Notable February deaths
This month, we lost a best-selling author, a special-effects pioneer and the woman who inspired the film “A League of Their Own.” Click through to read about these individuals and others who died in February.
Dale Robertson
Died Feb. 26 (b. 1923)
Dale Robertson (see photos) was an actor best known for his roles on the TV series "Tales of Wells Fargo," "The Iron Horse" and others. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in the Hall of Great Western Performers (where's that?), and he received a Golden Boot Award in 1985.
Died Feb. 27 (b. 1934)
Van Cliburn (see photos) was an American classical pianist who won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow when he was just 23 years old. He went on to achieve many other firsts, including recording the first classical album to reach platinum status. President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003.
Dan Toler
Died Feb. 25 (b. 1948)
Dan Toler (see photos) was the former guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band (hear their music), Dickey Betts & Great Southern and The Gregg Allman Band.
Paul McIlhenny
Died Feb. 23 (b. 1944)
Paul McIlhenny (see photos) was the chief executive and chairman of McIlhenny Company, the maker of world-famous Tabasco sauce. He was the great-grandson of Edmund McIlhenny, the man who invented the famous hot sauce recipe (when?).
Diane Lampert
Died Feb. 22 (b. 1924)
Diane Lampert was a talentedsongwriter in the 1950s and ‘60s, known for co-writing “Nothin’ Shakin’” by the Beatles (hear them sing it).
Cleotha Staples
Died Feb. 21 (b. 1934)
Cleotha Staples (see photos) was a member of The Staple Singers, a gospel group that also included her father, brother and two sisters. They had a number of hits, including “I’ll Take You There,” which reached No. 1 on the charts (watch them perform it).
Lou Myers
Died Feb. 19 (b. 1935)
Lou Myers (see photos) was an actor who had success in film and television and on stage. He’s best known for playing Mr. Vernon Gaines in the television series “A Different World” (watch clip).
Donald Richie
Died Feb. 19 (b. 1924)
Donald Richie (see photos) was a well-known writer on Japanese culture and a critic of Japanese films. The Lima, Ohio, native is considered by many to be instrumental in bringing Japanese cinema to English-speaking countries.
Jerry Buss
Died Feb. 18 (b. 1933)
Jerry Buss (see photos) was the owner of a number of sports franchises and, most notably, the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. He helped lead the team to an impressive 10 NBA championships during his 34 years in charge.
Richard Briers
Died Feb. 17 (b. 1934)
Englishman Richard Briers (see photos) was a successful television and film actor. He played the lead in the popular sitcom “The Good Life” (watch clips) in the mid-1970s.
Debbie Ford
Died Feb. 17 (b. 1955)
Best-selling author Debbie Ford (see photos) published a number of extremely popular self-help books throughout the last decade (what was her first?). She was featured on "Oprah" (watch the clip), "Larry King LIVE!" and "Good Morning America."
Phil Henderson
Died Feb. 17 (b. 1968)
Phil Henderson (see photos) was a top basketball player for Duke University in the late 1980s. The shooting guard helped get the team to the Final Four three times. How many points did he score during his college career?
Mindy McCready
Died Feb. 17 (b. 1975)
Country music star Mindy McCready (see photos) made five studio albums during her career and had several top-10 hits. She appeared on “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” in 2009 and had recently lost her boyfriend, songwriter and producer David Wilson (see photos of them together).
Died Feb. 16 (b. 1940)
Musician Tony Sheridan (see photos) was a talented singer-songwriter and guitarist who collaborated with The Beatles in the early 1960s (what was the group called then?).
Pat Derby
Died Feb. 15 (b. 1924)
Hollywood animal trainer Pat Derby (see photos) worked with the animal stars of several television shows, including “Flipper” and “Lassie.” She also founded PAWS (what does it stand for?), an animal welfare organization
Richard J. Collins
Died Feb. 14 (b. 1914)
Hollywood screenwriter Richard J. Collins was known for his work on “Bonanza” and “Matlock.” The HUAC weren’t happy with some of his earlier projects and in 1951 he testified about his previous involvement with the Communist Party. He named others, even friends, who were still involved.
Frank DiPaolo
Died Feb. 14 (b. 1906)
Longtime politician Frank DiPaolo was a former doorkeeper for the House of Representatives (for how long?) and a political mentor to Patrick Kennedy during his successful 1994 congressional bid.
Tim Dog
Died Feb. 14 (b. 1967)
East Coast rapper Tim Dog found fame in 1991 with his debut album “Penicillin on Wax,” featuring a popular diss track aimed at the West Coast hip-hop scene.
