Leasing News - information, news, education and entertainment for the commercial bank, finance and leasing industry

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release” and was not written by Leasing News nor information verified, but from the source noted. When an article is signed by the writer, it is considered a “by line.” It reflects the opinion and research of the writer.

Confirmed—Capital One Equipment Finance Corp.
Exiting the Marketplace – and Why

"Steve Cusick (Vice President, Capital One Equipment Finance Corp., Foothill Ranch, California) informed me a few weeks ago that they had a 9:00 am conference call the day before and the hammer came down. I thought he was teasing me…..but, not.

"As you described, all but three regional reps were dismissed (including Steve and Jeff Holtshopple) and it appears that the health finance segment (recently acquired from GE) may be the focus going forward.

"Steve was the TPO desk for Cap One and was an old GE Capital TPO rep for many years before moving to Cap One….now both are history!"

--Name Withheld

"I can confirm this. I know and have spoken with quite a few Capital One employees—including at the somewhat awkward reception they hosted at the ELFA Annual Convention in San Antonio (undoubtedly arranged before they learned of the shutdown). My understanding is that they are being paid through the end of this year.

(Another reader wrote: “We got notice 11/18 and they are paying us through 2/17/16 (90 days). We can leave any time after 12/17 and still receive the full severance package that you automatically receive after 12/17.”)

"Their problem was starting up the business in an ultra-low-interest rate environment. Since they were affiliated with a bank, they couldn’t really go 'down market' to underwrite higher credit risk deals and thereby generate additional spread. In addition, they didn’t have the benefit that leasing companies had years ago by 'seeding' their portfolio with a number of large-ticket, high-yielding transactions, e.g., leveraged lease, LILO’s, SILO’s, etc. that would support the inevitable losses generated by a startup, middle-market sales staff which is very costly.

"Finally, the parent—who is basically a credit card issuer—is very profitable which made the comparison to the new equipment leasing business even more unfavorable.

"The old tricks simply don’t work anymore. It’s tough to make money in this business anymore if you’re a bank lessor. The only market segments that make sense now are the high-yield and small-ticket, but the latter requires a substantial investment ($1-2 million) in a system and platform."

--Names Withheld

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No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business
plus Leasing Companies Out of Business

Companies with an * are no longer in business. The others are companies that were taking broker business, but announced that they no longer are accepting broker business. Many have also down-sized or are managing an existing portfolio.

More details are available in this list by company name:

