Available by e-mail in a text format, sent out at 3:00am, free:

    http://www.leasingnews.org/addme-mailing-list.htm

 

 

 Headlines---

 

Classified Ads---Sales Manager

    Landmark Finance Ends Broker Program, Speros Semi-Retires

        Republic Leasing S.Carolina to Become Division NetBank

            Cartoon----Golden Oldies

                Cambridge Credit/Southforkasset  Puccio Was to Testify

Back Office List on Line

    Classified Ads---Help Wanted

        Advice to Reader Who Wants to Get into Leasing

            News Briefs---

                Sports Briefs---

"Gimme that Wine"

    This Day in American History

        Baseball Poem

 

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Classified Ads---Sales Manager

 

Sales Manager: Atlanta, GA

30 years in transportation Finance with strong management/ sales background. Represented company on national & region markets. Started two successful operations- produce profits and growth. Email:pml@mindspring.com

   

Sales Manager: Chicago, Illinois

 Twenty plus years. Senior sales and marketing management most recently Building "businesses" from scratch. Leveraging leadership, administrative, operations, financial, auditing background. WANTED: challenging new opportunity.

Email: edok@sbcglobal.net

 

Sales Manager: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.

Domestic-int'l exp. Small to middle ticket. 24 yrs with Fortune 500 firms(2). Consistently achieves margin/ volume goals. Email: mfdp1101@charter.net

Sales Manager: New York, NY

I have over 25 years owning an independent leasing company that specialized in truck leasing. Tow trucks, Limos, ambulances, tractors, etc.. Email:rfleisher@rsrcapital.com

 

Sales Manager: Pennsauken, NJ.

17 Years Leasing in all capacities from CSR and Collections to National Sales Management and Vice President Vendor Development. Exceptional People Skills. Many industry references. email: cherfurth1@aol.com

Sales Manager: Portland, OR. 18+ yrs w/bank leasing company. Supervised 14- 20 sales people. Willing to relocate for the proper position. Email:pthygeson@netscape.net

 

Sales Manager: Seattle, WA

Senior level sales professional w/ (20) plus experience in mid market financing & leasing. The last (8) plus years being self employed in middle market brokerage. Email:markhenley@qwest.net

  full listing at: 

http://64.125.68.90/LeasingNews/JobPostings.htm

[Headlines] 

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Landmark Finance Ends Broker Program, Speros Semi-Retires

 

 

According to a web site statement, Landmark Financial, Englewood, Colorado

will remain the $5,000 to $250,000 marketplace, with the ability to write higher dollar leases, but as the director of the broker division, Mark H. Speros, says, no

more broker paper, and he is going to semi-retire.

 

“As you no doubt know by now, Landmark Financial has ended its broker funding activity, effective March 31st, which will also be my last day at Landmark.

 

“I have been assured that the approved backlog will be funded in the normal course of business.  If you have any questions regarding a lease transaction, please call Kent Ostedgaard at extension 24 or Elizabeth Thompson at extension 19.

 

“After more than 37 years in the small ticket lease industry it is my intention to enter at least semi-retirement effective April 1st.  I may do some consulting work on a contract basis, but will explore those opportunities after I have learned to sleep beyond 4:15 in the morning. 

 

“I have enjoyed my long association with the equipment lease broker community, and wish all of you the very best in your career.

 

“Those of you who may wish to stay in contact may do so at Msperos39@hotmail.com, or you may call my cell phone at 720-231-2567.”

 

MARK H. SPEROS, Director

Broker Division

 

 

             from January 23,2003 “Pictures from the Past”

 

 

Mark Speros, Director of the Broker Division of Landmark Financial Corporation, Englewood, CO, started his checkered career in the equipment leasing industry in 1965 with Portland, OR based Industrial Leasing Corporation, starting as “Administrative Assistant” and rising to the position of Senior Vice President – Operations. 

 

Between then and now, Mark has worked, primarily in Operations or Marketing functions, with EF Hutton Credit Corporation, Colonial-Pacific Leasing, Denrich Leasing, a subsidiary of Fleet Bank, Granite Financial Corporation (pre FNF Capital), Centerpoint Financial, and was a partner with the lovely and talented Claude Elmore in Seacoast Capital Corporation, a lease broker company in Portland.

