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

######## 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.

Hundreds Flock to San Diego for
Annual NEFA Finance Summit
By Don Cosenza, CLFP, CMO

Despite the “danger zone,” hundreds of participants descended upon the Golden State at the InterContinental Hotel in San Diego last week for NEFA’s annual Finance Summit. This year’s program theme, “Highway Thru the Danger Zone,” offered a smorgasbord of education and networking opportunities for all those in attendance.

Events kicked off last Tuesday at the majestic Maderas Golf Club as players teed off during the Chris Walker Education Fund Golf Outing. Later that afternoon, the inaugural Black Equipment Finance Network Mixer took place that brought together people of color in the industry with other NEFA members interested in learning more about the new organization.

As the week progressed, attendees learned from keynote speaker retired Navy Blue Angels Pilot, and speaker Elliott Eisenberg, Ph.D., the “Bowtie Economist.”

Boss created “spark” with his stories from the cockpit by providing the nuts and bolts of Blue Angels, the world’s premier flight demonstration squadron. Dr. Eisenberg, an internationally acclaimed economist and public speaker, took the arcana and minutia of economics and made it fun, relevant, and educational.

NEFA brought back the STRIPES Leadership Workshop, comprised of a two-hour session, and offered two practical application lab options in the areas of Financial Disclosures and Operations. Four breakout sessions covered the following topics: maximizing settlement opportunities pre- and post-litigation; maximizing the employee experience; State commercial financial disclosure laws; and the importance of the credit process from a lender’s perspective.

“Another great conference,” said Darryl Kushner, Vice President, Equipment Finance, Tri Counties Bank. “I have probably attended forty of NEFA-sponsored shows over the years and I always leave more educated and more motivated to keep writing transactions. Without the networking and continuing education, I absorb at NEFA conferences, I would not be as successful as I have been.”

Chad Sluss, Chief Executive Officer, NEFA, commented, “The NEFA Finance Summit was a phenomenal success this year. Special thanks to the NEFA Planning Committee and my team for organizing an outstanding program,” Chief Executive Officer, NEFA. “The conferences are only possible due to the generosity of our sponsors, exhibitors and supporters of the association. It’s truly a team effort from all those involved. I’m so proud to be part of this organization.”

Don S. Cosenza, CLFP, CMO
Chief Marketing Officer, Sr. Vice President
North Mill Equipment Finance, LLC
Board Member, NEFA Association
dcosenza@usa.com

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Seeking Opinions for Follow-up of SFNet
Claim of 40% of Lenders Won’t Do Business in California
By Christopher Menkin, Editor/Publisher

SFNet sent out a press release last week that the Leasing News made an editorial "According to a poll conducted by the Secured Finance Network, since new California disclosure rules were implemented in December 2022, 40% of lenders were found to be “no longer lending” to prospective borrowers who fall within the regulations’ threshold of less than $500,000." (1)

I don't think this is an accurate representation of lenders not in favor of the disclosure laws. Our published and verified list of funders, verified, as well as contacts with brokers, doesn't indicate they won't do business in California because they are not licensed or following new disclosure laws.

I welcome our readers’ opinions.

Looking at the membership of SFNet, the last membership count Leasing News received from SFNet:

2021 Year-end:
265 Members
71 Service Providers
56 Banks
137 Nonbanks
Richard_Gumbrecht@SFNet.com

Banks and their subsidiaries are exceptions to the law, as well as larger dollar amount transactions, and true leases. Service providers are not involved directly in loans or leases

Note that 137 nonbanks appear to be mostly factors, MCA, hard asset lenders (some big money, way over minimum of law).

As important, NY, Utah, and California have similar laws, not just California. Virginia has law of MCAs and deBanked published those licensed, which also ran in Leasing News. Missouri, Texas, and Florida have meetings and appear to be moving in the direction of adopting such a law. Connecticut and New Jersey were close to having law last year and are still working on it. Other states require licenses,
as does Nevada (for state brakes and lessors, not out of state).

Here, SFNet is aiming solely at California. In reality, states have the right to have their own laws and would take the US Supreme Court to get involved to override the states’ laws and it would take the US Supreme Court to get involved to override states’ laws.

So a claim of 40% of lenders who won't do business in California due to the new law is difficult for me to believe to me, especially after over four years of hearing and passage by both legislative bodies and signed into law by the governor.

