(Encyclopedia) Nelson, Willie, 1933–, American country singer, guitarist, and songwriter, b. Abbott, Tex. Nelson began playing professionally at 10 and joined a western swing band as a teenager. In…
(Encyclopedia) Thornton, Matthew, 1714–1803, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Ireland. Taken to America as a child, he studied medicine and…
actor, screenwriter Born: 8/4/1955Birthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas After a long stint as a low-profile actor and screenwriter, Thornton careened to stardom for writing, directing, and acting in…
(Encyclopedia) Hays, Anna Mae, 1920–2018, American general, b. Buffalo, N.Y., as Anna Mae Violet McCabe. Trained as a nurse (1941), she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps (1942) and served in Assam,…
physician, astronautBorn: 10/17/1956Birthplace: Decatur, Ala. Astronaut Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman to enter space when she served on the crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavor…
(Encyclopedia) Mays, Willie Howard, Jr. (“Say Hey” Willie Mays), 1931–, American baseball player, b. Fairfield, Ala. He began his professional career at 17 with the Black Barons of the Negro National…
THORNTON, Matthew, a Delegate from New Hampshire; born in Ireland in 1714; immigrated to the United States in 1716 with his father, who settled in Wiscasset, Maine; moved to Worcester, Mass.;…
(Encyclopedia) Wilder, Thornton Niven, 1897–1975, American playwright and novelist, b. Madison, Wis., grad. Yale (B.A., 1920), Princeton (M.A., 1925). He received most of his early education in China…
NOLAN, Mae Ella, (wife of John Ignatius Nolan), a Representative from California; born in San Francisco, Calif., September 20, 1886; attended the public schools, St. Vincentâs Convent and…