http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm

*ABCO Leasing Inc., Bothell, WA
*ACC Capital, Midvale, Utah (lenders running off portfolio residuals, Leasing News receiving Evergreen non-notification complaints, demanding 12 more monthly payments)
Advantage Business Capital, Lake Oswego, Oregon
AEL Financial, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
(No longer taking new broker business)
Allegiant Partners, San Rafael, California
Alliance Financial, Syracuse, New York
*Alternative Capital, Apollo Beach, Florida
*AMC Funding, Charlotte, North Carolina
American Bank Leasing, Alpharetta, Georgia
*American Equipment Finance, Warren, New Jersey
Balboa Capital, Irvine, Ca
Bank of the West Leasing Indirect, San Ramon, California
(Require high volume, successful brokers only)
*Bank Midwest Leasing, Overland Park, KS
Bankers Healthcare Group, Weston, FL
*Blackstone Equipment Financing, Orange, California
*Capital One Equipment Finance, Towson, Maryland
*CapitalSource Healthcare Finance, Chevy Chase, Maryland
*CapNet, Los Angeles, California
*C and J Leasing Corp, Des Moines, Iowa
*Carlton Financial Corporation, Wayzata, Minnesota
*Chase Industries, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan
*Chesterfield Financial, Chesterfield, Missouri
CHG-MERIDIAN U.S. Finance, Ltd, Woodland Hills, CA
(Sales Management focuses very selectively on certain brokers.)
*Churchill Group/Churchill Leasing, Jericho, NY
CIT Group (limited)
Columbia Bank Leasing, Tacoma, WA
*Columbia Equipment Finance, Danville, California
Commercial Equipment Lease, Eugene, Oregon
Concord Financial Services, Long Beach, California
*Court Square, Malvern, Pennsylvania
*Creative Capital Leasing Group, LLC, San Diego, CA
Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance, Rancho Cucamonga, Ca
Direct Capital, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Diversified Financial Service, Omaha, NE
* Dolsen Leasing, Bellevue/Yakima, Washington
Equipment Finance Partners, a division of Altec, Birmingham, Alabama
Evans National Leasing, Inc., Hamburg, NY
Enterprise Funding, Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Evergreen Leasing, South Elgin, Illinois
*Excel Financial Leasing, Lubbock Texas
*First Corp.(IFC subsidiary), Morton Grove, Illinois
First Federal Financial Services, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
First Republic Bank, San Francisco, CA
Frontier Capital, Teaneck New Jersey
*GCR Capital, Safety Harbor, Florida
GE Capital, Conn (limited)
Global Funding LLC., Clearwater, FL
*Greystone, Burlington, MA
*Heritage Pacific Leasing, Fresno, CA
*Hillcrest Bank Leasing, Overland Park, KS (Parent bank sold)
Huntington Equipment Finance, Vendor Finance Group, Bellevue, Washington
*IFC Credit Corp., Morton Grove, Illinois
Irwin Financial (Irwin Union Bank), Columbus, Indiana
Irwin Union Bank, F.S.B. (Louisville, Kentucky)
Lakeland Bank, Montville, NJ
LaSalle Systems Leasing
*Latitude Equipment Leasing, Marlton, New Jersey
*Leaf Specialty Finance, Columbia, South Carolina
*LEAF Third Party Funding, Santa Barbara, Ca.
Lombard, part of Royal Bank of Scotland, worldwide
M&T Credit (Bank)
*MericapCredit, Lisle, Illinois
*Meridian Healthcare Finance, San Diego, California
Merrill Lynch Financial
Midwest Leasing Group, Livonia, Minnesota
National City, Cleveland, Ohio
*Navigator (Pentech subsidiary) San Diego, California
OFC Capital, Roswell, Georgia
Old National Bank, Evansville, Illinois
Pentech Financial, Campbell, CA
*PFF Bancorp, Inc, Pomona, CA
Pinnacle Business Finance, Fife, Washington
*Pioneer Capital Corporation, Addison, Texas
PredictiFund, a subsidiary of Capital Access Network, Inc
Popular Finance, St. Louis, Missouri
Puget Sound Leasing, Seattle, Washington
Radiance-Capital, Tacoma, WA
Rational Technology Solutions, Rolling Meadows, IL
*Reliant National Finance, Jacksonville, Florida
Sandy Springs, Olney, MD
* Securities Equipment Lsg. (SEL, Inc.), Glendora, CA
Sovereign Bank, Melville, New York
Specialty Funding, Albuquerque, NM
*Studebaker-Worthington Leasing, Corp., Jerico, NY
(part of sale from Main Street Bank to Ascentium Capital)
Sun Trust Equipment Finance & Leasing, Baltimore, Maryland
*SunBridge Capital, Mission, Kansas
Suncoast Equipment Funding Corp., Tampa, Florida
TCF Equipment Finance, Minnetonka, Minnesota
TechLease, Morgan Hill, California
*Tennessee Commerce Bank, Franklin, Tennessee
Textron Financial
*Triad Leasing & Financial, Inc., Boise, Idaho
*TriStar Capital, Santa Ana, California
*Union Capital Partners, Midvale, Utah
US Bank, Manifest Funding, Marshall, Minnesota
(new requirement: large yearly funding)
US Bank, Middle-Market, Portland, Oregon
Velocity Financial Group, Rosemont, Illinois
VenCore, Portland, Oregon (former company Len Ludwig)
*Vision Capital, San Diego, California
Wachovia Bank Leasing
*Warren Capital, Novato, California
*Washington Mutual Financial
Western Bank, Devils Lake, ND
*Westover Financial, Inc., Santa Ana, California

(Note: Should a company policy have changed, please contact kitmenkin@leasingnews.org)

Funders looking for new Brokers:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm

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(Terry retired January 1, 2015. To honor him and his many years of writing for readers of Leasing News, is repeating several of his columns that are still meaningful today. Here is December 15, 2014.)

Leasing in December Best Month for Tax Advantages

For those of you that do not do a lot of true leasing, December is the best month for tax advantages, if your fiscal year end is in December.

Depreciation is fixed, but payment revenue is subject to how many months of payments you get during the year. Many leases are closed in December with delivery in December, but payments are in Arrears starting in January.

Therefore, depreciation is a total expense because there are no payments to take as income in this tax year.

Based on the lessor’s effective tax rate, the depreciation expense can add a major league increase in the lessor’s yield or a reduction in the lessee’s payment. If the transaction is not too competitive, sometimes the lessor splits the value of the tax advantages with the lessee.

The dilemma is that because of the depreciation, there is a difference between the undepreciated value for income tax and the book balance, so in the early stages of the lease, the stipulated loss value is very high.

Tax leasing needs to be on assets that have a good chance of running full term. If the lessee needs to trade up or terminate early, the stipulated loss value for the lessor to come out whole may be a problem.

If the lessee asks for an early termination, the non-cancelable clause means you have the opportunity to request the current value of the equipment, if it is larger than the stipulated loss value. A way around this, if the lessee wants to lease the new equipment, is to have them trade in the current equipment in the lessor’s name. This will reduce the purchase price by the amount by which the value exceeds the stipulated loss value. You will be giving up any value over the residual but you will retain a customer and, because of the reduced price of the new equipment, you can increase the rate.

If the payments are reduced by the December closing, the lessee is more likely to lease than to finance. However, the real reduction comes from the residual if the lessor is prepared to evaluate the equipment and its use. Then follow up with good return language and if applicable, maintenance requirements.

In addition, timing is very important. The equipment needs to be delivered and put into use in December, not just accepted in December. Payments can be placed in January, but the transaction needs to be completed in December.

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

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

The holidays are the best time to hire as year-end many sales people
decide to enhance their career. Our competitors still use a "classified ad" section, which basically is the company's full job description. It often is "hidden," meaning you have to search for the section.

