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You May Have Missed --
U.S. credit card debt nears the $1T mark:
Is there a reason to worry?

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release,” it was not written by Leasing News nor has the information been verified, but from 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.

Changing Competition

Sales Makes it Happen by Scott Wheeler, CLFP

I recently spoke with a group of sales reps that were concerned that recent internal changes in policies and procedures would make their company less competitive against their primary competitor - a prominent player in the market. The reality was that the prominent player that they mentioned had made similar changes just weeks before.

Rather than panic, these professionals needed to understand why their company was making these prudent changes based upon current market conditions. They needed to embrace the changes and move aggressively forward with their sales strategies.

Top originators understand that internal and external liquidity issues affect all industry participants. Top originators understand that rising cost of funds affects all industry participants. Top originators understand that increases in delinquencies (even small increases) affect all industry participants. Top originators understand that new regulations and rules affect all industry participants.

Many of the recent changes require top originators to be better participants in the market and to provide rational explanations to their vendors and end-users of how market changes impact all participants. The current market requires originators to have a global understanding of how the industry works. Products and sales processes do not exist within a vacuum.

All processes (credit, operations, funding, collections, capital markets, competition) are interrelated, and top originators embrace the interconnectivity of the industry as an opportunity to flaunt their knowledge and personal value proposition to better serve their clients.

Top originators in the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry know their competition's strengths and weaknesses and are aware of changes in the market. They do not shy away from competition, nor should they assume that their competition is immune to the market conditions that they and their companies are facing.

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Wheeler Business Consulting is working with individual originators and sales teams throughout the industry to ensure that they are well positioned in the market, capturing their fair share of business, and outperforming the competition. To schedule a one-on-one meeting contact Scott Wheeler at: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Sales Makes it Happen articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.htm

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$330 Million Umpqua Bank Assisted Ponzi Scheme
Reports San Francisco Chronicle

The $330 million Umpqua Bank Novato branch in Marin County, California, was reportedly the target of a class-action lawsuit involving 1,267 investors in a multi-year Ponzi scheme discovered after the death of originator. The San Francisco Chronicle headline stated it was a bank assisted scheme.

The Chronicle writes, 'Between June, 2018 and April, 1920, the Umpqua computer systems reported 146 alerts and activity that was never followed up.

Full SF Chronicle Front Page Headline Report:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/ponzi-scheme-umpqua-bank-18139149.php

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Affordable Housing Shortage Most Impacting
Families Earning Less Than $75K

According to a new joint report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Realtor.com, there is still a shortage of affordable single-family homes, a number that has been lagging since the last recession and the move into the COVID-19 pandemic market to today as the persistent housing inventory crunch impacts middle-income buyers more than any other income bracket.

The NAR says the market needs an additional 320,000 new home listings valued at no more than $256,000 so that borrowers earning below $75,000 can get into the market. These middle-income buyers can now only afford 23% of listings in the current market, compared to five years ago when middle-income borrowers could afford about half of market listings.

Nadia Evangelou, NAR Senior Economist and Director of Real Estate Research, said, "Middle-income buyers face the largest shortage of homes among all income groups, making it even harder for them to build wealth through homeownership.

"A two-fold approach is needed to help with both low affordability and limited housing supply. It's not just about increasing supply. We must boost the number of homes at the price range that most people can afford to buy."

As of April 30, about 1.1 million homes were available for sale, an increase of 5 percentage points year-over-year.

Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale said,
"Ongoing high housing costs and the scarcity of available homes continue to present budget challenges for many prospective buyers, and it's likely keeping some buyers in the rental market or on the sidelines and delaying their purchase until conditions improve.

"Those who are able to overcome affordability constraints may be increasingly drawn to newly constructed homes or to the suburbs and beyond, both of which may offer buyers more realistic opportunities for homeownership in the near term."

But certain top-100 metropolitan areas stand out—on both sides of the spectrum.

El Paso, Texas; Boise, Idaho; and Spokane, Washington have the fewest affordable homes available for middle-income buyers. But three larger cities in Ohio—Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown—have the highest concentrations of homes middle-income homes.

"Even with the current level of listings, the housing affordability and shortage issues wouldn't be so severe if there were enough homes for all price ranges," Evangelou added. "Our country needs to add at least two affordable homes for middle-income buyers for every home listed for upper-income buyers."

