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U.S. on Track to Add $19 Trillion
in New Debt Over 10 Years

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

NFS Leasing, Inc. Reports 32% Year-Over-Year
Growth of Originations in 2022

Drivers of its growth include year-over-year growth in both new and existing customer originations and growth with several key existing vendor partners.

NFS Leasing uses its own capital to supply fast, flexible equipment financing to non-investment grade companies in the U.S. and Canada For over 15 years, NFS Leasing is proud to have created thousands of jobs and infused over $1,000,000,000 of capital into non-investment grade companies, helping them emerge, grow and succeed.

Ashley Whyman, President, NFS Leasing, stated “The success we achieved in 2022 is a testament to the strength of our team, our agility in responding to customer requests, and the value we offer to our customers.

“Our equipment finance solutions fill a much-needed gap when conventional financing is not available to companies. NFS Leasing remains committed to delivering flexible, efficient, personalized services to help our customers secure the equipment they need to execute on their growth strategies."

Dean Oliver, Executive Vice President of Sales, NFS Leasing, commented, "At NFS Leasing, we are dedicated to helping our customers of all sizes reach their full potential," said. "We are delighted to offer our innovative solutions, services, and expertise to ensure our clients have the resources and support they need to achieve their growth goals – and we look forward to continuing to do so in 2023."

https://nfsleasing.com/

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ELFF Reports Confidence Continues
February Reports 51.8 from January 48.6

Washington, DC, February 16, 2023 – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the February 2023 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) today. The index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $1 trillion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 51.8, an increase from the January index of 48.5.

(ELFF: Chart)

When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Jim DeFrank, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Isuzu Finance of America, Inc., said, “We still see pent-up demand in the light and medium-duty segment of transportation. However, we feel it will wane by the third or fourth quarter of this year.”

February 2023 Survey Results:

The overall MCI-EFI is 51.8, an increase from the January index of 48.5.

When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 16.1% of the executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, an increase from none in January. 61.3% believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, down from 69.2% the previous month. 22.6% believe business conditions will worsen, a decrease from 30.8 % in January.
9.7% of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, an increase from none in January. 71% believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, a decrease from 88.5% the previous month. 19.4% believe demand will decline, up from 11.5% in January.
12.9% of the respondents expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, up from 11.5% in January. 74.2% of executives indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, an increase from 73.1% last month. 12.9% expect “less” access to capital, down from 15.4% the previous month.
When asked, 38.7% of the executives report they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, unchanged from January. 54.8% expect no change in headcount over the next four months, a decrease from 61.5% last month. 6.5% expect to hire fewer employees, up from none in January.
None of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “excellent,” unchanged from the previous month. 87.1% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “fair,” up from 84.6% in January. 12.9% evaluate it as “poor,” a decrease from 15.4% last month.
3.2% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, a decrease from 7.7% in January. 54.8% indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, a decrease from 57.7% last month. 41.9% believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, an increase from 34.6% the previous month.
In February 51.6% of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, up from 23.1% the previous month. 41.9% believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, down from 73.1% in January. 6.5% believe there will be a decrease in spending, up from 3.9% last month.

February 2023 MCI-EFI Survey Comment from Industry Executive Leadership:

Independent, Small Ticket

“Recession is likely staying on the sidelines as long as there is a shortage of employees to fill open job positions.” James D. Jenks, CEO, Global Finance and Leasing Services, LLC

ABOUT THE MCI

Why an MCI-EFI?
Confidence in the U.S. economy and the capital markets is a critical driver to the equipment finance industry. Throughout history, when confidence increases, consumers and businesses are more apt to acquire more consumer goods, equipment, and durables, and invest at prevailing prices. When confidence decreases, spending and risk-taking tend to fall. Investors are said to be confident when the news about the future is good and stock prices are rising

Who participates in the MCI-EFI?
The respondents are comprised of a wide cross-section of industry executives, including large-ticket, middle-market and small-ticket banks, independents, and captive equipment finance companies. The MCI-EFI uses the same pool of 50 organization leaders to respond monthly to ensure the survey’s integrity. Since the same organizations provide the data from month to month, the results constitute a consistent barometer of the industry's confidence.

How is the MCI-EFI designed?
The survey consists of seven questions and an area for comments, asking the respondents’ opinions about the following:

Current business conditions
Expected product demand over the next four months
Access to capital over the next four months
Future employment conditions
Evaluation of the current U.S. economy
U.S. economic conditions over the next six months
Business development spending expectations
Open-ended question for comment

How may I access the MCI-EFI?
Survey results are posted on the Foundation website,https://www.leasefoundation.org/industry-resources/monthly-confidence-index/, included in the Foundation Forecast eNewsletter, and included in press releases. Survey respondent demographics and additional information about the MCI are also available at the link above.

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Founder and CEO Gary Shivers to retire
from Navitas Credit Corp.

Ponte Vedra, Fla. – United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) ("United") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Navitas Credit Corp., an industry leader in equipment financing, today announced company founder Gary Shivers will retire as Chief Executive Officer effective February 28, 2023. Shivers retires from the company he founded in 2008, leaving a strong legacy and prodigious career in the equipment financing industry that spans three decades.

Mr. Shivers founded Navitas in 2008 and, over the last 15 years, grew the company to over 1.3 billion in assets, with new originations reaching a billion dollars per year. During his tenure, the company expanded into multiple equipment verticals, including office equipment, commercial furniture, HVAC, franchise financing, and titled vehicles. The company currently has 196 employees and has established a strong sales and service presence with 8 locations nationwide. In February 2018, Navitas was acquired by United Community Banks, Inc., one of the largest full-service financial institutions in the Southeast.