 

Two points to ponder based on the above; (1) Speros obviously can’t hold a job; and (2) Speros is to leasing what Typhoid Mary was to Public Health.  Note that NONE of his prior employers are still in business.  Landmark, being a “current” employer is still in business and doing very well, thank you.

 

Landmark Financial, a 22 year old Denver based self–funded direct lessor, started a broker funding division in January, 2001, and acts as a funding source for a limited number of leasing brokers nationwide.

 

When not actively harassing his broker network, Speros and his faithful companion Barney (a Beagle) spend their time girl watching (not touching, just watching), cruising the Rocky Mountains in a Saab convertible (top down at 60° F or above), and doing his Bob Villa impression around the homestead.

[Headlines] 

 

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Republic Leasing of South Carolina to Become Division NetBank April 1

 

This is not a pre-April Fool’s joke.  Dwight Galloway, President

of Republic Leasing of South Carolina, who started this enterprise

way back when, referred Leasing News to the bank public relation’s

department.

 

We have a call into Rich Jeffers of the NetBank Public Relations

company to learn the significance, and if there are any changes.

It is our understanding that loans and leases are serviced by

the bank, although most of the mortgage business is “sold off”

or serviced elsewhere, very similar to the Advanta operation.

 

Net Bank is the largest internet bank, and perhaps the most

successful.

 

Republic Leasing of South Carolina was one of the first that went to the

securization market primarily from sales generated by leasing brokers.

July 26,2002 Dwight Galloway wrote a letter to over 100 brokers, basically

saying it wasn’t profitable for his company to continue to do business with

them.

http://two.leasingnews.org/archives/July2002/7-31-2002.htm

 

November 22,2001, he announced the acquisition of our long time parent, Resource Bancshares Mortgage Group, Inc. by NetBank, Inc.

 

http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/dwight.htm

 

 

 

“Dwight Galloway is the President of Republic Leasing Company, Inc., a full service, small ticket lender based in Columbia, SC.  He has over 17 years experience in equipment sales and finance.   After leaving the U.S. Army in 1978, he worked for two years as a sales manager for an equipment vendor.

 

  “During the 1980’s, he began providing financing for start-up businesses, and buying/selling large ticket, tax-oriented operating leases before “graduating” to small-ticket leasing.

 

 “ He started Republic Leasing in 1988 as a subsidiary of Resources Bancshares after selling the small-ticket operation to that firm.”

    United Association of Equipment Leasing Newsline, Jan/Feb 1997

 

[Headlines] 

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Cambridge Credit/Southforkasset  Puccio Was to Testify

 

John Puccio, founder and president of Massachusetts-based Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., apparently suffered a stroke last week and was unable to testify. The agency's spokesman blamed the subcommittee's bias against Cambridge for contributing to his illness.

 

Mr. Puccio reportedly is also president of Southfork Recovery and Marketing,

active in both the commercial finance market place and equipment

leasing indsutry.  Leasing News is told this is the same person.

 

http://www.southforkasset.com/contact_us.asp

 

The U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which has been holding hearings in Washington, D.C. the last two weeks, issued a detailed, highly critical report, Profiteering in a Nonprofit Industry: Abusive Practices in Credit Counseling.

 

The report accuses some of the industry's largest players of abusive practices.

 

Some nonprofit credit counselors, the report claims, are essentially call centers with sales staff pushing consumers into debt management plans with high, hidden fees. Debtors seeking help receive very little and in several instances, no counseling at all.  It is claimed

that much of the moneyt debtors pay in fees  actually have gone toward executive salaries or are funneled to for-profit affiliates that provide processing.

 

Some executives singled out in the report for criticism testified at the hearing in defense of their operations. Some acknowledged they are amending certain practices as a result of the subcommittee's investigation.

 

Credit counseling agencies were developed decades ago as a means of helping consumers avoid filing for bankruptcy. The groups received nonprofit status on the basis they would provide education to debtors. The nonprofits charged limited or no fees for their face-to-face counseling.

 

In serious cases, consumers were enrolled in debt management plans. With such plans, the agency negotiates lower interest rates for the debtor and a waiver of late fees in return for debtor making monthly payments. Creditors support the nonprofits by giving them a percentage of the debt they recover from clients in debt management plans.

 

Former credit agency employees told the subcommittee they were encouraged to sell debt plans.

 

John Pohlman, who briefly worked at Cambridge, said counselors who sold the most debt plans to consumers for the month had their names put on a board with flashing lights. Counselors also earned bonuses based on the fees they brought in or earned trips to Florida for high sales, he said.