Full Report:
https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/housing-affordability-supply

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This Day in History

     1642 – The first compulsory education act in the Colonies was passed by Massachusetts.
    1775 - The Continental Congress established the army as the first US Military service.
    1777 - John Adams introduced the following resolution before the Continental Congress, meeting at Philadelphia: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.” (By the way, this is a legal holiday in Pennsylvania). The blue field was to bear 13 stars, one for each state. The tradition that Betsy Ross designed the flag has been almost completely discredited. The flag was originally suggested by Francis Hopkinson, a member of the Continental Navy Board from 1776 to 1778, who is considered by historians to be the father of the Stars and Stripes.
    1811 - Birthday of American writer Harriet Beecher Stowe (d. 1896), daughter of the Reverend Lyman Beecher and sister of Henry Ward Beecher, at Litchfield, CT. Author of “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” an antislavery novel that provoked a storm of protest and resulted in fame for its author. Two characters in the novel attained such importance that their names became part of the English language—the Negro slave, Uncle Tom, and the villainous slave owner, Simon Legree. The reaction to “Uncle Tom's Cabin” and its profound political impact are without parallel in American literature. It is said that during the Civil War, when Harriet Beecher Stowe was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln, his words to her were, “So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.”
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/stowe/StoweHB.html
http://www.bragi.com/classics/s/hbs1811/utomc01.shtml
    1820 - Birthday of John Bartlett (d. 1905) at Plymouth, MA. American editor and compiler (Bartlett's “Familiar Quotations,” 1855). Though he had little formal education, he created one of the most-used reference works of the English language after being asked continuously for information on quotations while working at the University Book Store in Cambridge, MA. No quotation of his own is among the more than 22,000 listed today, but in the preface to the first edition, he wrote that the object of his work “originally made without any view of publication” was to show “the obligation our language owes to various authors for numerous phrases and familiar quotations which have become household words.” The eighteenth edition, which came out in 2012, was edited by poet, critic, and Editor Geoffrey O’Brien, also the editor-in-chief of the Library of America.
http://www.bartleby.com/100/
    1834 - My son Dash, who attended diving school in the U.S. Navy could tell you more, but the first practical diving suit was patented by Leonard Norcross of Dixfield, ME, for a “water-dress.” It consisted of an airtight rubber garment to which was attached a brass cap or helmet that rested on the shoulders. The cap was connected to an air pump on the boat by means of a rubber hose. The feet were weighted with heavy lead shot.
http://www.divingheritage.com/waybackkern.htm
    1834 - Isaac Fisher, Jr. of Springfield, VT, was granted four patents on his invention he called “sandpaper.”
    1846 - John Frémont launched the Bear Flag Revolution and established the California Republic, an unrecognized breakaway state that, for twenty-five days in 1846, militarily controlled the area to the north of San Francisco Bay.   Several American immigrants in Alta California rebelled against the Mexican government. The immigrants had not been allowed to buy or rent land and had been threatened with expulsion from California because they had entered without official permission. Mexican officials were concerned about a coming war with the United States coupled with the growing influx of Americans into California. The rebellion was soon overtaken by the beginning of the Mexican-American War. The name "California Republic" appeared only on the flag the insurgents raised in Sonoma. It indicated their aspiration of forming a republican government for California. The insurgents elected military officers but no civil structure was ever established. The flag featured an image of a California grizzly bear and became known as the Bear flag and the revolt as the Bear Flag Revolt. The current flag of California is a derivative of the Bear flag. William. B. Ide served as President of the Republic of California until July 9. Governor Vallejo was also taken prisoner during the skirmish and was moved to Sutter's Fort.
    1848 - The San Francisco "California Star" ceased publication because the staff had rushed to the gold fields.
    1850 - Howard Engine Co. No. 13 and Sansome Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3 organized in San Francisco. The Sansome Company carried fifty-foot ladders, the largest in the state. The company also had charge of the powder magazine at its Montgomery St. quarters for use during conflagrations. Third Great Fire destroyed the area between Clay, California and Kearny all the way down to the Bay. 300 more buildings were lost, and the damages were $5,000,000. The fire started in the Sacramento Bakery at the rear of the Merchants Hotel at Clay and Kearny streets.