This does not attract attention because you must go to the classified ad site to find the jobs listed. The advertiser is basically missing those who are employed, not actively looking for a job. This is the group the advertiser should be looking for as a primary target.

Leasing News puts a "help wanted" on top of the "masthead" so it is the first thing that a reader sees when they open the news edition or go to the website. The ad is changed in each news edition. It is designed to be a "display ad," not a "classified ad."

In addition to the masthead position, the "help wanted" ad also appears in the "news briefs" section, the second most-read section, and it is rotated in each news edition. It is not hidden. It is clearly visible.

The full section of "help wanted ads” also appears in each news edition, in each edition, as well as appears on the web site. It also is not “hidden.”

The idea of the ad is to draw attention, and have the reader interested in what the company offers from the advertisement rather than a "job description."
Contact Kit Menkin at 408-354-7967 to learn more.

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Story Credit Lessors

These companies specialize in "C" and "D" credits, often new businesses, or businesses where the principal(s) have Beacon scores around 600 or have had previous difficulties. This means you must become comfortable with the credit and financial situation. You need to learn the "story" to make a positive decision, often requiring further security, shorter term, or additional guarantors. Many of these companies may also have programs for “A” and “B” rated companies, but their specialty is not being a “cookie cutter” and often require full financial statements and tax returns as well as a “story about the company, its history, goals, circumstances” to fully understand the full financial picture.

Also listed below the dollar amounts are companies that who are known for accepting "subprime leasing."

To qualify for this list, the company must be a funder (as qualified by Leasing News and on the “Funder List” and not a "Broker/Lessor" or "Super Broker/Lessor", along with an acceptable Better Business Bureau Rating and no history of complaints at Leasing News, as well as notifying lessees in advance when the lease will end and what the residual will be, specifically not automating extra lease payments, or insisting their discounter follow the same policy. We reserve the right to not list a company who does not meet these qualifications.

We encourage companies who are listed to contact us for any change or addition they would like to make. Adding further information as an "attachment" or clarification of what they have to offer would be helpful to readers is very much encouraged.

Alphabetical list - click on company name to view more details

Agility Ventures
American Leasefund, Inc.
Bankers Capital
Black Rock Capital
BSB Leasing, Inc
Calfund, LLC
Cobra Capital LLC
Dakota Financial
Financial Pacific Leasing

First Midwest Equipment Finance Co.
Forum Financial Services, Inc.
Gonor Funding
Harris Leasing Company
Maxim Commercial Capital, LLC
Mesa Leasing
First Midwest Equipment Finance

Northwest Leasing Company, Inc.
Pawnee Leasing Corporation
Park Western Leasing
P&L Capital Corporation
Standard Professional Services, LLC
Summit Leasing, Inc.
TEAM Funding Solutions

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New Federal Case Correctly Analyzes
Forum Selection Clause
by Tom McCurnin
Leasing News Legal Editor

Broad, Over-Inclusive Language Saves the Day for This Plaintiff.
Careful Drafting is the Key

In re Libor-Based Fin. Instruments Antitrust Litig., No. 11 MDL 2262 NRB, 2015 WL 4634541 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 4, 2015)

Equipment lessors love forum selection clauses. It allows a creditor to sue in its home state, and, if carefully drafted, compels the borrower to sue in that same state, whether the action is a breach of contract or tort. In today’s case, the plaintiff sought to have securities litigation heard in New York, where the contract specified, but the banks argued that the action was not a contract action, but a tort, and therefore, should have been heard elsewhere. The facts follow.

This 427 page opinion is simpler than it seems. Plaintiffs were a conglomeration of banks, credit unions, investment companies and other financial services companies suing Bank of America and other banks for manipulation of the London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) to profit in their own trading and to maintain their reputations for creditworthiness. The issue before the court was whether Barclays Bank, Royal Bank of London and Deutsche Bank had sufficient contacts in the state of New York or consented to jurisdiction there. The court ruled they did.

The starting point is what courts call “specific personal jurisdiction” and whether these banks purposefully availed itself of the privileges of New York. The court ruled that there was no basis to infer that issuers of broadly-traded securities such as the bonds in question purposely directed those securities into New York.

But the next step is whether the forum selection clauses in Securities Master Agreements support of personal jurisdiction in New York. The clause was obviously a contractual clause, but the issue was whether the fraud tort claims can be coat-tailed to the forum selection clauses to maintain jurisdiction in New York. The court noted that the forum selection clause in the Agreements used the phrase “relating to this Agreement” and held that there should be a broad reading to the phrase “relating to” in forum selection clauses, thus, jurisdiction was proper in New York.

What are the take aways here?

• First, when drafting a forum selection clause, counsel should be as broad as possible. Simple one-liner forum selection clauses may not carry the day.

• Second, understand that jurisdiction is a two-step process, either general jurisdiction, such as extensive contacts in the state; or specific jurisdiction where activities relating to the claim are targeted to the forum state.

• Finally, understand that forum selection clauses should be as broad and over-inclusive as possible, listing off the various types of actions (including but not limited to) that will be governed in the forum state.