 

According to the subcommittee report,  Cambridge's executive salaries have raised eyebrows. The nonprofit's CEO earned $624,000 in 2002 and Viale is currently paid $400,000 a year.

 

[Headlines] 

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Back Office List on Line

 

Rank	Company Name Year Founded Web site	Employees	CEO	Additional Services Offered	Yearly Volume	Region	Major Clients
1	Phoenix Leasing Portfolio Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Phoenix American Inc. (d) 1972 plpsi.com	105	Gus Constantin	Documentation, remittance processing, sales and property tax services, lease and loan accounting, default management	N/A	United States	Contact us for client list
2	GlobalTech Portfolio Services 2000 globaltechfinancial.com	22	Carolyn H. Byrd	Collections, Sarbanes-Oxley Consulting, Business Process Consulting, IT Security Consulting	N/A	National	Coca-Cola Financial Corporation, Affiliated Computer Services, Optimus Financial Services.
3	JDR Solutions (c) 2001 jdrsol.com	12-15	John Schaffner	(ASP) lease management software hosting, portfolio servicing, project management, consulting	N/A	International	Major manufacturing captive finance organizations, regional bank leasing company, specialty finance organization. 3,500-5,00 contracts managed.
4	Barrett Management Corporation (a) 1975 barrettcapital.com	8	Barry Corn	N/A	10-20M	National	Financial Institutions; not permitted to disclose names
5	Group 88 Systems Inc. (b) 1982 group88.com	N/A	Malcom Tennant	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
6	OutSourcing Solutions Group, LLC. 2000 osgsolutions.com	N/A	Matt Mcfarland	Property Tax Administration, Sales and Use Tax Administration, and Property Tax Consulting	N/A	N/A	N/A

(a) Barrett offers proactive lease management/administration of commercial/consumer vehicles and lease/finance portfolios, covering insurance, titles, registrations, sales/property taxes, tickets, collections, repossessions, vehicle transportation and dispositions. Since 1975.

---

(b) With over 20 years supporting major firms in the leasing industry, Group 88 provides data conversions, system implementations, custom software development and outsourced system support.

---

(c) JDR Solutions, LLC., based in Indianapolis, Indiana provides back office lease/loan administration services and hosting of related accounting and portfolio management software.

Under a preferred partnership arrangement with International Decision Systems (IDS), JDR Solutions offers its "Managed Service" solutions utilizing the robust capabilities od Infolease and related software applications. JDR will soon offer IDS's next generation software, Profinia, in a hosted environment.

For more information about JDR Solutions, visit www.jdrsol.com or call:

Paul Henkel, Director of Marketing
317-251-5352 X7201
paul.henkel@jdrsol.com

---

(d) We also offer specialized programs for banks which want to start their own leasing operations and for vendors who want to find financing or act as lessor for their customers. We also act as a broker for end users looking for commercial equipment financing.

Sincerely,
Sharon Litwin
Vice President
Phoenix Leasing Portfolio Services, Inc.
2401 Kerner Boulevard
San Rafael, CA. 94901
(800) 227-2626 ext. 4637
slitwin@phxa.com

[Headlines] 

 

 

 

Classified Ads---Help Wanted

 

[Headlines] 

 

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Advice to Reader Who Wants to Get into Leasing

   from Hal Horowitz

 

I read your letter and would like to offer a comment from someone with the
perspective of both, having made a midlife career change, and dealing with
questions like that on an almost daily basis.  A little over six years ago I
made the conscious decision to get out of the equipment leasing industry,
where I had spent over 30 years, and become a recruiter.  First off, that is
in no way intended to be an indictment against the industry.  I think it is
a fine industry, it plays a key role in our economy, and it is home to many
fine, highly competent and professional people, many of with whom I still
enjoy regular contact.

First you say you are 49.  So?  Older people than you have made changes.
Easily?  Not necessarily, but age is not the deciding factor here.  Drive,
determination, and commitment are far more critical than age.  Age is a
barrier only to the extent you allow it to be.  If someone else has a
problem with your age, then they might just as easily have a problem with
your race, religion, sexual orientation and the color of your hair.  Their
biases won't change, so don't make their problems yours.   What I will say
about your age is that I can only presume that you've become set in many of
your ways.  You will need to be an open thinker in order to make this work
for you.  Also, keep this in mind.  It is tough to make a career change if
you are looking for someone to pay you a salary for skills you have yet to
acquire.  Your career change, whether its into equipment leasing or shoe
sales, will most likely have to be one in which you eat only what you kill.