    1863 – The 2d Battle of Winchester was part of the Gettysburg Campaign. As Confederate Lt. Gen. Ewell moved down the Shenandoah Valley toward Pennsylvania, his corps defeated the Union Army garrison, capturing Winchester and numerous Union prisoners. The victory cleared the Valley of Federal troops and opened the door for Lee's second invasion of the North. The capturing of ample supplies justified Lee's conceptual plan to provision his army on the march. The Federal defeat stunned the North and Secretary of War Stanton called for additional militia to be federalized. Shortly afterwards, President Lincoln requested 100,000 volunteers to repel the threatened invasion. The casualty ratio, favoring the South, in this engagement was amazing, the most lopsided for an engagement of this size in the entire war. It's no wonder that Confederate artillerist Maj. Robert Stiles wrote, "This battle of Winchester ... was one of the most perfect pieces of work the Army of Northern Virginia ever did."
    1864 - US Congress ruled that Black soldiers must receive equal pay.
http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/AfrAmer.html
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/rthg/chap7.htm
    1864 - The James River Bridge, the longest (2100 ft.) pontoon bridge ever used in war, was constructed in eight hours by 450 Union engineers. Extending from Windmill Point to Fort Powhatan in Virginia, the structure enabled Grant's forces to cross the James River and to move on Petersburg, a vital communications center south of Richmond. The next three days, at the Battle of Petersburg, Union forces were unable to take the strategic city in the face of what historians call the brilliant strategy by General Robert E. Lee. The actual siege continued until April of the following year: Battle of Five Forks, April 1; evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg, April 2; Union forces occupy Petersburg, April 3; Gen. Lee surrenders to Gen. Grant at Appomattox, April 9; President Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth, April 14.
http://www.civilwar.com/va81.htm
http://www.mdgorman.com/2538.htm
http://www.mdgorman.com/2539.htm
http://www.mdgorman.com/2465.htm
http://wargame.com/images/acw/image25.html
http://www.mdgorman.com/2466.htm
http://www.treasurenet.com/images/civilwar/civil007.html
http://www.flowerdew.org/Prince.html
http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~ela/letters/dcgdiary2.html
http://www.virginiasheartland.org/recreation.html
http://www.civilwar-va.com/virginia/va-central/1864tour.html
http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/va063.htm
    1870 - In what is considered by many historians the greatest baseball game of the 19th century, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball's first all-professional team sees their winning streak stopped at 89 in a wild 11-inning battle with the Atlantic of Brooklyn team, 8 - 7. The game is tied 5 - 5 after nine innings of play, and the Atlantic players are happy to have a draw but Cincinnati Captain Harry Wright insists that the game be played to a decision. The Red Stockings score twice in the 11th inning, but the Atlantic come back with three in their half to win. The game is notable as being the first extra-inning game between professional clubs, and as one of the lowest-scoring games of its day. As is the practice of the day, Atlantic continues to bat after having clinched the game, but no further runs are scored.
    1877 - The first African-American West Point graduate was Henry Ossian Flipper, born a slave on March 29, 1856 in Thomasville, GA. He was a cadet from May 20, 1873, to June 14, 1877. He was appointed a second lieutenant in the 10th Cavalry on June 15, 1877, and remained in service until June 30, 1882 when he was dismissed for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. In December, 1976, the Army reviewed his court-martial charge and changed his discharge record from dishonorable to honorable.
http://lala.essortment.com/henryossianfli_ricp.htm
http://www.rose.net/flipper.htm
http://docsouth.unc.edu/flipper/menu.html
http://www.allenscreations.com/dghof.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0803268904/inktomi-bkasin-20
/102-3693736-6012943
    1876 – The California Street Cable Car Railroad Co was founded by Leland Stanford. The company's first line opened on California Street in 1878 and is the oldest cable car line still in operation. The company remained independent until 1951, outlasting all the other commercial streetcar and cable car operators in the city. The city purchased and reopened the lines in 1952; the current cable car system is a hybrid made up of the California Street line, and the Hyde Street section of Cal Cable's O'Farrell, Jones & Hyde line, together with other lines already in municipal ownership.
    1876 – The first Major Leaguer to hit for the cycle – single, double, triple and homer in a game – was George Hall of the Philadelphia Athletics.
    1881 - Ushering in a new era, John McTammany, Jr. of Cambridge, MA, received a patent on a “mechanical musical instrument,” he called a “player piano.” He constructed a mechanism for automatic playing of organs using narrow sheets of perforated flexible paper that governed the notes to be played.” Further patents were applied for all types of piano players, and the first completely automatic was the Angelus, made by the Wilcox and White company, Meriden, CT. in 1897.
