MILESTONES: September 20, birthdays for George R.R. Martin, Sophia Loren, Maggie Cheung

September 20, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle History

George R.R. Martin. Photo by Matt Sayles /Invision/AP

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include actress Maggie Cheung, who was born in 1964; artist Dale Chihuly, who was born in 1941; actress Kristen Johnston, who was born 1967; actress Sophia Loren, who was born in 1934; author George R.R. Martin, who was born in 1948; and Hall of Fame hockey player Guy Lafleur, who was born in 1951.

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BROOKLYN-BORN BASKETBALL COACH Arnold “Red” Auerbach was born on this day in 1917 and grew up in Williamsburg. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches and executives in sports history. Auerbach won nine NBA titles from 1950 to 1966 as coach of the Boston Celtics and was general manager of the team from 1966 to 1997. He also served as team president from 2001 until his death on Oct. 18, 2006 in Washington, D.C.

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THE HANDS THAT BUILD EVERYTHING: Today is National Tradesmen Day, which is sponsored by Irwin Tools. The day honors the people who have built the U.S. infrastructure and who keep it running smoothly. Skilled trades is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the current job market, and Irwin’s website champions trade professionals as “the real working hands of America.” National Tradesmen Day takes place annually on the third Friday of September.

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DISCOVERING HEMINGWAY: Influential book editor Maxwell Perkins was born on this day in 1884. One of the most powerful book editors of the early 20th century, Perkins made it his priority to search for and to nurture young authors. He is known for “discovering” F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Wolfe. Perkins worked at Charles Scribner’s Sons in New York City and died in Stamford, Connecticut on June 17, 1947.

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“They say you have to use your five best players but I found you win with the five who fit together the best.” — Arnold “Red” Auerbach, who was born on this day in 1917