Second, you say you have 24 years in IT.  This is critical only insofar as
you can collect all of the disciplines you've learned over that 24 years,
and can shed all of the preconceived notions you will naturally carry with
you when you make your change that things are the same in each industry.
They aren't.

Third, you say you have read some comments concerning the leasing industry
and you are having some doubts.  My advice?  If you can't go into a career
change with the deep belief that it will work for you, then don't go into
it.

Here's are the questions you (and only you) will have to answer when making
the kind of change you are contemplating:

1. What fields can I move into where I can make use of the skills I've
acquired?
2. Same question, but substitute "knowledge" for "skills."
3. What special skills and knowledge will I have to learn?  How can I learn
it?  How fast am I capable of learning it?
4. Since I'm not likely to earn a significant salary coming into a new area,
which fields are most likely to have the least amount of ramp-up time for
me?
5. What are the pros and cons of these new fields and how will they meet or
conflict with my own personal attitudes?
6. Who is my competition and how will I be able to garner a portion of the
market without a reputation in the field?  What value will I add?
7. Who can I trust in these new fields to turn to if I need help?
8. Who can I trust enough to do business with?
9. Who will trust me?
10. Am I ready to give my senior status in IT and start over as a frosh I
the school of hard knocks?
11. Specifically, with regards to the equipment leasing industry, what
market will I go after?  Do I know enough about the credits I'll be working
with to know what is a good (translated, marketable) deal?  Do I know enough
to recognize the red flags (translated non-marketable or fraudulent) on a
transaction?
12. Do I have a plan B?

These are tough questions, Lex, and they are just a few of the many more you
will have on your own.  Depending on how you answer them, you may find that
yes, you are ready, or no, you are not.  Yes, it's the right step and the
right field, or no, it is not.

You have taken a good first step.  You asked someone in the industry for
their opinion.  Now you will want to find out who the key players are in the
market you want to get into and see what advice and/or tutelage they can
offer you.  Look at the trade associations and investigate their training
programs.  (Don't expect to learn for free.)

Good luck in making your decision.  I hope it is as right for you as the one
I made was for me.

Hal  Horowitz

 

News Briefs

 

  Economists see 'booming economy'

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2004-03-29-survey_x.htm

 

 Outsourcing technology jobs strengthens U.S. economy, study says

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20040329-1903-outsourcing-techsurvey.html

 

Fuel Prices Hitting Farmers Hard

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34915-2004Mar30.html?nav=headlines

 

 

 Judge in Tyco Case Won't Stop Trial

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34540-2004Mar29.html

 

Tyco Justice Is Known for Skills With People

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/30/business/30judge.html

 

Heat wave breaks records in SoCal, Central Valley

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/index.html

 

NBC Asks Leno to Work Late Through End of the Decade

(Drudge says $27 Million, but below Letterman $31 Million a year )

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/30/business/media/30tube.html

 

Dolby gets out the hiss and makes recording history

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/03/29/BUG8F5S0TN1.DTL&type=business

[Headlines] 

 

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Sports Briefs

 

Colts at Patriots for 2004 NFL opener

http://www.theredzone.org/news/showarticle.asp?ArticleID=1052

 

NFL gives three teams four compensatory draft picks

http://www.theredzone.org/news/showarticle.asp?ArticleID=1055

 

Owners vote to extend Tagliabue's deal

http://www.theredzone.org/news/showarticle.asp?ArticleID=1054

[Headlines] 

 

 

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California Nuts Briefs---

 

 

California coins conservation for new U.S. quarter

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/03/30/QUARTER.TMP

[Headlines] 

 

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“Gimme that Wine”

 

Wine In Colorado?