    1903 - The "Heppner Disaster" occurred in Oregon. A cloudburst in the hills sent a flood down Willow Creek and a twenty-foot wall of water swept away a third of the town in minutes, killing 236 residents and causing $100 million damage.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ormorrow/HeppnerFlood.htm
    1906 - Margaret Bourke-White (d. 1971) was born at New York City. One of the original photojournalists, she developed her personal style while photographing the Krupp Iron Works in Germany and the Soviet Union during the first Five-year Plan. Bourke-White was one of the four original staff photographers for Life magazine in 1936. The first woman attached to the US armed forces during World War II, she covered the Italian campaign, the siege of Moscow and the American soldiers crossing of the Rhine into Germany, and she shocked the world with her photographs of the concentration camps. Bourke-White photographed Mahatma Gandhi and covered the migration of the millions of people after the Indian subcontinent was divided into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. She served as a war correspondent during the Korean War. Among her several books the most famous was her collaboration with her second husband, novelist Erskine Caldwell, a study of rural poverty in the American South, called “You Have Seen Their Faces.”
http://www.dailycelebrations.com/031401.htm
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/bourke-white_margaret.html
    1909 - Burl Ives, American singer and actor, was born Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (d. 1995) at Hunt, IL. He helped to reintroduce Anglo-American folk music in the 1940s and 50s. Ives won an Academy Award for his supporting role in “The Big Country” (1958) and he is well known for his role as Big Daddy in both the film and Broadway productions of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” His biggest chart success was "Little Bitty Tear" in 1961. Ives also arranged and popularized such folk tunes as "Blue Tail Fly" and "Wayfarin' Stranger."
    1910 - Birthday of Jazz Guitarist/Singer/Bandleader Joseph Hilton "Nappy" Lamare (d. 1998), New Orleans.
http://wwwp.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=848631&TMP
L=LONG#bio
http://www.themomi.org/museum/roaring20s/1929L-5Nappy.html
http://www.317x.com/albums/b/raybauduc/card.html
http://www.nfo.net/usa/n2.html
    1916 - A Presidential Proclamation has made this “Flag Day.” In 1996, it was amended to have “National Flag Week” and the president added, “It is a time to honor America.” We have the flag flying high here at American Leasing with the San Francisco 49er flag beneath.
    1926 - Donald “Big Newk” Newcombe (d. 2019) was born in Madison, NJ. After playing one season with the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues, Newcombe signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. With catcher Roy Campanella, Newcombe played for the first racially integrated baseball team based in the United States in the 20th century, the 1946 Nashua Dodgers of the New England League (Jackie Robinson played that year with the Montreal Royals). Until 2011, Newcombe was the only Major Leaguer to have won the Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young Awards in his career. In 1949, he became the first black pitcher to start a World Series game. In 1951, Newcombe was the first black pitcher to win twenty games in one season. In 1956, the inaugural year of the Cy Young Award, he became the first pitcher to win the National League MVP and the Cy Young in the same season on the strength of 27–7, 139 strikeouts, a 3.06 ERA, five shutouts and 18 complete games in 1956. Newcombe also compiled a career batting average of .271 with 15 home runs and was used as a pinch hitter, a rarity for pitchers.
    1929 - Pianist/composer Cy Coleman (d. 2004) born, New York City.
http://www.ascap.com/about/coleman-bio.html
http://www.virtualcity.de/englishtheater/ccoleman.htm
    1931 - Saxophonist Junior Walker (d. 1995) was born Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr. in Blytheville, AR. His group, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, were signed to Motown's Soul label in the 1960s and became one of the company's signature acts. Their first and signature hit was "Shotgun," written and composed by Walker and produced by Berry Gordy. "Shotgun" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart in 1965, and was followed by many other hits, such as "(I'm A) Road Runner," "Shake and Fingerpop" and covers of the Motown songs "Come See About Me" and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)."
http://www.history-of-rock.com/junior_walker_and_the_all_stars.htm
    1934 - Max Baer knocked out Primo Carnera in the 11th round of a fight at Long Island City, NY, to win the heavyweight title. Carnero had won the crown from Jack Sharkey. Baer lost it in his next fight to James Braddock.
    1937 - Pennsylvania became the first state in the United States to observe Flag Day as a legal holiday. As noted in the beginning, the only state to legally observe this day as a holiday.