What do you think? Send an email to kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

(1) SFNet Press Release:
https://www.sfnet.com/home/industry-data-publications/the-secured-lender/magazine/tsl-article-detail/new-california-disclosure-rules-reduce-capital-available-to-small-businesses

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Kevin Lacey, CLFP, was hired as Global Program Manager, DLL, Wayne, Pennsylvania. He is located in Easton, Pennsylvania. Previously, he was Vice President, Business Development, Philips Medical Capital (September, 2014 - January, 2023); Director of Major Account Development, LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. (August, 2012 - September, 2014); Program Manager, Deluge Landen Financial Services, Inc. (December, 2003 - August, 2012); Client Manger,
CitiCapital (March, 1997 - December, 2003).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-lacey-clfp-426a49a/

Nicholas Payne was promoted to Senior Managing Director, Siena Lending Group, LLC. Chicago, Illinois. He is located in the greater Chicago, Illinois area. He started as Senior Vice President, October, 2015, promoted Director, January, 2018, promoted Managing Director, January, 2022. Previously, he was Vice President, Nations Equipment Finance, LLC. (July, 2013 - October, 2015). Full Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasjpayne/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasjpayne/

Raven Sheehan was hired as Financial Advisor Assistant, Pinnacle Financial Partners, located at Pinnacle's Birmingham, Alabama Office. She is located in Alabaster, Alabama. Previously, she was at Regions Bank, starting January, 2012, Small Dollar Document Specialist, promoted April, 2014, Equipment Document Paralender, promoted April, 2017, Corporation Loan Fulfillment Team Manager Equipment Finance ,Regions Bank.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/raven-sheehan-b71529243/

David Zimmerman was hired as Regional Vice President, Dext Capital, Lake Oswego, Oregon. He is located in Santa Barbara, California. Previously, he was Leasing Specialist, TCF Bank (June, 1997 - June, 2021); Utility Billing and Leasing Specialist, Winthrop Resources (1997 - 2021). He has served as an Investor, Entrada Ventures (November, 2018 - Present) as well as Board Member, PCUSA, Presbyterian Foundation (June, 2012 - March, 2023).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zimmerman-02a6

Top Ten Leasing News Read by Readers
March 20-March 24

(1) ELFA 34th Annual National Funding
Conference Report
By Shari L. Lipski, CLFP
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_22.htm#elfa

(2) The Supreme Court to Decide the Constitutionality
of the California Consumer Financial Protection Law
Licensed Funders, Brokers, and Vendors Affected
By Marshall Goldberg, Esq.
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_20.htm#court

(3) Exclusive Video Silicon Valley Bank
Executive Loan Committee Meeting
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_24.htm#svb

(4) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_20.htm#hires

(5) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_22.htm#hires

(6) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_24.htm#hires

(7) Back Online
Now Catching Up
By Kit Menkin, Editor/Publisher
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_20.htm#back

(8) SFNet Survey is Off-Base on Licensing
and Commercial Disclosure Laws
By Christopher Menkin, Editor/Publisher
EDITORIAL
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_24.htm#sfnet

(9) Reid Raykovich, CLFP, Executive Director
at Certified Leasing and Finance Foundation Engagement
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_20.htm#clfp

(10) Sales Makes it Happen by Scott Wheeler, CLFP
Filling the Funnel
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2023/03_22.htm#filling

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Home Sales Show Strong Increase
Over January

Despite being down 24.4% year-over-year, February home sales increased 16.8% from January, according to the RE/MAX National Housing Report for February 2023. That was the largest month-over-month increase in 11 months and ended a five-month streak of sales declines that began in September.

The median sales price of $385,000 increased 0.6% over January, ending a seven-month streak of price declines since the peak of $426,000 in June 2022. Although home prices increased slightly month-over-month, February marked the first year-over-year drop in prices since January 2012 – as the median was 1.3% lower than a year ago ($390,000).

Inventory increased year over year for the 10th consecutive month, and the number of homes for sale in the report's 50 metro areas was 55.0% higher than a year ago.

Nick Bailey, RE/MAX President and CEO, said, "Prices have steadied and demand is strong, but the lack of available, affordable homes remains a challenge," said Nick Bailey, RE/MAX President and CEO. "Mortgage rates are top of mind for many buyers, and as they move up or down, sales activity should generally follow suit. That's a big factor to watch as we move into the spring."