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2044663,00.html

 

Washington wine industry matures to add new regions

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-
free/getstory_ssf.cgi?o1461_BC_WST--WashingtonWines&&news&newsflash-financial

 

Calories in Wine

http://wine.about.com/cs/winemaking/a/calories.htm

 

Carbs in Wine  3.5oz Red 1.8g, white 9.5g, blush 9.6g

http://wine.about.com/cs/winemaking/a/usdawine.htm

 

Alcohol Carb Counter

http://atkins.com/global/carb-counter/carb-counter.html?cat=alcohol

[Headlines] 

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   1565-Smoking of tobacco was introduced to England by John Hawkins.  Hawkins was primarily a salve trader, carrying Africans to the West Indies. Most of his dealings were with the Spanish in the West Indies, but during his second trip to the region (1564-1566) he visited the small French colony in Florida and learned to smoke tobacco from the Colonists, who had learned from the Indians.  Hawkins returned to England with a shipload of tobacco. He described the Indian use of the plant this way: “The Flordians when they travel have a kinde of herbe dried, who with a cane and an earthen cap in the end, with fire, and dried herbs put together, doe sucke throw the cane the smoke thereof, which smoke satisfieth their hunger, and therewith they  live foure or five days without meat or drinke and this all the Frenchmen used for this purpose.”

  http://renaissance-faire.com/Renfaires/Entertainment/Hawkins.htm

http://www.burleystabilization.com/history.html

http://www.tobacco.org/resources/history/Tobacco_History16.html

   1751-The first sugar cane grown in America was introduced into Louisiana by Catholic missionaries from San Domingo on the island of Hispaniola.  It was used to make taffia, a cheap rum distilled from molasses and refuse sugar.

   1842- Dr. Crawford W. Long, having seen the use of nitrous oxide and sulfuric either at “laughing

gas parties, observed that individuals under their influence felt no pain, on this date he performed

an operation under the influence of either. To honor him, March 30^th is also “Doctor’s Day,” with the

red carnation designated the official flower to worn in the lapel today.

    1843- Napoleon E. Guerin of New York City patented an egg incubator for hatching chickens, revolutionizing the industry.

    1858- Hyman L. Lipman of Philadelphia received the patent for inventing a pencil with an attached eraser. The pencil had a groove into which was “secured a piece of prepared rubber, glued in at one end.”

  1867- Secretary of State William H. Seward agreed to purchase Alaska for seven million dollars.

    http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar30.html

  1870-The Fifteenth Amendment was adopted. It stipulated that no state shall deprive any citizen of the right to vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

     1888-Birthday of “The Louisiana Lady” Camille Nicerkson,  music arranger, composer, musician and educator, is remembered for her musical talent and her work as a music collector who gathered and transcribed Creole music. Born at the French Quarter, New Orleans. Of Creole extraction herself, Nickerson performed for a time in the US and Europe using the stage name "The Louisiana Lady." She died at Washington, DC, at age 94.

       1889- the first recorded golf mixed foursome was played at the Grey Oaks course of the St. Andrews Golf Club, Yonkers, NY, John B. Upham and Carrie Low played John Reid and Mrs. John G. Reid.

    1900-Band leader Ted Heath born Wandsworth, England.

http://www.tuxjunction.net/plimage38.html

http://www.swingera.net/bheath.html

http://www.donlusher.com/site/pages/heathband.html

   1913-Birthday of singer Frankie Lane,  his dynamic, jazz- influenced style graced dozens of hit records in the 1940's and '50s, was born in Chicago. One of his first professional jobs was with the band of Freddy Carlone, where he replaced Perry Como in 1937. But Laine had to wait years for real success. That came with his 1947 recording of "That's My Desire." Laine's other hits include "The Cry of the Wild Goose," "Mule Train" and "Jezebel." He sang the theme for the "Rawhide" TV series in the late '50s and early '60s. Frankie Laine's voice was also heard on the soundtrack of Mel Brooks' 1970's western spoof, "Blazing Saddles."

   1914-Birthday of harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson, Jackson, TN.

   1942- Graeme Edge, drummer with the Moody Blues, was born in Staffordshire, England. The group first hit the charts in 1965 with a haunting ballad, "Go Now," but soon became known for their lush concept albums. The first of these, "Days of Future Passed," released in 1967, was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra. Five years later, a song from this album, "Nights in White Satin," became the Moody Blues' biggest hit. And the success of the single moved "Days of Future Passed" on to the LP charts again. The Moody Blues other hit albums include "Every Good Boy Deserves Favor," "Seventh Sojourn" and "Long Distance Voyager," which topped the Billboard LP chart in 1981. Graeme Edge recorded a solo album, "Kick Off Your Muddy Boots," in 1974.

     1945- Eric Clapton, the first guitar hero of the 1960's, was born in Ripley, England. 