    1944 - URBAN, MATT, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain), 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, World War II. Place and date: Renouf, France, 14 June to 3 September 1944. Entered service at: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 2 July 1941. Date and place of birth: 25 August 1919, Buffalo, New York. Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain) Matt Urban, l 12-22-2414, United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of bold, heroic actions, exemplified by singularly outstanding combat leadership, personal bravery, and tenacious devotion to duty, during the period 14 June to 3 September 1944 while assigned to the 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On 14 June, Captain Urban's company, attacking at Renouf, France, encountered heavy enemy small arms and tank fire. The enemy tanks were unmercifully raking his unit's positions and inflicting heavy casualties. Captain Urban, realizing that his company was in imminent danger of being decimated, armed himself with a bazooka. He worked his way with an ammo carrier through hedgerows, under a continuing barrage of fire, to a point near the tanks. He brazenly exposed himself to the enemy fire and, firing the bazooka, destroyed both tanks. Responding to Captain Urban's action, his company moved forward and routed the enemy. Later that same day, still in the attack near Orglandes, Captain Urban was wounded in the leg by direct fire from a 37mm tank-gun. He refused evacuation and continued to lead his company until they moved into defensive positions for the night. At 0500 hours the next day, still in the attack near Orglandes, Captain Urban, though badly wounded, directed his company in another attack. One hour later he was again wounded. Suffering from two wounds, one serious, he was evacuated to England. In mid-July, while recovering from his wounds, he learned of his unit's severe losses in the hedgerows of Normandy. Realizing his unit's need for battle-tested leaders, he voluntarily left the hospital and hitchhiked his way back to his unit hear St. Lo, France. Arriving at the 2d Battalion Command Post at 1130 hours, 25 July, he found that his unit had jumped-off at 1100 hours in the first attack of Operation Cobra." Still limping from his leg wound, Captain Urban made his way forward to retake command of his company. He found his company held up by strong enemy opposition. Two supporting tanks had been destroyed and another, intact but with no tank commander or gunner, was not moving. He located a lieutenant in charge of the support tanks and directed a plan of attack to eliminate the enemy strong-point. The lieutenant and a sergeant were immediately killed by the heavy enemy fire when they tried to mount the tank. Captain Urban, though physically hampered by his leg wound and knowing quick action had to be taken, dashed through the scathing fire and mounted the tank. With enemy bullets ricocheting from the tank, Captain Urban ordered the tank forward and, completely exposed to the enemy fire, manned the machine gun and placed devastating fire on the enemy. His action, in the face of enemy fire, galvanized the battalion into action and they attacked and destroyed the enemy position. On 2 August, Captain Urban was wounded in the chest by shell fragments and, disregarding the recommendation of the Battalion Surgeon, again refused evacuation. On 6 August, Captain Urban became the commander of the 2d Battalion. On 15 August, he was again wounded but remained with his unit. On 3 September, the 2d Battalion was given the mission of establishing a crossing-point on the Meuse River near Heer, Belgium. The enemy planned to stop the advance of the allied Army by concentrating heavy forces at the Meuse. The 2d Battalion, attacking toward the crossing-point, encountered fierce enemy artillery, small arms and mortar fire which stopped the attack. Captain Urban quickly moved from his command post to the lead position of the battalion. Reorganizing the attacking elements, he personally led a charge toward the enemy's strong-point. As the charge moved across the open terrain, Captain Urban was seriously wounded in the neck. Although unable to talk above a whisper from the paralyzing neck wound, and in danger of losing his life, he refused to be evacuated until the enemy was routed and his battalion had secured the crossing-point on the Meuse River. Captain Urban's personal leadership, limitless bravery, and repeated extraordinary exposure to enemy fire served as an inspiration to his entire battalion. His valorous and intrepid actions reflect the utmost credit on him and uphold the noble traditions of the United States.