The bottom line to this case is that equipment lessors and their counsel need to be aware of the power of the forum selection clause.

Libor Case (175 pages)
http://www.leasingnews.org/PDF/LiborCase2015.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/Conscious-Top%20Stories/leasing_cases.html

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for investigative
reporting provided by John Kenny)

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“Should I Use a Recruiter?”
Career Crossroad---By Emily Fitzpatrick/RII

Q: I have a small company. Should I use a recruiter?
A:
To Find Great Candidates
If the company is serious about finding great candidates and getting positions filled, they may outsource to source candidates in more places, to improve employment branding, to work on the job descriptions, etc…

Not to Take Time & Resources Away from Core Business
Most companies have some sort of recruiting function. However, sometimes it could take away from a business' core; especially for smaller companies. Utilizing outsourced recruiters allows the company to continue business while the recruiters source and recruit on their behalf.

To Reduce Their Turnover Rates
The turnover rate is the percentage of hires that leave within a designated period, e.g. the first month or two. A high turnover rate can hurt the bottom line, and is often a sign that there are bigger problems with the company. As such, an organization may outsource to an outsourcing firm to reduce the turnover rate.

To Level the Playing Field
Start-ups and smaller companies will utilize a recruiting firm because they lack the resources to keep up with larger competitors; they can outsource and not have to worry about losing high-quality talent because the competitor did a superior job of selling the position or offering better benefits.

Candidates should welcome opportunities that require the Candidate to work with a Recruiter. Typically, they will (should) spend more time with you in the initial selection phases in addition to offering inside “scoops” and specific advice regarding the company.

Emily Fitzpatrick
Sr. Recruiter
Recruiters International, Inc.
Phone: 954-885-9241
Cell: 954-612-0567
emily@riirecruit.com
Invite me to Connect on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pub/emily-fitzpatrick/4/671/76
Also follow us on Twitter #RIIINFO

Career Crossroads Previous Columns
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/crossroad.html

News Briefs---

The Slippery Slope of the ACH Loan Industry borrowing cost typically ranges from 70% to 350%
https://www.paragonfinancial.net/the-slippery-slope-of-the-mca-ach-loan-industry

Alternative Ways to Score Consumer Credit Worthiness in the global Underbanked market
http://bankinnovation.net/2015/11/alternative-ways-to-score-consumer-credit-worthiness-in-the-global-underbanked-market-2/

Small business owners expect to see jobs, revenue growth in New York City
http://nypost.com/2015/11/28/small-business-owners-expect-to-see-jobs-revenue-growth/

India may spend $95 billion on railways over 5 years
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/india-may-spend-95-billion-on-railways-over-5-years-morgan-stanley/articleshow/49968669.cms

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--You May Have Missed It

Adam Sandler Hilariously Updates ‘Chanukah Song’

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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

The Best YouTube Fitness channels
http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?
post=the_best_youtube_fitness_workout_channels

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Football Poem

Often read before a football game:

William Ernest Henley (1875).

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as a Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud,

Under the bludgeoning of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the Captain of my soul.

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Sports Briefs----

Kobe announces retirement
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-kobe-bryant-announces-retirement-after-season-20151129-story.html

Broncos take down Patriots in overtime
http://espn.go.com/blog/denver-broncos/post/_/id/16719/broncos-show-big-game-grit-overcome-early-mistakes-for-overtime-win-over-patriots

NFC East is home to the mediocre race the NFL deserves
http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/11/29/nfl-week-12-snaps-nfc-east-race

NFL playoff picture post-Week 12: Who's in good shape? http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/11/29/nfl-playoff-picture-post-week-12/76544798/

(Please Click on Bulletin Board to learn more information)

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California Nuts Briefs---

More California farmland could vanish as water
shortages loom beyond drought
http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article46665960.html

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

As tastes change, one veteran American vintner holds firm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/why-one-veteran-american-vintners-looking-at-ripeness-a-different-way/2015/11/20/7811814e-8cbf-11e5-acff-673ae92ddd2b_story.html