His blues-based guitar work first came to light with the Yardbirds, whom he joined in late 1963. Clapton stayed with the group until March 1965, when they began to play more pop-oriented songs.

 Clapton then played with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and in 1966 formed the group Cream with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. 

That band lasted until November 1968, when Clapton became a member of the short-lived super group, Blind Faith. He also played with Delaney and Bonnie. Then came what is considered Clapton's finest work - the two-album set "Layla" with a band he called Derek and the Dominos.

Clapton struggled with heroin addiction for a couple of years, emerging again in 1974 with the hit album "461 Ocean Boulevard." It was a new Clapton on this LP - more relaxed and definitely more commercial. The hit single "I Shot the Sheriff" comes from this album. Clapton's other hits have included "Lay Down Sally" from 1978, "Promises" from 1979 and "I Can't Stand It" from 1981.

In 1992, an album recorded during his appearance on MTV's "Unplugged" became one of his biggest successes. An acoustic remake of "Layla" from this concert was a surprise hit.

       1950-Dr. John Northup Shive of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, New

Jersey, announced he had developed a “phototransistor” operated by light rather than electric current.  It was not until 1951 that transistors were produced commercially, the first for Western Electric, used

in long distance dialing equipment.  The microprocessor did not come along until the late 1970, developed by Intel, right here in Santa Clara, California.

   1953---Top Hits

Till I Waltz Again with You - Teresa Brewer

Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como

Pretend - Nat King Cole

Kaw-Liga - Hank Williams

   1955 - Brando, Kelly, O’Brien, Saint, Kazan. These were the names the 27th Academy Awards were made of. And all of the other big names of Hollywood gathered at the RKO Pantages Theater in Los Angeles to honor these stars and the motion pictures of 1954 including "The Caine Mutiny", "The High and the Mighty"; "A Star is Born"; "The Glenn Miller Story"; "Rear Window"; "Sabrina"; "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"; and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". Actor/comedian Bob Hope and actress Thelma Ritter (in New York City) hosted. "On the Waterfront" (Sam Spiegel, producer) won Oscars for Best Picture, Director (Elia Kazan), Actor (Marlon Brando), Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint) and more (art direction, cinematography, film editing, writing). Grace Kelly was voted Best Actress for "The Country Girl" (“How far should a woman go...to redeem the man she loves?”). Best Supporting Actor was Edmond O’Brien for "The Barefoot Contessa" and Best Music/Song Oscars went to Jule Styne (music), Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for "Three Coins in the Fountain."

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148625.html

    1961---Top Hits

Surrender - Elvis Presley

Dedicated to the One I Love - The Shirelles

Apache - Jorgen Ingmann

Don’t Worry - Marty Robbins

    1981-" I am in control." Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig's televised announcement ( while President Ronald Reagan was undergoing surgery  after being shot by a would-be assassin): "As of now, I am in control here in the White  House..." Haig continued to say, " Constitionally, gentlemen, you have the president, the  vice-president and the secretary of state in that order." What makes this so funny and memorable was his arrogance, plus the fact that he was incorrect.  According to the New York Desk Reference, for those who want to get on " Who Wants to be a Millionaire":   1.Vice-President, 2. Speaker of the House, 3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate, 4. Secretary  of State, 5.Secretary of the Treasury.  The point is that the Secretary of State is fourth in line, not second.  He surely was not in charge.

   1963- "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. George Harrison was later found to have unknowingly plagiarized the melody from this song for his 1970 hit "My Sweet Lord."  

   1964-“Jeopardy” premiered on VT. The "thinking person's" game show, "Jeopardy" has a reputation as an intelligent and classy program. Art Fleming was the original host of the show, in which three contestants won cash by attempting to give the correct question to an answer uncovered on a board of 30 squares, in six different categories. Contestants went through two rounds and "final jeopardy," where they could wager up to all their earnings on one question. In 1978, the format was changed so that only two contestants entered the second round, and only one played final jeopardy. When the series returned in 1984, it went back to its old format, with Alex Trebek as the popular host. The cable channel VH1 now hosts "Rock and Roll Jeopardy."