Laurie Thiel, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Equity Group in Beaverton, OR is already seeing an uptick in demand and activity in her area. "As the market has stabilized, our agents are experiencing increased activity with homebuyers and sellers. Even though the time to sell a home has increased, inventory in the Portland metropolitan market remains limited."

Source MReport.com.

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CLFP Foundation Releases Updated Handbook
Second Printing, Ninth Edition

The Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation has completed the second printing of the ninth edition of The Certified Lease & Finance Professionals’ Handbook which is now available for purchase via the Foundation’s website: www.clfpfoundation.org.
This printing includes two significant changes: first, the Foundation consulted with Ivory Consulting Corporation, the makers of SuperTRUMPTM lease and loan modeling and pricing software to revamp the pricing chapter. Second, an index for easy reference access to all of the handbook’s content was developed.

Martin Klotzman, CLFP, Senior Manager, Marketing and Product Management, Ivory Consulting Corporation, stated, “We are honored to have had the opportunity to update the pricing chapter in the latest printing of the Certified Lease & Finance Professionals’ Handbook,” remarked .

“The CLFP is an invaluable credential for anyone beginning a career in the equipment leasing and finance industry, and I have benefited significantly from the credibility the CLFP credential provides. The knowledge and skills gained from becoming certified and then maintaining the CLFP are essential for success in our industry, and Ivory Consulting is proud to contribute to the ongoing development and growth of the CLFP Foundation.”

Reid Raykovich, CLFP, CEO of the CLFP Foundation stated, “The Foundation updates the Body of Knowledge annually, and if there are changes, we update the Handbook, Academy for Lease & Finance Professionals content, and the exam. Our industry is ever evolving, and it is our desire to ensure that we remain current. We are also working hard to create a consistent nomenclature across the industry and providing the highest quality information; therefore, it made sense to partner with Ivory.”

The CLFP designation is the only certification for the Commercial Equipment Finance Industry. Currently, there are Certified Lease & Finance Professionals and Associates located throughout the world, including the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, India, Africa, and Australia.

Available:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6K568Y

For more information visit http://www.CLFPFoundation.org

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Academy for Certified Lease & Finance Professionals
March 2023 to October 2023 Updated

The Academy for Lease and Finance Professionals (ALFP) is a three-day event designed to fully prepare an individual to sit for the CLFP exam assuming the attendee has already self-studied. A trend has begun in having virtual online sessions.

During the first two days, all of the required sections of the CLFP exam are covered in-depth. On the third day, the exam is offered but is not mandatory and may be taken on another day.

Students are strongly advised to have read and studied The Certified Lease & Finance Professionals' Handbook prior to attending the class in order to ensure success.

Private, Clark University (for CAU students)
March 30 – April 1

Pathward Private Virtual ALFPA
April 11 – April 12

DLL Private, Virtual ALFP (Spring)
April 18 – April 19

Taycor Private in Person AALFP
April 24 - April 25

Private, DLL, Virtual ALFP
May 17 – 19

Public, USBEF, Virtual ALFP
May 16 – May 18

First Citizens Bank Equipment Finance Private,
Virtual ALFP
May 24 – May 26

AP/TCUSA Private, Virtual ALFP
Jun 7 – 9, 2023

Stearns Public in Person, ALFP
June 20 – June 21, 2023

Stearns Public in Person, ALFP
September 19 – 20, 2023

DLL, Private, ALFP (Fall)
Oct. 17 – October 18

Professional Handbook for Taking the Test in 2023
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TZM6SJ9?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

About Academy
https://clfpfoundation.org/academy-for-lease-and-finance-professionals

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This Day in American History