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

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

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm

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   1729 ---Birth of Samuel Seabury, first bishop of the American Protestant Episcopal Church. (Following the American Revolution, Seabury helped formulate the constitution which made the American Protestant Episcopal Church independent and autonomous from the Church of England.)
    1782-The Articles of Peace between Great Britain and the U.S., which were to end America's War of Independence, were signed at Paris, France . The refined and definitive treaty of peace between Great Britain and the U.S. was signed at Paris, on September 3, 1783. In it, "His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the United Sates...to be free, sovereign and independent states; that he treats them as such; and for himself, his heirs and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof..." The time delay was not only due to communication by sea, but time was needed for over 100,000 loyalists to leave the United States. Also known as Tories, the loyalists suffered various penalties for their loyalty to the Crown, including confiscation of property, removal from public office, and punitive taxation. Probably no more than 10% of the colonials were Tories, who were generally well-to-do, engaged in commerce, or the professions, or public officials. Many fled to Canada, where they were granted land if they fought in the British Army, some to England. Some returned after the war. Many, however, had remained behind, thinking Great Britain would win the war. After the conflict, those Tories that did remain were able to recover at least part some of their confiscated property, according to historians. In 1784 a major depression crippled the U.S. economy, prompting states to institute separate measures to aid recovery. The hardships suffered during this depression led to Shay's Rebellion on January 25,1787.
    1810---Birthday of rifle maker Oliver Fisher Winchester, rifle maker. His company acquired rights to manufacture pistols and rifles patented by Tyler Henry and others. The repeating rifle was in full production by 1860, and was in heavy demand during the Civil War, during which Winchester continued to improve the rifle's design by acquiring other patents. He renamed the company the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866. A political and philanthropic figure, he was lieutenant governor of Connecticut (1866–67) and made large donations to Yale.
    1812 -- American forces invaded Canada at Queenston on October 13 and lost.
British forces under General Brock hurried down the road from Niagara-on-the-Lake to reinforce the troops at Queenston. When they arrived, the fight began to warm up and the main body of the American militia, on the U.S. side, refused to cross the river to back up the success of their comrades. Their cowardice in abandoning the brave men who had gone before, and the poor leadership of the American Forces changed victory to defeat and possibly changed the entire outcome of the war. General Brock led an attack against the forces on the hill and was killed by a sniper's bullet in the first charge. U.S. forces were back again on this date with an army of 5,000 troops assembled near Buffalo. A small force crossed the river and captured a British battery. General Smythe demanded the British surrender Fort Erie, when this was refused, he called off the invasion plan. His men broke their weapons in frustration and humiliation. Smythe was publicly called a coward and challenged to a duel by U.S. Col. Peter Proter. He resigned his command of the frontier, but was dismissed from the army in disgrace by the Senate. After two years of bloodshed, misguided and misdirected efforts, the armies were back where they started. There was no doubt that both sides of the river gave a heartfelt sigh of relief when the Treaty of Ghent ended the war in December, 1814.
http://www.goniagarafalls.com/history.html
    1835-Birthday of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known as “Mark Twain, “ Celebrated American author, whose books include: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Prince and the Pauper. Born at Florida, MO, Twain is quoted as saying, “I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it.” He did Twain died at Redding, CT, Apr 21, 1910 (just one day after Halley's Comet perihelion).
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov30.html
    1854 -- "Fighting Mary" Eliza McDowell born. A social worker, she helped organize the first women's local union of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters in 1902. Comprised mostly of women workers, the Local grew to more than 1,000 members.
http://www.chicagotribute.org/Markers/McDowell.htm
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_mcdowell_mary.htm
    1866-Construction begins on the first underwater highway tunnel, the Washington Street Tunnel, beneath the Chicago River, Chicago, IL. The total length of the tunnel and its approaches as 1,520 feet. It was lowered in 1907 to provide a clear draft of 27 feet in the Chicago River.
    1874 – Birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery; Canadian writer, famous for her juvenile books, especially Anne of Green Gables (rejected by several publishers) published in 1908, and followed by six sequels.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/lmmontg.htm
    1875 - A severe early season cold wave set November records. Temperatures plunged to 5 degrees in New York City, NY, 2 below at Boston, MA and 13 below at Eastport, ME
    1887-The first softball game was played at the Farragut Boat Club, Chicago, IL. The game was invented by George W. Hancock, who devised a set of rules that gradually developed as the game progressed. A broomstick was used for the bat and a boxing glove for the ball. The game was known variously as Diamond Ball, Fast Ball, Kitten Ball, Playground Ball, and recreation Ball. It was named softball by Walter C. Hakanson.
    1907-Nov 30 or 31 st Disappearance of SF Police Chief William Biggy
http://www.sfmuseum.org/sfpd/sfpd1.html
http://www.thejukejoint.com/franksinatrajr.html
    1906-Birthday of John Dickson Carr lives. Pseudonyms Carr Dickson, Carter Dickson, Roger Fairbairn. American born writer of detective fiction, whose specialty was "locked-room” puzzles, which he developed to its limits. Published about 80 mysteries. Fifty of them featured one of his three detectives - Henri Bencolin, Dr. Gideon Fell, & Sir Henry Merrivale.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/jdcarr.htm