     1944 - WISE, HOMER L., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant. U.S. Army, Company L, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Magliano, Italy, 14 June 1944. Entered service al: Baton Rouge, La. Birth: Baton Rouge La. G.O. No.: 90, 8 December 1944. Citation: While his platoon was pinned down by enemy small-arms fire from both flanks, he left his position of comparative safety and assisted in carrying 1 of his men, who had been seriously wounded and who lay in an exposed position, to a point where he could receive medical attention. The advance of the platoon was resumed but was again stopped by enemy frontal fire. A German officer and 2 enlisted men, armed with automatic weapons, threatened the right flank. Fearlessly exposing himself, he moved to a position from which he killed all 3 with his submachine gun. Returning to his squad, he obtained an Ml rifle and several antitank grenades, then took up a position from which he delivered accurate fire on the enemy holding up the advance. As the battalion moved forward it was again stopped by enemy frontal and flanking fire. He procured an automatic rifle and, advancing ahead of his men, neutralized an enemy machinegun with his fire. When the flanking fire became more intense he ran to a nearby tank and exposing himself on the turret, restored a jammed machinegun to operating efficiency and used it so effectively that the enemy fire from an adjacent ridge was materially reduced thus permitting the battalion to occupy its objective.
    1946 - Nat “King” Cole Trio recorded “The Christmas Song,” NYC. Record promoters like it so much, on August 19th, they recorded it with strings and it became a commercial hit. Written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Torme, according to Tormé, the song was written in forty minutes during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool," the most-performed Christmas song was born. "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells') piano with four lines written in pencil," Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting...Jack Frost nipping...Yuletide carols...Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."
    1946 – President Donald Trump was born in Jamaica, Queens, NYC. Trump won the general election on November 8, 2016, in a surprise victory, and became the oldest and wealthiest person to assume the presidency, the first without prior military or government service, and the fifth elected without a plurality of the national popular vote.
    1949 - Top Hits
“Riders in the Sky” - Vaughn Monroe
“Again” - Doris Day
“Bali Ha'I” - Perry Como
“One Kiss Too Many” - Eddy Arnold
    1950 - American Oil Company announced plans to sponsor the telecast of every Washington Redskins football game during the upcoming season. The Redskins thus became the first pro football team to televise a complete slate of regular-season games.
    1951 - Univac, the world's first commercial computer was unveiled, demonstrated, and dedicated in Philadelphia, primarily to help out with the census. The first computer was developed in 1946, ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrator and Computer). The name we use today comes from the fact ENIAC was difficult to pronounce and scientists among themselves referred to the machine as a “computer.”
    1952 - In a 3-1 loss, Boston Braves southpaw Warren Spahn whiffs 18 Cubs in 15 innings, tying Jim Whitney's National League record of 18 strikeouts. On the same day, Braves scout Dewey Griggs signs a Mobile, Alabama youth named Henry Aaron.
    1952 - BLEAK, DAVID B., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Medical Company 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. Place and date: Vicinity of Minari-gol, Korea, 14 June 1952. Entered service at: Shelley, Idaho. Born: 27 February 1932, Idaho Falls, Idaho. G.O. No.: 83, 2 November 1953. Citation: Sgt. Bleak, a member of the medical company, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. As a medical aidman, he volunteered to accompany a reconnaissance patrol committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain, the group was subjected to intense automatic weapons and small arms fire and suffered several casualties. After administering to the wounded, he continued to advance with the patrol. Nearing the military crest of the hill, while attempting to cross the fire-swept area to attend the wounded, he came under hostile fire from a small group of the enemy concealed in a trench. Entering the trench he closed with the enemy, killed 2 with bare hands and a third with his trench knife. Moving from the emplacement, he saw a concussion grenade fall in front of a companion and, quickly shifting his position, shielded the man from the impact of the blast. Later, while ministering to the wounded, he was struck by a hostile bullet but, despite the wound, he undertook to evacuate a wounded comrade. As he moved down the hill with his heavy burden, he was attacked by 2 enemy soldiers with fixed bayonets. Closing with the aggressors, he grabbed them and smacked their heads together, then carried his helpless comrade down the hill to safety. Sgt. Bleak's dauntless courage and intrepid actions reflect utmost credit upon himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.
    1952 - SPEICHER, CLIFTON T., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company F, 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Minarigol, Korea, 14 June 1952. Entered service at: Gray, Pa. Born: 25 March 1931, Gray, Pa. G.O. No.: 65, 19 August 1953. Citation: Cpl. Speicher distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While participating in an assault to secure a key terrain feature, Cpl. Speicher's squad was pinned down by withering small-arms mortar, and machine gun fire. Although already wounded he left the comparative safety of his position, and made a daring charge against the machine gun emplacement. Within 10 yards of the goal, he was again wounded by small-arms fire but continued on, entered the bunker, killed 2 hostile soldiers with his rifle, a third with his bayonet, and silenced the machine gun. Inspired by this incredible display of valor, the men quickly moved up and completed the mission. Dazed and shaken, he walked to the foot of the hill where he collapsed and died. Cpl. Speicher's consummate sacrifice and unflinching devotion to duty reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service
