to leave Germany. Kristallnacht represented a dramatic escalation of the campaign started by Hitler in 1933 when he became chancellor to purge Germany of its Jewish population.
    1938 – Singer Dee Clark ("Raindrops") was born in Blytheville, AR; died December 7, 1990 of a heart attack in Smyrna, GA.
    1940 - Duke Ellington records at Crystal Ballroom, Fargo, ND.
    1940 - 'Galloping Gertie' Bridge at Tacoma, WA collapsed in gale force winds, resulting in a $6 million loss. The bridge, crossing the Tacoma Narrows, opened 4 weeks early. The winds caused the evenly spaced spans of the bridge to vibrate until the central one finally collapsed. From that time on, bridges were constructed with spans of varying length.
    1942 – Singer Johnny Rivers was born John Henry Ramistella in NYC. Rivers was hot in the mid-late 1960s with hits like, “Memphis”, "Mountain of Love", "The Seventh Son", "Secret Agent Man", "Poor Side of Town (a US #1), "Baby I Need Your Lovin", and "Summer Rain".
    1942 – Author Tom Peters was born in Baltimore. Remember “In Search of Excellence” and “A Passion for Excellence” in the 1980s?
    1942 – FDR became the first US President to broadcast in a foreign language - to the French.
    1943 - Folk singer Joni Mitchell was born Roberta Joan Anderson in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada.
    1943 – An early snowstorm from South Dakota to Minnesota and Wisconsin. 22 inches fell at Faribault and Marshall, MN, 20 inches at Redwood Falls, MN and 10.1 inches at Minneapolis, MN. Snow drifts 15 feet high were reported in Cottonwood County. Up to 2 feet of snow fell in eastern South Dakota smothering a million thanksgiving turkeys
    1943 - THOMAS, HERBERT JOSEPH, Medal of Honor.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 8 February 1918, Columbus, Ohio. Accredited to: West Virginia. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the battle at the Koromokina River, Bougainville Islands, Solomon Islands, on 7 November 1943. Although several of his men were struck by enemy bullets as he led his squad through dense jungle undergrowth in the face of severe hostile machinegun fire, Sgt. Thomas and his group fearlessly pressed forward into the center of the Japanese position and destroyed the crews of 2 machineguns by accurate rifle fire and grenades. Discovering a third gun more difficult to approach, he carefully placed his men closely around him in strategic positions from which they were to charge after he had thrown a grenade into the emplacement. When the grenade struck vines and fell back into the midst of the group, Sgt. Thomas deliberately flung himself upon it to smother the explosion, valiantly sacrificing his life for his comrades. Inspired by his selfless action, his men unhesitatingly charged the enemy machinegun and, with fierce determination, killed the crew and several other nearby-defenders. The splendid initiative and extremely heroic conduct of Sgt. Thomas in carrying out his prompt decision with full knowledge of his fate reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
    1943 – The last scoreless tie in the NFL was played between the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants.
    1944 - NISHIMOTO, JOE M., Medal of Honor.
Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 November 1944, near La Houssiere, France. After three days of unsuccessful attempts by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area. Spotting a machine gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove another machine gun crew from its position. The enemy, with their key strong points taken, was forced to withdraw from this sector. Private First Class Nishimoto’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
    1944 - STRYKER, ROBERT F., Medal of Honor.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam, 7 November 1967. Entered service at: Throop, N.Y. Born: 9 November 1944, Auburn, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Stryker, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving with Company C. Sp4c. Stryker was serving as a grenadier in a multicompany reconnaissance in force near Loc Ninh. As his unit moved through the dense underbrush, it was suddenly met with a hail of rocket, automatic weapons and small arms fire from enemy forces concealed in fortified bunkers and in the surrounding trees. Reacting quickly, Sp4c. Stryker fired into the enemy positions with his grenade launcher. During the devastating exchange of fire, Sp4c. Stryker detected enemy elements attempting to encircle his company and isolate it from the main body of the friendly force. Undaunted by the enemy machinegun and small-arms fire, Sp4c. Stryker repeatedly fired grenades into the trees, killing enemy snipers and enabling his comrades to sever the attempted encirclement. As the battle continued, Sp4c. Stryker observed several wounded members of his squad in the killing zone of an enemy claymore mine. With complete disregard for his safety, he threw himself upon the mine as it was detonated. He was mortally wounded as his body absorbed the blast and shielded his comrades from the explosion. His unselfish actions were responsible for saving the lives of at least 6 of his fellow soldiers. Sp4c. Stryker's great personal bravery was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1944 - President Franklin Roosevelt won an unprecedented fourth term in office, defeating Thomas E. Dewey. Roosevelt only lived long enough to serve 53 days of this fourth term. Harry S. Truman was elected Vice-President. The electoral vote was Roosevelt, 432: Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, Republican, 99. The popular vote was Roosevelt 25,602,504, Dewey 22,006,285. In congressional elections, the Democrats lost two senate seats but held a 56-38 majority. In the House, they gained 24 seats for a 242-190 lead, with two seats held by minor parties.