     1663 - Charles II of England awarded lands that became the Carolinas in America to eight members of the nobility who assisted in his restoration.
    1664 - Roger Williams was granted a charter to colonize Rhode Island.
    1765 - Britain enacted the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide temporary housing to 10,000 British soldiers in public and private buildings.
    1776 - One week after the British troops under General William Howe evacuated Boston, General George Washington wrote a letter to the Continental Congress. General Washington expressed his "surprize and disappointment" that the British fleet had not departed the harbor and described its various exploits while still in the region.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar24.html
    1788 - In a popular referendum, Rhode Island rejected the new Constitution by a vote of 2,708 to 237. The state later (May 29, 1790) ratified the Constitution and ratified the Bill of Rights June 7, 1790.
    1825 - American colonization of a new state was authorized by a law passed by the new Mexican state of Texas-Coahuila. In 1823, Stephen Austin had been given authorization by law and decree to bring settlers into the region but, in 1824, a new republic was established in Mexico and a new constitution enacted. The new law gave the states conditions for colonization. This was the start of “Texas.”
    1837 - Canada legally recognizes Black suffrage, thus begins one of the Underground Railroads final destination toward freedom.
http://www.duke.edu/~mahealey/black_canada.htm
http://www.dal.ca/~acswww/dalbh.html
http://www.npca.org/walk.html
http://www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/RAILROAD.html
    1852 - The Susquehanna River ice bridge at Havre de Grace, Maryland began to break up after 40 days of use. A total of 1738 loaded freight cars were hauled along the rails laid on the ice.
    1855 - Andrew W. Mellon (d. 1927), American financier, industrialist, government official (Secretary of the Treasury), art and book collector, was born at Pittsburgh, PA.
    1874 - Harry Houdini (d. 1926), Magician and escape artist, born at Budapest, Hungary. Lecturer, athlete, author, expert on history of magic, exposer of fraudulent mediums, and motion picture actor. Was best known for his ability to escape from locked restraints (handcuffs, straitjackets, coffins, boxes and milk cans). Anniversary of his death (Halloween) has been the occasion for meetings of magicians and attempts at communication by mediums.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/vshtml/vshdini.html
    1883 - Long distance telephone service began between Chicago and New York.
    1898 - The first United States automobile was sold. Mining engineer Robert Allison paid $1,000 for a Winton.
    1898 - Dorothy Constance Stratton (d. 2006), born at Brookfield, MO, was instrumental during World War II in organizing the SPARS, the women's branch of the US Coast Guard (authorized Nov 23, 1942). Under Lieutenant Commander Stratton's command, some 10,000 women were trained for supportive noncombatant roles in the Coast Guard. SPARS was dissolved in 1946 after the war had ended. Stratton worked with many women's organizations, including the Girl Scouts, as national executive director in the 1950s.
    1900 - Birthday of trumpet player June Clark (d. 1963), Long Branch, NJ. Later in the 1940’s, he became manager for boxer Sura Ray Robinson.
    1912 – Women’s and civil rights advocate Dorothy Height (d. 2016), was born in Richmond, VA. She was an active member of the National Council on Negro Women, serving as its president for 40 years, and was a consultant to several government offices and presidential administrations on education and civil rights.
    1912 - Residents of Kansas City began to dig out from a storm that produced 25 inches of snow in 24 hours. The snowfall total was nearly twice that of any other storm of modern record in Kansas City before or since that time. A record 40 inches of snow fell during the month of March that year, and the total for the winter season of 67 inches was also a record. By late February of that year, Kansas City had received just six inches of snow. Olathe, KS received 37 inches of snow in the snowstorm, establishing a single storm record for the state of Kansas.
    1919 - Lawrence Ferlinghetti (d. 2021), poet, author (“Coney Island of the Mind”), founder of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, was born Yonkers, NY. Perhaps best known for opening the bookshop, he described City Lights "as a place you could go in, sit down, & read books without being pestered to buy something." The store became a home for the Beat Generation of poets and writers, and Ferlinghetti also turned it into a publishing house. It was the first to publish Allen Ginsberg's poem “Howl.” City Lights published it in 1957 and Ferlinghetti was immediately arrested on obscenity charges. He won the trial and went on to publish the writings of William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, and Paul Bowles. He wrote a pair of novels, two volumes of plays, and over 10 books of poetry. Some say it was the birth of “Beatniks,” a term coin by the late columnist Herb Caen. Located at 261 Columbus Avenue, while formally located in Chinatown, it self-identifies as part of immediately adjacent North Beach.
http://www.charm.net/~brooklyn/People/LawrenceFerlinghetti.html