    1912-Birthday of Gordon Parks, film director/writer (The Learning Tree) lives. Photographer for Life magazine, director of "The Learning Tree" & "Shaft", called a "Twentieth Century Renaissance man" by the NAACP, who awarded him its Spingarn Medal in 1972.
    1915 - "Brownie" McGee, blues singer and guitarist, born Knoxville, Tennessee. Best known as part of the duet Brownie McGee and Sonny Terry. Died February 16, 1996, Oakland, California.
http://www.island.net/~blues/sonnyter.html
http://www.bluespower.com/a-bm01.htm
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569185/
    1924-Birthday of Shirley Chisholm, first black woman to serve in U.S. Congress. Got legislation passed that guaranteed minimum wages for domestic workers. Angered the political powers by actively seeking the presidency, winning 154 delegates. After serving seven terms, Chisholm retired from Congress in 1982, becoming a professor at Mount Holyoke College.
    1929-Birthday of Dick Clark, long-time host of “American Bandstand, entertainer, producer, born Mount Vernon, NY.
    1929--Birthday of Joan Gana Cooney, television producer. After winning an Emmy for an anti-poverty special in 1966, she raised the funds to found the Children's Television Workshop which developed and produced Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and provide home and hearth for the Muppets.
    1931-- William Ernest “Bill” Walsh birthday, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach, 49ers, Born Los Angeles, CA.
http://www.sportspublishinginc.com/Titles/Bill-Walsh-Finding.html
1931 –Trumpet player Jack Sheldon Birthday
http://www.jacksheldon.com/
    1931-The Joy of Cooking is published, perhaps the most popular all-purpose cookbook, self-published by Irma Rombauer (1877-1962—her son by the way started Rombauer Winery in Napa making outstanding wine.) Rombauer's book was a comforting voice for cooks during the Depression, and the book grew into an institution. The first commercial edition of the book appeared in 1936, and it offered a revolutionary “action format” (chronologically ordered ingredients followed by instructions) now commonplace in cookbooks. In reality, she was not a cook, and most of the recipes she collected from friends and others, and wrote in a style for people who were not cooks. The numerous editions overseen by Rombauer and later her daughter and grandson sold more than 14 million copies.
    1933 –Birthday of African-American artist Sam Gilliam, born, Tupelo, Mississippi. Artist known for unique manipulation of materials resulting in painted sculpture or suspended paintings. His work was in the exhibit African-American Artists 1880-1987.
http://www.ket.org/content/painting/gilliam.htm
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/gilliam_sam.html
http://www.crosstownarts.com/CrosstownArts/client_art/sam/sam.html
    1937 –Birthday of Noel Paul Stookey, American folk singer. Stookey was "Paul" of the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary. Converted in the late 1960s, Stookey is now a Christian recording artist, and prefers using his "born again" name, “Noel.”
http://www.peterpaulmary.com/people/nps.htm
http://www.noelpaulstookey.com/index.html
http://www.peterpaulmary.com/people/nps.htm
    1938-- Bunny Berigan records Bix Biederbeck's “Davenport Blues.”
    1939-- Dwight David Eisenhower was issued pilot's license No. 93,258 by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. He learned to fly when he was a lieutenant colonel on General Douglas Macarthur's staff in the Philippines. He is the only president of the United States to hold an airplane pilot's license.
    1940-- Charlie Parker cuts first date with Jay McShann Band, Radio KFBI, Wichita, KS, “ I've Found a New Baby.”
    1941- Japanese Emperor Hirohito consulted with admirals Shimada and Nagano. Hirohito was deeply concerned by the decision to place "war preparations first and diplomatic negotiations second" and announced his intention to break with centuries-old protocol and, at the Imperial Conference on the following day, directly question the chiefs of the Army and Navy general staffs — a quite unprecedented action. Konoe quickly persuaded Hirohito to summon them for a private conference instead, at which the Emperor made it plain that a peaceful settlement was to be pursued "up to the last". Chief of Naval General Staff Admiral Osami Nagano, a former Navy Minister and vastly experienced, later told a trusted colleague "I have never seen the Emperor reprimand us in such a manner, his face turning red and raising his voice." The war preparations continued without the slightest change.
    1943--OHATA, ALLAN M. Medal of Honor
Sergeant Allan M. Ohata distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 and 30 November 1943, near Cerasuolo, Italy. Sergeant Ohata, his squad leader, and three men were ordered to protect his platoon’s left flank against an attacking enemy force of 40 men, armed with machine guns, machine pistols, and rifles. He posted one of his men, an automatic rifleman, on the extreme left, 15 yards from his own position. Taking his position, Sergeant Ohata delivered effective fire against the advancing enemy. The man to his left called for assistance when his automatic rifle was shot and damaged. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Sergeant Ohata left his position and advanced 15 yards through heavy machine gun fire. Reaching his comrade’s position, he immediately fired upon the enemy, killing 10 enemy soldiers and successfully covering his comrade’s withdrawal to replace his damaged weapon. Sergeant Ohata and the automatic rifleman held their position and killed 37 enemy soldiers. Both men then charged the three remaining soldiers and captured them. Later, Sergeant Ohata and the automatic rifleman stopped another attacking force of 14, killing four and wounding three while the others fled. The following day he and the automatic rifleman held their flank with grim determination and staved off all attacks. Staff Sergeant Ohata’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.
    1943 - On Capitol Records, Nat ‘King' Cole and his trio recorded "Straighten Up and Fly Right", the first recording for the King Cole trio.
    1945---Top Hits
It's Been a Long, Long Time - The Harry James Orchestra (vocal: Kitty Kallen)
That's for Me - Dick Haymes
I'll Buy that Dream - The Pied Pipers
Shame on You - The Lawrence Welk Orchestra (vocal: Red Foley)