    1946 - Top Hits
Five Minutes More - Frank Sinatra
South America, Take It Away - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
You Keep Coming Back like a Song - Dinah Shore
Divorce Me C.O.D. - Merle Travis
    1950 - Voters in the Hawaii Territory ratified a state constitution, a major step in becoming the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
(Lower half: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov07.html)
    1951 - Frank Sinatra marries his second wife, actress Ava Gardner. The marriage, her third, lasts six years and is credited for moving Sinatra into his "mature" phase as a singer, with Nelson Riddle stating: "It was Ava who did that, who taught him how to sing a torch song. That's how he learned. She was the greatest love of his life and he lost her." Gardner’s Hollywood contacts are also credited with getting Sinatra in front of the studio for a test in what would become his Academy Award-wining role as Private Maggio in “From Here to Eternity”. This was at a time when his recording career was at its lowest and the film’s success and his role are credited with ‘bringing him back’.
    1952 - Birthday of American composer Ken Hedgecock in Monticello, AR.
    1954 - “Face the Nation” premiered on TV. The CBS counterpart to NBC’s “Meet the Press,” this show employed a similar format: panelists interviewed a well-known guest. In 1983, the panel was changed to include experts in addition to journalists when Lesley Stahl succeeded George Herman as moderator. Though usually produced at Washington, DC, the show occasionally interviewed people elsewhere (such as Khrushchev in Moscow in 1957).
    1954 - Top Hits
I Need You Now - Eddie Fisher
This Ole House - Rosemary Clooney
Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como
More and More - Webb Pierce
    1954 - Cleveland Browns' Chet Hanulak set a club record with 7 punt returns, leading the Browns to their largest margin of victory (59) beating the Washington Redskins, 62-3.
    1956 - Elvis Presley hit the charts with "Love Me", the first million-seller to chart without being a single. It was an EP (extended play) 45 rpm, with three other songs: "Rip It Up", "Paralyzed" and "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" all on RCA Victor.
    1957 - The final report, the Gaither Report, from a special committee called by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to review the nation's defense readiness indicates that the United States is falling far behind the Soviets in missile capabilities, and urges a vigorous campaign to build fallout shelters to protect American citizens.
    1958 - Eddie Cochran debuts on UK chart with ‘Summertime Blues’
    1959 - Smokey Robinson marries Claudette Rogers, who was still a member of the Miracles and the eventual inspiration for his song "My Girl," made famous by the Temptations. The two would divorce in 1985.
    1960 - Elvis Presley "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is released.
    1960 - Hank Ballard and the Midnighters were at #1 for a third week on the R&B chart with “Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go”.
   1960 – Top Hits
"Save The Last Dance For Me" – The Drifters
"I Want to Be Wanted" - Brenda Lee
"Poetry in Motion" - Johnny Tillotson
"Georgia On My Mind" - Ray Charles
"You Talk Too Much" – Joe Jones
    1961 - Ray Charles is arrested for possession of drugs in Indianapolis, IN, after local authorities discover marijuana and heroin in his hotel room.
    1962 - Richard M. Nixon, having been narrowly defeated in his bid for the presidency by John F. Kennedy in the 1960 election, returned to politics two years later as a candidate for governor of California in the election of Nov 6, 1962. Defeated again, this time by incumbent governor Edmund G. Brown, who built the public university and college system in California, Nixon held his “last” press conference with assembled reporters in Los Angeles at mid-morning the next day at which he said: “Just think how much you’re going to be missing. You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.”   They lie even when saying goodbye!
    1962 – Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt died at the age of 78.
    1962 - Top Hits
He’s a Rebel - The Crystals
Only Love Can Break a Heart - Gene Pitney
All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee
Mama Sang a Song - Bill Anderson
    1963 - New York Yankee Elston Howard, was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player, making him the first black player to receive the award.
    1964 - The Braves, for the second time in eleven years, receive permission to shift their franchise to another city. Originally in Boston, Hank Aaron and company will move from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season.
    1964 - The Marvelettes' "Too Many Fish in the Sea" enters the Billboard Hot 100 where it will reach #25. The song will be the fifth of the group's ten US Top 40 Pop hits.
    1964 - Barbra Streisand's LP “People” hits #1
    1964 - Gale Garnett’s seventh week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "We'll Sing In The Sunshine”.