http://recollectionbooks.com/siml/library/FerlinghettiWhite.htm
http://www.citylights.com/
    1905 - The temperature at Valley Head, Alabama fell to 18 degrees below zero. This was the coldest temperature ever recorded in Alabama until January 1966.
    1922 - Singer King Pleasure (d. 1982) born Oakdale, Tenn. Best known for his 1953 hit, “Moody's Mood for Love.”
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000YC6/ref%3Dnosim/
lksmsubsite sub-mu-asin-20/104-0082188-8675910
http://win-ss1.radiomoi.com:8080/rm/info/?showkey=artists&artist_id=17991
    1922 - Birthday of Dave Appell (d. 2014), Philadelphia. Arranger for big bands: Benny Carter, Earl ‘Fatha´ Hines; TV music director, record producer, singer, songwriter, musician with Dave Appell and the Applejacks.    1930 - The recently discovered ninth planet was given the name Pluto.
    1932 - Birthday of piano player Dave Mackay (d. 2020), Syracuse, NY
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=517498001/
ut=43a1166ef26dea3a
    1934 – President Roosevelt signed a bill granting independence to The Philippines, closing nearly a half century of American jurisdiction. The bill took effect on July 4, 1946.
    1936 - The longest NHL Game. Mud Bruneleau of the Detroit Wings scored at 16:30 of the sixth overtime period to end the longest game in National Hockey League history. The goal gave the Red Wings a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Maroons in a Stanley Cup semifinal game. Detroit won the series, three games to none, and went on to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the finals.
    1941 - Glenn Miller started work on his first film for 20th Century Fox, "Sun Valley Serenade."
    1942 - Birthday of Jesus Maria Alou, former baseball player, born Haina, Dominican Republic.
    1944 - The first Civilian Exclusion Order issued by the Army is issued for the Bainbridge Island area near Seattle. The forty-five families there are given one week to prepare. The island's oldest, continuously operating farm, established in 1928, is owned by 75-year-old Akio Suyematsu, who grows strawberries, pumpkins and Christmas trees. World War II brought one of the saddest chapters of island history: the nation's first forced evacuation of residents of Japanese ancestry, most of them American citizens. On President Roosevelt's authority the army forced some 240 people, including Suyematsu's family, to leave -- mainly for California internment camps. They received a week's notice to dispose of their property. By the end of October, 108 exclusion orders would be issued, and all Japanese Americans in Military Area No. 1 and the California portion of No. 2 were incarcerated.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/neighbors/bainbridge/hist26.html
http://www.historylink.org/output.CFM?file_ID=3111
http://www.janm.org/clasc/chronology.htm
http://www.janet.org/janet_history/niiya_chron.html
    1945 - Billboard magazine, the music trade publication, began the pop music record chart this day. The No. 1 hit in the pop chart was Nat King Cole's “King Cole Trio.”
    1949 - The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences gave Oscars to a father and son, the only time this has happened. Walter Houston won the Best Supporting Actor Award, and his son, John Huston, won the award for the Best Director, both for “The Treasure of Sierra Madre.” The film also received the award for the Best Screenplay. Coincidentally, this was also the first time a husband and wife won Oscars: Sir Laurence Olivier for his performance in “Hamlet,” beating out Humphrey Bogart, and his wife, Vivien Leigh, who received hers on February 29, 1940, for her performance in “Gone with the Wind.” On March 20, 1952, she received a second Oscar for her part as Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148405.html
    1949 - Steve Lang (d. 2017), bass guitarist with the Canadian rock group April Wine, was born. Lang joined the band in 1975, replacing Jim Clench. Lang was with April Wine when they shared the stage with the Rolling Stones at the El Mocambo nightclub in Toronto in 1977. April Wine was Canada's leading touring band of the 1970's, but the band failed to have much of an impact in the U.S.
    1954 - Birthday of cello player Hank Roberts, Terre Haute, IN.
http://avalon-management.freeyellow.com/HankBio.html
http://www.scaruffi.com/avant/roberts.html
    1955 - Top Hits
The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup - Nat ‘King' Cole
In the Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce
    1955 - On Broadway, Tennessee Williams's Southern drama, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” staged by Elia Kazan, debuted to mixed reviews. It went on to 694 performances.
    1958 - In Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis Presley reported to local draft board 86, where he became US 53310761. Since Elvis was now ‘government property' as he served his time in the Army, Uncle Sam stood to lose approximately $500,000 in taxes each year Private Presley was in the Army. After receiving the standard GI haircut, he was quoted as saying "Hair today, gone tomorrow." Presley had received his draft notice the previous December but was granted a 60- day deferment to complete the movie "King Creole." Some say rock 'n' roll died when Presley entered the service. Certainly, after he was discharged in March 1960, Presley himself was no longer a rock 'n' roll performer. He became primarily a movie star and middle-of-the-road singer, not touring, but performing mostly in Las Vegas, Nevada.