    1952 - Birthday of Pat Summitt, born Patricia Sue Head (d. 2016), Clarksville, TN. Accrued 1,098 career wins, the most in NCAA basketball history. She served as the head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols team from 1974 to 2012, before retiring at age 59 because of a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s from which she died in 2016. She won eight NCAA championships (a NCAA women's record when she retired), a number surpassed only by the 10 titles won by UCLA men's coach John Wooden and the 11 titles won by UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma. She was the first NCAA coach, and one of four college coaches overall, with at least 1,000 wins. She was the highest paid coach at the University of Tennessee as 18 of her teams were in the NCAA playoffs and six of her teams, 1987, ‘89, ‘91, ‘96, ‘97, and ‘98 won the national titles.
    1953 - Elvis Presley graduated from L.C. Humes High School in Memphis, TN. Within three years, the truck driver-turned-singer had his first number-one record with "Heartbreak Hotel."
    1954 - The first Civil Defense test was held nationwide, including the continental United States, 10 provinces of Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands from 10 to 10:10am, when the all-clear signal was given. There were held periodically and both radio and television were to test the civil defense system periodically during the month for one minute duration.
    1954 - President Eisenhower signed a bill into law that places the words "under God" into the United States Pledge of Allegiance.
    1956 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "The Wayward Wind," Gogi Grant.
    1957 - Top Hits
“Love Letters in the Sand” - Pat Boone
“A Teenager's Romance/I'm Walkin'” - Ricky Nelson
“Bye Bye Love” - The Everly Brothers
“Four Walls” - Jim Reeves
    1958 - Fats Domino releases "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday."
    1961 - The temperature in Downtown San Francisco, CA, soared to 106 degrees to establish an all-time record for that location
    1963 - Duke Snider, one of the Dodgers' most famous players (I have his autograph from when I was a kid---free, stayed after the game to sign autographs for all the kids) hit his 400th career home run in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, playing for the Mets. Snider became the ninth player in Major League history to reach this career milestone.
http://www.dukesnider.com/
    1964 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Chapel of Love," The Dixie Cups.
    1965 - Top Hits
“Back in My Arms Again” - The Supremes
“Crying in the Chapel” - Elvis Presley
“I Can't Help Myself” - The Four Tops
“What's He Doing in My World” - Eddy Arnold
    1965 - Paul McCartney records "Yesterday" by himself, after trying unsuccessfully to fit in the rest of the Beatles. The song would later be recorded by over 3,000 other artists and become the most covered tune in music history. In describing it, Paul has said "I did the tune easily and then the words took about two weeks."
    1965 - Sonny and Cher release "I Got You Babe."
    1966 – The minor league Miami Marlins and St. Petersburg Cardinals played the longest game in organized baseball history up to that point, needing 29 innings for Miami to prevail, 4 - 3. The game ends after 6 hours and 59 minutes. It remains the longest game ever played without interruption and the longest game in baseball history.
    1967 - The Beatles record "All You Need Is Love."
    1968 - Rod Stewart becomes a star in the US after the Jeff Beck Group, for which he sings lead, opens at New York's Fillmore East. The 23-year-old Stewart is still so new to the stage that he hides behind a stack of speakers during the first song.
    1973 - Top Hits
“My Love” - Paul McCartney & Wings
“Frankenstein” - The Edgar Winter Group
Pillow Talk - Sylvia
“You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)” - Johnny Rodriguez
    1974 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Billy, Don't Be a Hero," Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods.
    1974 – Nolan Ryan struck out 19 in 13 innings, including Cecil Cooper 6 times as the California Angels beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3 in 15 innings.
    1975 – The singing group America reached the top spot on the Billboard pop music chart with "Sister Golden Hair." The group had previously (March, 1972) taken "A Horse with No Name" to the number one spot. The trio of Dan Peek, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, sons of US Air Force personnel stationed in London, England, had received the Best New Artist Grammy in 1972. America recorded a dozen hits that made it to the popular music charts in the 1970s and 1980s. Though number one, "Sister Golden Hair" did not qualify for gold record (million-seller) status.
http://www.biscuitfan.com/america/index.htm
http://www.harvestcomm.net/america/
http://www.danpeek.com/frameset.htm
