MILESTONES: February 1, birthday for Lauren Conrad, Harry Styles, Big Boi

February 1, 2019 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Lauren Conrad. Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Hall of Fame soccer player Michelle Akers, who was born in 1966; rapper Big Boi, who was born in 1975; reality television star Lauren Conrad, who was born in 1986; U.S. Sen. Michael Enzi, who was born in 1944; singer Don Everly, who was born in 1937; actress Sherilyn Fenn, who was born in 1965; actor Michael C. Hall, who was born in 1971; actor Terry Jones, who was born in 1942; comedian Garrett Morris, who was born in 1942; actor Bill Mumy, who was born in 1954; singer Lisa Marie Presley, who was born in 1968; wrestler and Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey, who was born in 1987; comedian Pauly Shore, who was born in 1970; singer Harry Styles, who was born in 1994; and actor Stuart Whitman, who was born in 1929.

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TODAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. February, the month containing Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (Feb 12) and Frederick Douglass’s presumed birthday (Feb 14), is Black History Month. The official designation dates from February 1926, when it was launched by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. The observance period was initially one week, but since 1976 has been the entire month of February.

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THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA DISASTER WAS ON THIS DAY IN 2003. Minutes before space shuttle Columbia was due to land after a successful 16-day scientific mission, it disintegrated 40 miles above the state of Texas, killing its seven-member crew. Commander Rick Husband, pilot William McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla (first woman astronaut from India), Laurel Clark and Ilan Ramon (first Israeli astronaut) lost their lives and were mourned worldwide. Columbia was the first shuttle to fly in space (1981).

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LANGSTON HUGHES WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1902. The African-American poet and author was born in Missouri. Among his works are the poetry collection “Montage of a Dream Deferred,” plays, a novel, memoirs and short stories. He wrote, “My soul has grown deep like the rivers,” and asked, “What happens to a dream deferred?” Hughes died in 1967 in New York.

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LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN PREMEIRED ON THIS DAY IN 1982. Late Night premiered on NBC as a talk/variety show appearing after “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” Host David Letterman was known for his irreverent sense of humor and daffy antics and guests: stupid pet tricks, stupid human tricks and the legendary top 10 lists. The offbeat show attained cult status among college crowds and insomniacs as many tuned in to see a Velcro-suited Letterman throw himself against a wall. The show also featured bandleader-sidekick Paul Shaffer. In 1993 Letterman made a highly publicized exit from NBC and began hosting “The Late Show” on CBS, where he continued to revitalize the late night talk show format at the Ed Sullivan Theater (kept at a chilly 58 degrees for his studio audience to stay alert). Letterman announced his retirement for 2015, and the last show aired May 20, 2015. Out of 97 nominations, Letterman’s show garnered 16 Emmys, including six for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes, who was born on this day in 1902.