    1959 - The re-formed Drifters' "There Goes My Baby" is released on Atlantic Records. Not only is it the group's first disc with new lead singer Ben E. King replacing the departed Clyde McPhatter but joining the production team are Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller.
    1960 - A United States appeals court ruled the novel, "Lady Chatterley’s Lover," was not obscene and as such, could be sent via the mail. "Lady Chatterley’s Lover," was banned for obscenity in the United States in 1929. In 1930, Senator Bronson Cutting proposed an amendment to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which was being debated, to end the practice of having US Customs censor allegedly-obscene imported books. The ban on "Lady Chatterley’s Lover," among others, was fought and overturned in court. It was then published by Rosset's Grove Press, with the complete opinion by United States Court of Appeals Judge Frederick van Pelt Bryan, which first established the standard of "redeeming social or literary value" as a defense against obscenity charges. Fred Kaplan of The New York Times stated the overturning of the obscenity laws "set off an explosion of free speech.”
    1962 - Birthday of pianist Renee Rosnes in Saskatchewan, Canada.
http://reneerosnes.com/
http://jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Rosnes
    1963 - Top Hits
Our Day Will Come - Ruby & The Romantics
The End of the World - Skeeter Davis
He's So Fine - The Chiffons
Still - Bill Anderson
    1967 - SINGLETON, WALTER K., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1967. Entered service at: Memphis, Tenn. Born: 7 December 1944, Memphis, Tenn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Singleton's company was conducting combat operations when the lead platoon received intense small arms, automatic weapons, rocket, and mortar fire from a well-entrenched enemy force. As the company fought its way forward, the extremely heavy enemy fire caused numerous friendly casualties. Sensing the need for early treatment of the wounded, Sgt. Singleton quickly moved from his relatively safe position in the rear of the foremost point of the advance and made numerous trips through the enemy killing zone to move the injured men out of the danger area. Noting that a large part of the enemy fire was coming from a hedgerow, he seized a machinegun and assaulted the key enemy location, delivering devastating fire as he advanced. He forced his way through the hedgerow directly into the enemy strong point. Although he was mortally wounded, his fearless attack killed 8 of the enemy and drove the remainder from the hedgerow. Sgt. Singleton's bold actions completely disorganized the enemy defense and saved the lives of many of his comrades. His daring initiative selfless devotion to duty and indomitable fighting spirit reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and his performance upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
    1969 - BRYANT, WILLIAM MAUD, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1969. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Born: 16 February 1933, Cochran, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Bryant, assigned to Company A, distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321, 2d Battalion, 3d Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat operations. The battalion came under heavy fire and became surrounded by the elements of 3 enemy regiments. Sfc. Bryant displayed extraordinary heroism throughout the succeeding 34 hours of incessant attack as he moved throughout the company position heedless of the intense hostile fire while establishing and improving the defensive perimeter, directing fire during critical phases of the battle, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded, and providing the leadership and inspirational example of courage to his men. When a helicopter drop of ammunition was made to re-supply the beleaguered force, Sfc. Bryant with complete disregard for his safety ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men. During a lull in the intense fighting, Sfc. Bryant led a patrol outside the perimeter to obtain information of the enemy. The patrol came under intense automatic weapons fire and was pinned down. Sfc. Bryant single-handedly repulsed 1 enemy attack on his small force and by his heroic action inspired his men to fight off other assaults. Seeing a wounded enemy soldier some distance from the patrol location, Sfc. Bryant crawled forward alone under heavy fire to retrieve the soldier for intelligence purposes. Finding that the enemy soldier had expired, Sfc. Bryant crawled back to his patrol and led his men back to the company position where he again took command of the defense. As the siege continued, Sfc. Bryant organized and led a patrol in a daring attempt to break through the enemy encirclement. The patrol had advanced some 200 meters by heavy fighting when it was pinned down by the intense automatic weapons fire from heavily fortified bunkers and Sfc. Bryant was severely wounded. Despite his wounds he rallied his men, called for helicopter gunship support, and directed heavy suppressive fire upon the enemy positions. Following the last gunship attack, Sfc. Bryant fearlessly charged an enemy automatic weapons position, overrunning it, and single-handedly destroying its 3 defenders. Inspired by his heroic example, his men renewed their attack on the entrenched enemy. While regrouping his small force for the final assault against the enemy, Sfc. Bryant fell mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. Sfc. Bryant's selfless concern for his comrades, at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1971 - Top Hits