   1966- Barbra Streisand stars on "Color Me Barbra" special on CBS.

http://www.geocities.com/bajost/11colorme.html

   1969---Top Hits

Dizzy - Tommy Roe

Traces - Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost

Time of the Season - The Zombies

Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass - Buck Owens

     1974 - John Denver hit #1 with, "Sunshine on My Shoulders", his first number one song. Three other Denver singles reached the top of the music world: "Annie’s Song", "Thank God I’m a Country Boy" and "I’m Sorry". "Take Me Home Country Roads" made it to number two, while "Rocky Mountain High" only reached number 9. Denver wrote Peter, Paul and Mary's "Leaving on a Jet Plane"; and won an Emmy for the television special, "An Evening With John Denver".

    1977---Top Hits

Rich Girl - Daryl Hall & John Oates

Dancing Queen - Abba

Don’t Give Up on Us - David Soul

Southern Nights - Glen Campbell

     1977-The Eagles' "Hotel California" sits atop the Billboard LP Chart. 

      1985---Top Hits

One More Night - Phil Collins

Lovergirl - Teena Marie

We are the World - USA for Africa

Seven Spanish Angels - Ray Charles with Willie Nelson.

    1987 -- Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" sells for 39.9 million, almost four times the previous record paid for a single work of art. During his lifetime, van Gogh sold one painting.
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/articles/vang0898.htm

    1989-Gladys Knight performs solo for the first time  without The Pips during a gig at Bally's in Las Vegas.  She sings there today on a regular basis. Catch her great show.

   1992- Canadian singer Celine Dion celebrated her 24th birthday in a duet with Peabo Bryson on their Oscar- nominated theme song "Beauty and the Beast" on the Academy Awards show.

   1992- The White Sox trade Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson to the cross-town rival Cubs for slugger George Bell.

   1992 - The 64th Annual Academy Awards statuette-passing-out-party was thrown at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. Comedian/actor/ producer/writer/director Billy Crystal was host. "The Silence of the Lambs" (Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt, Ronald M. Bozman, producers) won the prize for Best Picture of 1991. "Silence" also won the Best Director Oscar  Jonathan Demme; Best Writing/Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for the creepy Ted Tally; Best Actor for the creepy Anthony Hopkins and Best Actress  Jodie Foster. Jack Palance won Best Supporting Actor for playing Curly in "City Slickers" and the Best Supporting Actress Oscar was claimed by Mercedes Ruehl for "The Fisher King". Best Music/Song: Alan Menken (music), Howard Ashman (lyrics) for "Beauty and the Beast" from, you guessed it, "Beauty and the Beast". "Terminator 2: Judgment Day", nominated in six categories, won four Oscars for Best Sound (Tom Johnson, Gary Rydstrom, Gary Summers, Lee Orloff); Best Effects/Sound Effects Editing (Gary Rydstrom, Gloria S. Borders); Best Effects/ Visual Effects (Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Gene Warren Jr., Robert Skotak); and Best Makeup (Stan Winston, Jeff Dawn).

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149833.html

    1993- Peanuts character Charlie Brown hits a game-winning HR; it is his first in 43 years; almost 10 percent of the nearly 18,000 Peanuts strips created by Charles Schulz focused on baseball.

  1999- Connecticut beats Duke for NCAA Title

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/ncaa99/final32999.asp

    2001- Choosing to end his career as Yankee and as member of a World Champion team, Doc Gooden, 36, retires from baseball in his hometown of Tampa. He will remain on the Yankee payroll and will have a position within the organization.

    2003-- Major League baseball returns to Brooklyn for a day as the Mets appear at KeySpan

Park, the Coney Island home of the short-season single A Cyclones, for the team's final preseason workout. Although the practice session is rained out, fans enjoy meeting the players and collecting autographs and profits made from beverage and other sales will still be donated to area charities serving children.

 

NCAA Basketball Champions This Date

 

1940  Indiana

1943  Wyoming

1981  Indiana

1987  Indiana

1998 Kentucky

1999 Connecticut

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Baseball Poem

 

:

 

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strode through his backyard,

       baseball cap in place, while toting ball and bat.

"I'm the greatest baseball player in the world", he said proudly. 

Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung and missed.  

Undaunted, he picked up the ball, threw it into the air and said to himself,

"I'm the greatest player ever!"

 

He swung at the ball again, and again he missed.

 

He paused a moment to examine bat and ball carefully.

Then once again he threw the ball into the air and said,

"I'm the greatest baseball player who ever lived!"

 

He swung the bat hard and missed the ball yet again.

 "Wow!" he exclaimed. "What a pitcher!"

 

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