MILESTONES: May 19 birthdays for Kevin Garnett, Bill Laimbeer, Grace Jones

May 19, 2020 Brooklyn Eagle History

Kevin Garnett. Mary Altaffer/AP

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Fitch, who was born in 1932; original “Good Morning America” host David Hartman, who was born in 1935; “Flower Drum Song” star Nancy Kwan, who was born in 1939; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Pete Townshend (The Who), who was born in 1945; “Conan the Destroyer” star Grace Jones, who was born in 1948; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dusty Hill (ZZ Top), who was born in 1949; College Football Hall of Famer Archie Manning, who was born in 1949; former Yankees catcher and broadcaster Rick Cerone, who was born in 1954; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Phil Rudd (AC/DC), who was born in 1954; computer scientist and Java designer James Gosling, who was born in 1955; former New York Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer, who was born in 1957; and Basketball Hall of Famer and former Brooklyn Net Kevin Garnett, who was born in 1976.

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IN THE DARK: On this day in 1780, at midday, near total darkness unaccountably descended on much of New England, causing many people to believe that doomsday had arrived. In New Haven, Connecticut, Col. Abraham Davenport opposed adjournment of the town council by saying, “The day of judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for an adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought.”

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TRANSFORMATION: Malcolm X was born on this day in 1925. The black nationalist and civil rights leader was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. While serving a prison term, he resolved to transform his life. Upon his release in 1952, he changed his name to Malcolm X and worked for the Nation of Islam until he was suspended in 1963. He later made a pilgrimage to Mecca and became an orthodox Muslim. He was assassinated as he spoke at a meeting in the Audubon Ballroom in New York City on Feb. 21, 1965.

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

Quotable:

“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.”

— Malcolm X, who was born on this day in 1925