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
She's a Lady - Tom Jones
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - The Temptations
I'd Rather Love You - Charley Pride
    1972 - Twelve years after it was first a #2 hit for Paul Anka, "Puppy Love" by Donny Osmond climbs to #3 and goes gold. The tune also inspires lots of wisecracks about Osmond. Anka wrote the song for his former girlfriend, Annette Funicello, who at Walt Disney’s request, terminated the relationship.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/04/09/annette-funicello-paul-anka-puppy-love/2066375/
    1973 - Professional track debuted as Kip Keino beat Jim Ryun in the mile run at the International Track Association meet in Los Angeles, California.
    1973 - The O'Jays followed their Billboard #3 hit, "Back Stabbers" by topping the chart with "Love Train."
    1974 - North Carolina State beat Marquette to win the NCAA basketball championship.
    1976 - Birthday of Peyton Manning, quarterback, born New Orleans, LA. Considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, he spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four seasons with the Denver Broncos. He is the second son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and older brother of former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, both of whom were also first round draft picks. Manning holds many NFL records, including 5 MVP Awards, 14 Pro Bowl appearances, 14 4,000-yard passing seasons, single-season passing yards (5,477 in 2013), and single-season passing touchdowns (55 in 2013). He is also tied with Sammy Baugh for the most first-team All-Pro selections for a quarterback (7) and is third in career passing yards (71,940) and passing TDs (539). Having helped lead both the Colts and Broncos to two Super Bowls, winning one with each, Manning became the first starting quarterback to have multiple appearances and win the Super Bowl with more than one franchise. On February 6, 2021, Manning was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection in his first year of eligibility.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyton_Manning
    1979 - Top Hits
Tragedy - Bee Gees
What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
Heaven Knows - Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
I Just Fall in Love Again - Anne Murray
    1982 - Five congregations in the eastern San Francisco Bay area became the first to declare themselves publicly as sanctuary churches, in an effort to help refugees from Central America establish themselves in the U.S. during political and military unrest in their native countries.
    1985 - The Golden Raspberry Awards, a parody of the Oscar Awards were presented. The movie, "Bolero" took home the top honors, for John and Bo Derek, who won for worst director and worst actress, respectively.
    1986 - The 58th Academy Awards show was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. It took three hosts (Alan Alda, Jane Fonda and Robin Williams) to handle the MC duties this time. The Best Picture was "Out of Africa" (Sydney Pollack, producer). It also won Best Director (Sydney Pollack); Best Writing/Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Kurt Luedtke); Best Cinematography (David Watkin); Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Stephen B. Grimes, Josie MacAvin); Best Sound (Chris Jenkins, Gary Alexander, Larry Stensvold, Peter Handford); and Best Music/Original Score (John Barry). But "Out of Africa" didn't win everything. Other Oscars went to "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (Best Actor: William Hurt); "The Trip to Bountiful" (Best Actress: Geraldine Page); "Cocoon" (Best Supporting Actor: Don Ameche - his first Oscar) and "Prizzi's Honor" (Best Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston). The award for Best Music/Song was given to Lionel Richie for "Say You, Say Me" from "White Nights." Other memorable movies in 1985 (some Oscar winners, some not): "The Color Purple" (11 nominations - no Oscars), "Back to the Future", "Ladyhawke", "Rambo: First Blood Part II", "Agnes of God", "Silverado" and "Witness.”
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149645.html
    1987 - A winter-like storm in the central U.S. produced blizzard conditions from South Dakota to western Kansas. Snowfall totals ranged up to 24 inches at Neligh, NE, with 19 inches at Winner, SD. Winds gusting to 60 mph created twelve-foot snow drifts in Nebraska, stranding thousands on the highways
    1987 - Top Hits
Lean on Me - Club Nouveau
Let's Wait Awhile - Janet Jackson
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
I'd Still Be Loving You - Restless Heart
    1988 - Thunderstorms developing along a cold front produced severe weather from Minnesota to northeastern Texas. The thunderstorms spawned ten tornadoes, including one which injured five persons near Raymondville, MO
    1989 - The tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground at Prince William Sound, leaking 11 million gallons of oil into one of nature's richest habitats. The mishap resulted in one of the most devastating environmental disasters in history, killing up to 250,000 seabirds and other wildlife.