His 30-year-plus career has established him as an industry leader with a track record of achievement and innovation that has had a significant impact on the growth of the equipment financing marketplace. Shivers’ success milestones include the launching of Advanta Leasing Corp. in 1988, where he helped grow the company to over $300 million in annual volume in just ten years. In 1997, he was ready for a new challenge and became the President and Co-Founder of Marlin Business Services Corp. While at Marlin, he built an industry-leading sales and marketing platform and helped guide the organization through a successful I.P.O. in 2003.

His ability to attract industry talent and a desire to move from micro-ticket into the small-ticket segment motivated Shivers to start up Navitas. The company was 100% funded with Shivers’ capital during the initial start-up years and grew organically until he was able to expand the platform by making strategic acquisitions of companies and management teams with industry expertise in various niche markets.

Mr. Shivers remarked, “It has been an incredible journey, and I feel fortunate to have been part of this exciting and ever-changing industry. I am very proud to have worked with so many talented and dedicated people who greatly contributed to my success in this industry.

“This is the right time for me to retire with the highly experienced leadership team currently at Navitas and the strong support from our parent, United Community Bank. I feel confident that Navitas is positioned to continue to exceed its growth expectations and deliver the type of returns that make the company a valuable contributor to United’s continued success.”.

Lynn Harton, Chairman and CEO of United Community Bank, said: "On behalf of United’s entire board of directors, I would like to recognize Gary's strong leadership and vision which has made Navitas the unprecedented success it is today.

“He is an industry pioneer and a recognized leader among his peers. He has consistently delivered the type of performance that is hard to match in the equipment financing marketplace. Gary has developed the right team and strategic direction for Navitas to continue to be a strong performer for years to come.”

Mr. Shivers will remain a consultant to the Board of United Community Bank and plans to stay active in the equipment financing industry. His successor will be announced in the next few weeks.

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

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Watch at Home
by Fernando Croce, Leasing News Movie Reviewer

A perennially underrated actress, Melinda Dillon (1939-2023) appeared in relatively few films but could always be counted to infuse them with believability. So check out our list for some of her finest titles.

Slap Shot (1977): Sports movies don’t come much scrappier than this salty crowd-pleaser, which follows a minor league hockey team in a small New England town. In an appealing relaxed role, Paul Newman stars as Reggie Dunlop, aging player and coach of the Charleston Chiefs, a team possibly facing its last season following one too many losing streaks. When their audience perks up at the brutal antics of a trio of new players, Dunlop decides to make the games rougher, a strategy that doesn’t sit well with the team’s star player, Ned (Michael Ontkean). Directed by George Roy Hill (“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”), the film is an exuberant comedy filled with colorful supporting turns, including Dillon in a brief but memorably racy scene as one of Dunlop’s lovers.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): Dillon earned her first Oscar nomination inSteven Spielberg’s awe-inspiring science-fiction classic, helping ground the fantastical story in human emotion. Set in the director’s beloved setting of American suburbia, itfollows Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), a line worker and family man who becomes obsessed with mysterious forces after a brush with an UFO. Drawn to an isolated mountain in the wilderness, he’s joined by a young mother (Dillon) and a French scientist (played by legendary filmmaker Francois Truffaut) as humanity experiences its first encounter with extraterrestrial life. Overflowing with creativity and humor, the film finds Spielberg at his very best, crafting an ode to cinema’s powers by envisioning a spectacle of images and sounds as the ultimate form of communication between different lifeforms.

Absence of Malice (1981): Dillon re-teams with her “Slap Shot” star Paul Newman in this absorbing drama, for which she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Newman plays Michael Gallagher, a Florida wholesaler whose life takes an abrupt turn when a newspaper article wrongfully accuses him of being involved in the disappearance of a union official. The article’s writer, Megan Carter (Sally Field), gradually learns that the investigation she’s covering is part of illegal tactics by a federal prosecutor (Bob Balaban). Dillon is touching as Teresa Perrone, a friend of Michael’s whose involvement proves tragic. Viewed by some critics as a contrast to “All the President’s Men,” the film remains sturdyentertainment bolstered by itscast and elegantdirection by Sydney Pollack (“Three Days of the Condor”).

A Christmas Story (1983): Dillon enjoyed arguably her most beloved role in director Bob Clark’siconic holiday comedy,a nostalgic slice of Americanathat remains a staple ofChristmas TV marathons. Based on Jean Shepherd’sautobiographical anecdotes and set in 1940, it depicts the Yuletide whirl of the Parker householdthroughthe eyes of precocious, nine-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley).All hewants is toget through childhood witha toyriflefrom Santa Claus, but things rarely go as planned withparents (Dillon and Darren McGavin, both wonderful) who think that pink bunny suits make good gifts. Bubbling with charm and humor, themovie abounds with sequences that have become audience favorites, though none is more memorable (or funnier) than Ralphie’s encounter witha very cranky department-store St. Nick.

Magnolia (1999): Director Paul Thomas Anderson followed “Boogie Nights” with this ambitious canvas of interconnecting human stories, with Dillon part of a large ensemble cast. Offering a mosaic of Los Angeles tales, it chronicles a gallery of characters that includes a police officer (John C. Reilly), a dying millionaire (Jason Robards) and his younger wife (Julianne Moore), a misogynistic motivational speaker (Tom Cruise), a nurse (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and a former child star (William H. Macy). Central to the structure is a TV quiz show whose host (Philip Baker Hall) confesses disturbing past deeds to his wife (Dillon). Influenced by Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts” but with a compassion and musical flow all of its own, Anderson’s film is both exhilarating and exhausting, ecstatic and convoluted, and ultimately indelible.

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This Day in American History

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

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