http://www.rockandrollusa.com/America.htm
http://www.rockandrollusa.com/horsewithnonameamericadewey.htm
http://axisid.com/catsmeow/horse.htm
http://www.biscuitfan.com/america/song/song056.htm
    1975 - "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" was recorded live at the Universal Amphitheater in California by John Denver, became the best-selling record in the US. The song was written by John Martin Sommers, a member of Denver's backup band.
    1979 - Giant first baseman Willie McCovey hits his 513th round tripper establishing him as the NL all-time left-handed HR leader.
    1981 - Top Hits
“Bette Davis Eyes” - Kim Carnes
“Stars on 45 medley” - Stars on 45
“Sukiyaki” - A Taste of Honey
“What are We Doin' in Love” - Dottie West with Kenny Rogers
    1987 - Thirty-two cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. The high of 97 degrees at Flint, MI tied their record for June, and the high of 101 at Milwaukee, WI marked their first 100 degree reading in 32 years. Thunderstorms brought much needed rains to South Texas, drenching McAllen with 3.2 inches in one hour. A thunderstorm soaked the town of Uncertain with 2.3 inches of rain in one hour.
    1987 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Head to Toe," Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.
    1988 - Thirty cities in the eastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date
    1989 - Top Hits
“Wind Beneath My Wings” - Bette Midler
“I'll Be Loving You” (“Forever”) - New Kids on the Block
“Every Little Step” - Bobby Brown
“Better Man” - Clint Black
    1990 – The Supreme Court ruled that police checks for drunk drivers are constitutional.
    1991 - "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" opened, collecting $25.63 million from audiences at 2,369 U.S. theaters. Kevin Costner is Robin of Locksley, Morgan Freeman plays Azeem, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is Marian, Christian Slater stars as Will Scarlett, and Alan Rickman (“Lethal Weapon”) played the Sheriff of Nottingham.
    1993 - The first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court was Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia, nominated by President William Jefferson Clinton. She filled the seat vacated by Justice Byron White. She was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and the first Jewish justice since the resignation of Abe Fortas in 1969.
    1994 - The New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2, in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1940. The Rangers, led by Mark Messier, Brian Leetch and Mike Richter, ended a long drought that included defeats in the finals in 1950, 1972, and 1979.
    1995 - Michael Jackson and wife, Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson, were interviewed by Diane Sawyer on ABC-TV's "PrimeTime Live." Sawyer questioned the couple about how they got to know each other, how Michael proposed, etc. The hour-long interview, at the old MGM set at Sony Pictures, Hollywood, was seen by 60 million U.S. viewers and millions more around the world. Selected snippets from the interview: Do they have sex? “Yes, yes, yes.” Prenuptial agreement? “Yes.” Regarding accusations of child molestation? “Never ever! I could never harm a child, or anyone. It's not in my heart. It's not who I am. I am not even interested in that!” Would Michael like to be as black as he once was? “I love black.”
    1996 - San Francisco celebrates its beloved newspaper columnist and a good friend of mine (and many others, too): Herb Caen.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/g/a/1996/06/14/ellar960614.DTL
    1998 - The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz to win their third consecutive NBA championship. This was their second “three-peat.” They had accomplished this feat the first time with wins in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
    2005 - Behind Chuck Klein (683rd game - 1933) and Lloyd Warner (686th game - 1932), Ichiro Suzuki, in his 696th game, becomes the third fastest big leaguer player to reach the 1000-hit mark. The 31-year old Mariners outfielder also holds the record in Japan for being quickest player to attain 1,000 hits, reaching the milestone in 757 games. Ichiro had 3,089 hits in his Major League career, and combined with the 1,078 hits from his Japanese league days, owns the all-time career hits record in all of professional baseball, having passed Pete Rose in 2016. He retired after the opening of the 2019 season when the Seattle Mariners played their opening series in Japan against the Oakland As.
    2017 - A gunman opened fire on a Republican congressional baseball team holding an early-morning practice in Alexandria, VA. Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise was among the five persons wounded in the attack, being shot in the hip. Capitol Police officers at the practice return fire and quickly apprehend the shooter, who is mortally wounded in the exchange. The team was preparing for its annual charity game against members of the Democratic Party scheduled for later in the week.

NBA Champions:
    1987 - Los Angeles Lakers
    1990 - Detroit Pistons
    1992 - Chicago Bulls
    1995 - Houston Rockets
    1998 - Chicago Bulls

Stanley Cup Champions:
    1994 - New York Rangers

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