    1964 - The Shangri-Las shot into the Top 10 with "Leader of the Pack"
    1964 - The latest U.S. intelligence analysis claims that Communist forces in South Vietnam now include about 30,000 professional full-time soldiers, many of whom are North Vietnamese. Before this, it was largely reported that the war was merely an internal insurgent movement in South Vietnam opposed to the government in Saigon. This information discredited that theory and indicated that the situation involves North and South Vietnam. In Saigon, the South Vietnamese government banned the sale of the current issue of Newsweek because it carried a photograph showing a Viet Cong prisoner being tortured by South Vietnamese army personnel.
    1965 - A drag racer from Ohio named Art Arfons set the land-speed record - an average 576.553 miles per hour - at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.
    1967 - The first African-American mayor, Carl Stokes, a Democrat, of a major city was elected by the citizens of Cleveland, OH.
    1967 - The Beatles record "Magical Mystery Tour"
    1967 – St. Louis Cardinals 1B Orlando Cepeda is the first unanimous National League MVP.
    1967 – President Lyndon Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, a bill establishing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
    1969 - Having tracked down Paul and wife Linda at their farm in Glasgow, Scotland, to disprove the rumors of his death, Paul is the featured cover story of this week's edition of Life magazine, which carries the headline "Paul Is Still With Us." In the interview, Paul debunks several "clues" and adds: "Perhaps the rumor started because I haven't been much in the press lately. I have done enough press for a lifetime, and I don't have anything to say these days. I am happy to be with my family and I will work when I work. I was switched on for ten years and I never switched off. Now I am switching off whenever I can. I would rather be a little less famous these days."
    1970 - Top Hits
I’ll Be There - The Jackson 5
We’ve Only Just Begun - Carpenters
Fire and Rain - James Taylor
I Can’t Believe That You’ve Stopped Loving Me - Charley Pride
    1972 - President Richard Nixon was re-elected, in the greatest Republican landslide, defeating Democrat George McGovern. Spiro T. Agnew was re-elected Vice-President. The electoral vote was Nixon, 521: Sen. George S. McGovern, Democrat, 17. The popular vote was Nixon, 45,767,218: McGovern, 28,357,668. The Democrats picked up two Senate seats for a 57-43 majority. The Republicans gained 13 seats in the House, but the Democrats still led 255-179, with one seat going to an independent. In August, 1974, Nixon became the first President to resign the office.
    1973 - New Jersey became the first state to allow girls to play on Little League baseball teams.
    1976 – “Gone With the Wind” was aired (over two nights) on NBC-TV. The showing was the highest-rated TV show in history. 65 percent of all viewers turned on their sets to watch Scarlet O’Hara and Rhett Butler.
    1976 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright),'' Rod Stewart.
    1976 – The thriller “Carrie” by Brian dePalma was released, starring Sissy Spacek.
    1977 – Elvis’ version of the Paul Anka song, "My Way", was released posthumously.
    1978 - Top Hits
You Needed Me - Anne Murray
MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
Double Vision - Foreigner
Sleeping Single in a Double Bed - Barbara Mandrell
    1979 – “The Rose”, starring Bette Midler, got star treatment with a world premiere in Los Angeles. The movie was modeled after the life of Janis Joplin.
    1979 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Pop Muzik,'' M. The performer's real name is Robin Scott. This is his only song to make the Hot 100.
    1981 - “Private Eyes" by Daryl Hall & John Oates topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.
    1983 – A bomb exploded in the Capitol Rotunda, causing heavy damage but no casualties.
    1985 - Former middleweight boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was released from Rahway State Prison in NJ after serving 19 years for a triple murder committed in a Paterson, NJ, bar in 1966. US District Court Judge J. Lee Sorokin ruled that prosecution had violated the civil rights of Carter and a co-defendant during their trials in 1967 and 1976. Denzel Washington later starred in a movie, “Hurricane” about his life.
    1986 - Temperatures reached a daily record 86 at New Orleans, LA. It equaled the highest ever for November
    1986 - The longest high school football winning streak to date ended. Canyon High, of Canyon Country, California, lost to Antelope Valley High, 21-20. Canyon High racked up 46 consecutive wins before this. The streak however, would be broken by De La Salle High School in Concord, CA that holds the national record at 151 games spanning from 1992 to 2004.
    1986 - Top Hits
True Colors - Cyndi Lauper
Typical Male - Tina Turner
I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On - Robert Palmer
It’ll Be Me – Exile
    1986 - Willie Nelson guest stars as a corrupt cop on tonight's "El Viejo" episode of NBC-TV's “Miami Vice.”
    1987 - A sixteen year old singer named Tiffany had the top tune in the US with a cover version of Tommy James' 1967 hit, "I Think We're Alone Now". His rendition stalled at number four. Tiffany became the youngest act to score a US #1 since a 14-year-old Michael Jackson with did it with "Ben" in 1972.