Mark Kamins
Died Feb. 14 (b. 1955)
Mark Kamins (see photos) was a well-known DJ and record producer who also played a role in discovering Madonna. The pair dated briefly and she paid tribute to him following his death (what did she say?).
Shadow Morton
Died Feb. 14 (b. 1940)
George Francis "Shadow" Morton (see photos) was a songwriter and record producer who worked with a number of acts, including pop group The Shangri-Las and the rock band New York Dolls.
Petro Viahos
Died Feb. 10 (b. 1916)
Petro Vlahos (see photos) was a special-effects leader who refined the blue- and green-screen systems for film (when did he develop it?). He later won an Oscar for his work on Disney’s “Mary Poppins” (the penguin dance).
Ralph Braun
Died Feb. 8 (b. 1940)
Ralph Braun (see photos) was the award-winning creator of the first motorized mobility scooter and wheelchair-accessible vehicle (when?). Braun used his own diagnosis with muscular dystrophy and need for mobility to help others with disabilities.
Chris Brinker
Died Feb. 8 (b. 1970)
Film producer and director Chris Brinker was known for his work on the 1999 action film “The Boondock Saints” and its 2009 sequel. His directorial debut, starring Matt Dillon and Amy Smart, is due out later this year.
James DePreist
Died Feb. 8 (b. 1936)
James DePreist (see photos) was an award-wining conductor who conducted orchestras all over the world. He was known for being one of the first and most well-known African-American conductors. Watch him with the Pasadena Symphony.
Nevin S. Scrimshaw
Died Feb. 8 (b. 1918)
Nevin S. Scrimshaw (see photos) was an award-winning nutritionist and food scientist whose work helped protein-starved children in the developing world (read about his work in Central America). The nutrition expert was also Institute Professor emeritus at MIT.
John Livermore
Died Feb. 7 (b. 1918)
John Livermore was an exploration geologist who was known for discovering a number of gold deposits in Nevada (including one here). He was instrumental, in particular, in finding “invisible gold.”
Ronnie Allen
Died Feb. 6 (b. 1938)
Ronnie Allen (see photos) was a professional pool player who dominated the one-pocket pool game for years. He was an entertaining player who was known for his ability to play one-handed. What shot did he invent?
Alden Mason
Died Feb. 6 (b. 1919)
Alden Mason was a very talented artist known for his paintings. He painted using a number of techniques and materials, including squeeze bottles. How did he become interested in art?
Stuart Freeborn
Died Feb. 5 (b. 1914)
Stuart Freeborn (see photos) was a makeup artist for many well-known films, including the original “Star Wars” trilogy. He was known in particular for designing Yoda, whom he modeled in part after himself (see a pic of the two together).
Paul Tanner
Died Feb. 5 (b. 1917)
Paul Tanner (see a photo) was a talented trombonist who played with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and The Beach Boys (on what hit song?). He’s also known for helping to develop the Electro-Theremin, or the “Tannerin,” as it is also called.
Donald Byrd
Died Feb. 4 (b. 1932)
Donald Byrd (see photos) was a talented jazz trumpeter who also had success in the rhythm and blues, soul and funk genres. He was a key influence in Herbie Hancock’s early career (Hancock had this to say about him).
Cardiss Collins
Died Feb. 3 (b. 1931)
Cardiss Collins (see photos) was a member of the House of Representatives for 24 years. She was known for being the first African-American woman from the Midwest in Congress (where was she from?).
Edith Houghton
Died Feb. 2 (b. 1912)
Edith Houghton (see photos) was a professional baseball player and scout. She’s known for being the first female scout in Major League Baseball (for what team?).
Chris Kyle
Died Feb. 2 (b. 1974)
Chris Kyle (see photos) was a U.S. Navy SEAL and sniper. He was known for being the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history (how many confirmed kills?).
Pepper Paire
Died Feb. 2 (b. 1924)
Pepper Paire (see photos) was a professional baseball catcher who played in the 1940s and ‘50s. She’s known for being the inspiration behind Geena Davis’ character in “A League of Their Own” (watch clips).
Tyrice Thompson
Died Feb. 2 (b. 1985)
Tyrice Thompson (see photos) was a wide receiver for Arizona State University (he was signed by this NFL team in 2008).
Died Feb. 2 (b. 1922)
Guy F. Tozzoli (see photos) was an architect and director of the World Trade Department of the Port Authority. He played a major role in the building of the World Trade Center (when was it built?) and worked at the twin towers himself until the terrorist attacks in 2001.