    1948 --Baseball's Negro National League announced they are disbanding; the 1949 is their last season. The National Negro American League closed its doors in 1962, although its fans were less and less after the 1950's as blacks began to play in the major leagues.
http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/history101.html
http://www.nlbpa.com/history.html
    1950-- Clover Dairy Company, Wilmington, DE, sold their first can of concentrated milk called Sealtest. Two parts of water were added to one part fluid milk. The Clover Dairy Company was a division of the National Dairy Products Corporation.
Originally it was only a “test,” thus the name on the can.
    1950--BARBER, WILLIAM E. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain U.S. Marine Corps, commanding officer, Company F, 2d Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Chosin Reservoir area, Korea, 28 November to 2 December 1950. Entered service at: West Liberty, Ky. Born: 30 November 1919, Dehart, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company F in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assigned to defend a 3-mile mountain pass along the division's main supply line and commanding the only route of approach in the march from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri, Capt. Barber took position with his battle-weary troops and, before nightfall, had dug in and set up a defense along the frozen, snow-covered hillside. When a force of estimated regimental strength savagely attacked during the night, inflicting heavy casualties and finally surrounding his position following a bitterly fought 7-hour conflict, Capt. Barber, after repulsing the enemy gave assurance that he could hold if supplied by airdrops and requested permission to stand fast when orders were received by radio to fight his way back to a relieving force after 2 reinforcing units had been driven back under fierce resistance in their attempts to reach the isolated troops. Aware that leaving the position would sever contact with the 8,000 marines trapped at Yudam-ni and jeopardize their chances of joining the 3,000 more awaiting their arrival in Hagaru-ri for the continued drive to the sea, he chose to risk loss of his command rather than sacrifice more men if the enemy seized control and forced a renewed battle to regain the position, or abandon his many wounded who were unable to walk. Although severely wounded in the leg in the early morning of the 29th, Capt. Barber continued to maintain personal control, often moving up and down the lines on a stretcher to direct the defense and consistently encouraging and inspiring his men to supreme efforts despite the staggering opposition. Waging desperate battle throughout 5 days and 6 nights of repeated onslaughts launched by the fanatical aggressors, he and his heroic command accounted for approximately 1,000 enemy dead in this epic stand in bitter subzero weather, and when the company was relieved only 82 of his original 220 men were able to walk away from the position so valiantly defended against insuperable odds. His profound faith and courage, great personal valor, and unwavering fortitude were decisive factors in the successful withdrawal of the division from the deathtrap in the Chosin Reservoir sector and reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Barber, his intrepid officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service.
    1950--SITTER, CARL L. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 and 30 November 1950. Entered service at: Pueblo, Colo. Born: 2 December 1921, Syracuse, Mo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Ordered to break through enemy-infested territory to reinforce his battalion the morning of 29 November, Capt. Sitter continuously exposed himself to enemy fire as he led his company forward and, despite 25 percent casualties suffered m the furious action, succeeded in driving through to his objective. Assuming the responsibility of attempting to seize and occupy a strategic area occupied by a hostile force of regiment strength deeply entrenched on a snow-covered hill commanding the entire valley southeast of the town, as well as the line of march of friendly troops withdrawing to the south, he reorganized his depleted units the following morning and boldly led them up the steep, frozen hillside under blistering fire, encouraging and redeploying his troops as casualties occurred and directing forward platoons as they continued the drive to the top of the ridge. During the night when a vastly outnumbering enemy launched a sudden, vicious counterattack, setting the hill ablaze with mortar, machine gun, and automatic-weapons fire and taking a heavy toll in troops, Capt. Sitter visited each foxhole and gun position, coolly deploying and integrating reinforcing units consisting of service personnel unfamiliar with infantry tactics into a coordinated combat team and instilling in every man the will and determination to hold his position at all costs. With the enemy penetrating his lines in repeated counterattacks which often required hand-to-hand combat, and, on one occasion infiltrating to the command post with hand grenades, he fought gallantly with his men in repulsing and killing the fanatic attackers in each encounter. Painfully wounded in the face, arms, and chest by bursting grenades, he staunchly refused to be evacuated and continued to fight on until a successful defense of the area was assured with a loss to the enemy of more than 50 percent dead, wounded, and captured. His valiant leadership, superb tactics, and great personal valor throughout 36 hours of bitter combat reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Sitter and the U.S. Naval Service.
    1952--GEORGE, CHARLES Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Songnae-dong, Korea, 30 November 1952. Entered service at: Whittier, N.C. Born: 23 August 1932, Cherokee, N.C. G.O. NO.: 19, 18 March 1954. Citation: Pfc. George, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the night of 30 November 1952. He was a member of a raiding party committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain feature, the group was subjected to intense mortar and machine gun fire and suffered several casualties. Throughout the advance, he fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon completion of the assignment, he and 2 comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While in the process of leaving the trenches a hostile soldier hurled a grenade into their midst. Pfc. George shouted a warning to 1 comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of valor, he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the position of his companions. The 2 soldiers evacuated him to the forward aid station and shortly thereafter he succumbed to his wound. Pfc. George's indomitable courage, consummate devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.
