Frank Perdue, Chicken Man

Perdue Fams was founded in 1920, the same year Frank Perdue was born. He quit college to work for his father's company, over the ensuing decades turning into the first well-known brand of chicken in America. He appeared in many commercials for Perdue Chickens, saying "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken."

I never actually met him, but years ago in the grocery store I worked at, Frank Perdue came in with several other "high ups" to check out the Perdue section in the meat dept. This was after he retired from leading his company, and I was surprised how frail he looked compared to the man I had seen on TV. Still it was a neat experience to actually see this American business visionary in person.

The Osborne Brothers

Bobby and Sonny Osborne had been performing together for over 50 years until Sonny retired a few years ago. Bobby, the older of the two, continues to perform to this day. They had their biggest hit in 1967 with "Rocky Top," a song which the University of Tennessee has been playing at sporting events since the 1970's.

They were criticized in the 60's for adding electric instruments to their act, but by the 1990's they had returned to their roots. At that time they had one of the few traditional sounding groups still performing regularly on the Grand Ole Opry.

Leni Riefenstahl- German Film-Maker

Leni Riefenstahl has been called the greatest female filmmaker of the 20th Century. Her most famous film, however, is "Triumph of the Will" -a documentary of the 1934 Nuremburg Congress of the Nazi Party. She was personal friends with Adolf Hitler and Josef Goebbels, but she always denied that she deliberately attempted to make pro-Nazi propaganda- despite the fact that her films were used as such. She was arrested after the War but was never convicted of any crimes. Her later photography work won much acclaim, and she was active in photography and filmmaking right up to her death in 2003 at the age of 101.

Ricou Browning- The Creature From the Black Lagoon

Ricou Browning's most famous role is that of the creature in the 1950's Sci-Fi classic film "The Creature From the Black Lagoon." Browning played the creature in the under water sequences, while Ben Chapman did the land ones. He wrote me a letter as well and also sent a signed photo of himself out of the costume (I had asked what he actually looked like). He wrote that he's a bit older now than in the photo but "I'm still a handsome devil!"

Byron Nelson, Golfer

Byron Nelson has been labeled by Golf Magazine as the 5th Greatest Golfer of all time. In 1945 he won 18 professional tournaments, 11 of those in a row- These two records still stand to this day. Those who knew him always said he had such a positive energy about him, which extended off the green as well. He retired at age 34, but remained active in Golf untill his passing at age 94 in 2006.

Sheldon Leonard "Nick the Bartender"

Sheldon Leonard's thick Brooklyn accent and tough guy looks earned him many roles playing bad guys in films and television over several decades. He was also involved in television production (The Andy Griffith Show for one).

The role of his I always loved though was that of Nick the Bartender in "It's a Wonderful Life." In the first part of the film he was a jovial nice-guy bartender. When George sees how things are if he had never lived, he finds that Nick no longer has love for his fellow man, and runs a rowdy flop-house of a bar. The end of that scene shows him laughing and opening the cash register again and again to make the bell ring "Get me- I'm givin' out wings!"

I sent this to him not long after I found out he was still alive, and was thrilled to get it back. Unfortunately passed away about a year later at age 89.

Peter Paul and Mary

Peter Paul and Mary are one of the most beloved Folk Music groups in America. They've been singing together for nearly 50 years, despite some serious health concerns for Mary Travers. Their songs like "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "The Times They Are a Changin'" have become standards, and will continue to be listened to long after they are gone. I mailed this to Paul Stookey and asked if he could have Peter and mary sign it whenever he got together with them again- It was quite a while before I got this back, but I was thrilled when I saw all three signatures on it. It's one of my favorites.