    1989 - Low pressure off the coast of Virginia brought heavy rain to the Middle Atlantic Coast States, and heavy snow to the Northern Appalachians. Cape Hatteras, NC was soaked with 5.20 inches of rain in 24 hours, and snowfall totals in Vermont ranged up to 12 inches. Winds gusted to 52 mph at New York City.
    1990 - The storm system which produced heavy snow in the Lower Missouri Valley the previous day, spread heavy snow across parts of the Upper Ohio Valley and the Middle Atlantic Coast Region. Snowfall totals of 2.2 inches at Philadelphia and 2.4 inches at Atlantic City were records for the date. Up to six inches of snow blanketed southern Ohio. In the Middle Atlantic Coast Region, snow coated the blossoms of cherry trees which had bloomed in 80-degree weather the previous week.
    1992 - Democrat Jerry Brown upset front-runner Bill Clinton in the Connecticut presidential primary.
    1992 - As of 2:45 am CST, International Falls, Minnesota had recorded 29.5 inches of snow for the month with snow still falling. This set a new monthly snowfall record for February. The old record was 29.0 inches set back in 1911. A new record was also set for winter season snowfall (Dec-Feb) with 68.5 inches. The old record was 67.9 inches set in 1990-91.
    1992 - A Chicago county circuit judge approved a settlement that meant refunds for thousands of fans of Milli Vanilli. Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, the dred-locked German pop duo, had admitted earlier that they had not sung on their Grammy Award-winning album, “My Girl.” They also confessed to lip-synching during their concerts. The two "singers" moved their lips and bodies in music videos and live concerts, while the recorded voices of unknown singers did the actual vocals. Under the settlement, buyers of Milli Vanilli compact discs would be entitled to $3 refunds, and cassette buyers could collect $2 refunds. It was estimated that the settlement could affect as many as 10 million people.
    1994 - The Crystal Mountain ski resort in Washington State recorded 65 inches of snow in a 24-hour period, the state record for 24-hour snowfall.
    1996 - The first astronaut who was a woman to live in a space station was biochemist Dr. Shannon W. Lucid, 53, of Bethany, OK. This day she transferred from Space Shuttle Atlantis to the Russian space station Mir for a planned five-month stay. It was the first time the shuttle returned to earth with one less person aboard than had been present at the launch. Lucid remained on the station for 188 days, the longest space sojourn by any American and any woman until that time. Her return was delayed more than six weeks by emergency repairs to the booster rockets of the Atlantis and by hurricane. She came home in the Atlantis, which touched down at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, on September 26, 1996.
http://www.spacefame.org/lucid.html
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lucid.html
    1997 – At the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) awarded prizes for the best of the movie biz in 1996. Comedian/actor Billy Crystal hosted this 69th awards show. Let's rip into the envelopes and get on with it. Best Picture: "The English Patient" (Saul Zaentz, producer); Best Director: Anthony Minghella for "The English Patient"; Best Actor: Geoffrey Rush for "Shine"; Best Actress: Frances McDormand for "Fargo"; Best Supporting Actor: Cuba Gooding, Jr. for "Jerry Maguire"; Best Supporting Actress: Juliette Binoche for "The English Patient"; Best Music, Song: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music), Tim Rice (lyrics) for "You Must Love Me" from "Evita". And the Oscar goes to ... "The English Patient", "The English Patient", "The English Patient" ... for a total of 9 Oscars.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0147717.html
    2001 - During an exhibition game against the Giants, Diamondback hurler Randy Johnson's fastball hits and instantly kills a dove flying in front of home plate. The bird appears to explode as the National League Cy Young winning pitch sends it over catcher Rod Barajas' head.
    2002 - Academy Awards. Best Picture: "A Beautiful Mind": Brian Grazer, Ron Howard; Best Actor in a Leading Role: Denzel Washington, "Training Day”; Best Actress in a Leading Role: Halle Berry, "Monster's Ball"; Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jim Broadbrent, "Iris"; Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jennifer Connelly, "A Beautiful Mind"; Best Director: Ron Howard, "A Beautiful Mind.”
http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2002?ref_=rto_nom_evh_2002
    2002 - After a record fifteen nominations, Randy Newman wins his first Oscar award for Best Song: the Monsters Inc. composition "If I Didn't Have You."
    2019 - 2-time American League MVP Mike Trout signs the biggest contract in North American sports history, a $426.5 million, 12-year extension with the Los Angeles Angels.
    2019 - Investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller finds no evidence that President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election.

NCAA Basketball Champions:
    1956 - San Francisco
    1962 - Cincinnati
    1980 - Louisville

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"Gimme that wine"

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