    1987 - Bruce Springsteen’s "Tunnel of Love" was the #1 album in the U.S. The rest of the top-five for the week: 2)-"Bad" (Michael Jackson); 3)-"Dirty Dancing" (soundtrack); 4)-"Whitesnake" (Whitesnake); 5)-"A Memory Lapse of Reason" (Pink Floyd).
    1988 - John Fogerty won his self-plagiarism court battle with Fantasy Records. The label claimed Fogerty copied his own song, "Run Through The Jungle" when he wrote "The Old Man Down The Road".
    1989 - L. Douglas Wilder was elected governor of Virginia, becoming the first elected black governor in US history. Wilder had previously served as lieutenant governor of Virginia.
    1989 - Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg asked President Reagan to withdraw his nomination to the United States Supreme Court, citing the clamor that arose over Ginsburg's admission that he had smoked marijuana on occasion.
    1989 - The first African-American Mayor of New York City, David N. Dinkins, 63, the Manhattan borough president, was elected this day as a Democrat. He served one term. He was defeated in his 1993 bid for reelection by Republican candidate Rudolph Giuliani, whom he had beaten in 1989. NYC also elected its first female Comptroller, Elizabeth Holtzman.
    1989 - Shortly after daybreak, strong thunderstorms developed in an east-west band across New Orleans and southeastern LA. Rains of 8 to 12 inches deluged a 5 county area from 9 am and 6 pm. The two-day total ending 7 am on the 8th ranged up to 19.78 inches between Lake Lexy and Lake Borgne. 6000 homes reported water damage. The rainfall of 19.81 inches at New Orleans for the month was a record for any month.
    1991 - Ervin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers retires from basketball after announcing that he had tested positive for HIV. Despite his retirement, Johnson played in the 1992 NBA All-Star game and in the 1992 Olympics as a member of the first US Dream Team. He coached the Lakers for part of the 1993-94 season and played part of the 1995-96 season before retiring again.
    1994 - "The Electrical Engineering Times" ran a cover story about flaws in Intel’s Pentium computer chip. The bug, an obscure flaw that caused extremely rare computation errors when performing certain types of mathematical calculations, eventually caused Intel to replace any Pentium processor affected by the flaw, regardless of whether the user was a mathematician or not. Intel took a $475 million charge against earnings for the quarter to cover the expense of replacing all of those chips.
    1994 - WXYC, the student radio station of the University of North Carolina, provides the world's first internet radio broadcast.
    1995 - The Carolina Panthers win an expansion record fourth game in a row, defeating the San Francisco 49ers, 13-7, at 3Com (formerly Candlestick) Park.
    1995 - The Captain (Daryl Dragon) and (Toni) Tennille renew their vows in Virginia City, NV on the occasion of their 20th anniversary. They divorced early in 2014.
    1995 - Howard Stern’s Radio Show premiered in Pittsburgh on WXDX 105.9 FM. His second book, "Miss America" was released and became the fastest selling ever.
    1998 – Mayor Willie Brown was hit with 3 pastry pies by the Biotic Baking Brigade in protest for "skyrocketing evictions" and his "collusion with big business to perform an economic cleansing of SF." In Feb 1999, Gerard Livernois, Rahula Janowski and Justin Gross were sentenced to 6 months in County Jail for battery after the 3 refused to accept 3 years’ probation.
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    1998 - House Speaker Newt Gingrich resigned following an election in which the Republican House majority shrunk from 22 to 12.
    2000 - Republican George W. Bush was elected President over incumbent Democratic Vice President Al Gore, though Gore won the popular vote by a narrow margin and had conceded. The winner was not known for more than a month because of a dispute over the results in Florida (again! see 1876 above). Ultimately, it was the Supreme Court that ‘validated’ the election results after both sides debated voters’ intentions of ballots with ‘hanging chads’ among other issues.
    2000 - Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York, becoming the first First Lady to win public office.
    2000 - The Drug Enforcement Administration discovers one of the country's largest LSD labs inside a converted military missile silo in Wamego, KS.
    2003 - In a desperate effort to reassure visitors that the SARS outbreak is no threat, Hong Kong officials invite the Rolling Stones, among others, to play a massive concert in the city. The total cost for appearance fees tops $100 million.
    2006 - Orleans lead singer John Hall is elected to the US House of Representatives from his home state of New York.
    2006 - Keith Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota, became the first Muslim elected to Congress.
    2009 - The Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed, 220-215, landmark health care legislation to expand coverage to tens of millions who lacked it and placed tough new restrictions on the insurance industry.
    2011 - Physician Conrad Murray is found guilty of manslaughter in the death of the Michael Jackson.
    2012 - Voters in Massachusetts approved a referendum legalizing the use of medical marijuana; Colorado and Washington approved the legalization of recreational use of the drug.
    2012 - Election results in three states approved same-sex marriage: Maine, Maryland and Washington.

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