    1952-- On a local New York television show, Jackie Robinson accuses the Yankee organization of being racist due to its failure to have a black player on the club.
    1953---Top Hits
Rags to Riches - Tony Bennett
Many Times - Eddie Fisher
Ricochet - Teresa Brewer
There Stands the Glass - Webb Pierce
    1954- Nat "King" Cole begins a six-night run at Harlem's Apollo theater.
    1954-The first meteorite known to have struck a person crashed through the roof of a house at Sylacauga, AL, bounced off a radio, and struck Mrs. Elizabeth Hodges on the hip. she was not permanently injured. The space rock was a sulfide meteorite weighing 8.5 pounds and measuring seven inches long. It was put on display in the University of Alabama Museum of Natural History, Moundville, AL.
    1954-Birthday of June Pointer, Pointer Sisters, born Oakland, California.
http://www.thepointersistersfans.com/june.html
    1955 - Billy Idol (William Michael Albert Broad), Guitarist, singer, songwriter, born Middlesex, England.
http://mr.mayhemchaos.tripod.com/mc00idol/id8.html
http://www.billyidol.com/v1/frame.html
    1956- Floyd Patterson won the heavyweight title by knocking out Archie Moore in the fifth round of a fight in Chicago. Patterson claimed the title made vacant by the retirement of Rocky Marciano on April 27.
    1961---Top Hits
Runaround Sue - Dion
Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
Goodbye Cruel World - James Darren
Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
    1964 - A cold wave brought temperatures to 17 below at Minneapolis and 3 below at Springfield, IL
    1965 - Following a visit to South Vietnam, Defense Secretary McNamara reports in a memorandum to President Lyndon B. Johnson that the South Vietnamese government of Nguyen Cao Ky "is surviving, but not acquiring wide support or generating actions." McNamara warned that there was no guarantee of U.S. military success and that there was a real possibility of a strategic stalemate, saying that "U.S. killed in action can be expected to reach 1,000 a month." In essence, McNamara cautioned Johnson that sending additional troops was not likely to prevent the stalemate. In the end, however, Johnson chose to seek a military solution. By 1969, there were more than 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam.     1967-- Julie Nixon & David Eisenhower announce their engagement
    1968 - Diana Ross and the Supremes hit t#1 on the music charts with "Love Child", a controversial song for the times. It stayed at #1 for two weeks.
    1969---Top Hits
Come Together/Something - The Beatles
And When I Die - Blood, Sweat & Tears
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam
Okie from Muskogee - Merle Haggard
    1969 -- Simon & Garfunkel's first TV special airs. Sponsor AT&T backs out when they learn that the duo plan to show footage of Bobby Kennedy's funeral march and clips of the Vietnam War.
    1969--OWEN, HAMMETT L., JR. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 27 June 1969. Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla. Born: 30 November 1947, Lagrange, Ga. Citation: S/Sgt. Bowen distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant during combat operations in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. S/Sgt. Bowen's platoon was advancing on a reconnaissance mission into enemy controlled terrain when it came under the withering crossfire of small arms and grenades from an enemy ambush force. S/Sgt. Bowen placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions and ordered his men to fall back. As the platoon was moving back, an enemy grenade was thrown amid S/Sgt. Bowen and 3 of his men. Sensing the danger to his comrades, S/Sgt. Bowen shouted a warning to his men and hurled himself on the grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. S/Sgt. Bowen's extraordinary courage and concern for his men at the cost of his life served as an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service and the U.S. Army.
    1971 - As the "ABC Movie of the Week", ABC-TV presented "Brian's Song". The story was about Chicago Bears Brian Picolo and his friendship with Gayle Sayers, who watched him die a tragic death. The movie rated a 32.9 and a 48 share. "Brian's Song", performed by Michel Legrand, was the movie's theme.
    1974 - The Eagles released their hit, "Best of My Love", but it would take until March 1,1975 for it to hit #1 on the top 40 charts.
    1974 - Elton John's Greatest Hits album hits #1
    1977---Top Hits
You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal Gayle
How Deep is Your Love - Bee Gees
The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get over You) - Waylon Jennings
    1983-- Radio Shack announces the Tandy Model 2000 computer (80186 chip)
    1985--Separate Lives" by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
    1985---Top Hits
Separate Lives - Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
Never - Heart
Too Much on My Heart - The Statler Brothers
    1987 -- "Weird Al" Yankovic records first of his "Even Worse" LP: "Melanie" & "Stuck In A Closet With Vanna White".
    1987 — Los Angeles Raiders running back Bo Jackson rushes for 221 yards in just his fifth career NFL game as the Raiders beat Seattle 37-14. Jackson scores on runs of 91 and 2 yards, and adds a 14-yard touchdown catch
    1988 -- LL Cool J performs the first rap concert held in Africa.
    1991 ---93 cars and 11 truck accident near Coalinga, California (Central California, after the grape vine,) during a dust storm, 17 die and 150 are injured. The area is well-known for its “tully” fog and dust storms.
    1991-"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by P.M. Dawn topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
    1991 -Minneapolis ended the month with 46.9 inches of snow, the most ever for November and for any month. Although the official start of winter was still 3 weeks away, the city had already surpassed the normal seasonal snowfall record with 55.1 inches since October 1 (normal for the entire winter is 49.2 inches)
    1993 --Brady gun bill signed into law.
    2000 --Free agent Mike Mussina inks an $88.5 million, six-year contract with the Yankees. The ten-year veteran compiled a 147-81 record with a 3.53 ERA as an Oriole hurler.

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