Forgotten Duluthian Townsend W. Hoopes II
In March of 1968, the United States was mired in the war in Vietnam. General William Westmoreland, commander of American forces in Vietnam, asked President Johnson for an additional 206,000 troops....
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian: Songwriter Sammy Gallop
Americans growing up in the 1940s and 1950s are probably familiar with some of the popular songs written by composer/lyricist—and Duluth native—Sammy Gallop. He wrote the lyrics for the songs “Maybe...
View ArticleDon LaFontaine, Duluth’s ‘Voice of God’
In a world where…a few top voice-over actors have successful careers making movie trailers, Duluth-native Don LaFontaine was known as “The King, “Thunder Throat,” and “The Voice of God.” When he died...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian: James E. McDonald, UFO Researcher
Atmospheric physicist and Duluth-native James E. McDonald was by all accounts brilliant, idealistic, and outspoken. When he began researching and speaking publicly on UFOs, he became controversial as...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Russell Mayberry
As a kid growing up in Morgan Park in the 1930s, Duluth-native Russell Mayberry dreamed of working in radio. Later dreams of becoming an actor didn’t come true, but Mayberry did find work in television...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Alexander Miles
Users of early elevators were responsible for opening and closing the doors manually, sometimes neglecting to close the doors and creating a hazardous situation with the shaft exposed. Duluthian...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Jack O’Brien
Jack O’Brien grew up in Duluth in the early 1900s with a reputation as a natural leader and an athlete who was considered to be reckless and adventurous. His teachers said his Irish blood seemed to...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Gar Wood, powerboat racing legend
In the 1920s and 1930s, Garfield Wood—known as “Gar” or the “Silver Fox of Algonac”—was probably the most famous powerboat racer in the world. Growing up in Duluth, he learned many of the skills that...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Hugh Fawcett
Hugh Fawcett and his son Gil are important figures in the history of the Zenith City, Hugh for his work as a contractor on many important local projects, and Gil as a local historian and as an early...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Gil Fawcett
Gil Fawcett and his father Hugh are important figures in the history of the Zenith City, Hugh for his work as a contractor on many important local projects, and Gil as a local historian and as an early...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Hannes Bok
Hannes Bok was a difficult, obsessive, nearly friendless recluse who may have died of starvation. He is also considered to be one of the most talented science-fiction and fantasy illustrators of the...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Claude C. Washburn
The Washburns were an important family in Duluth’s history, and author and Duluth-native Claude Washburn—although he lived much of his life in Europe—never lost his connection to the city. He used...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Lauran Paine
Duluth-native Lauran Paine was one of the most-published authors in the world. He was best known for his westerns, but he also wrote romance, mystery, and science-fiction novels and non-fiction books....
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Wellyn Totman
Duluth native Wellyn Totman turned a youthful interest in films and entertainment and a talent for writing and promotion into a career in Hollywood as a successful screenwriter. The Totman family were...
View ArticleNovember’s Forgotten Duluthian: Emily Schupp
The development of modern dance in the United States began in the 1890s with Loie Fuller and, most famously, in the early 1900s by Isadora Duncan. They were moving away from the strictures of ballet to...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Feodor von Luerzer
Unless you are an art historian, you likely don’t know the name Feodor von Luerzer. Don’t feel bad—most art historians probably aren’t too familiar with his work either. But you may be already familiar...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Adelaide Thurston
Duluthian Adelaide Thurston dreamed of being an actress from childhood, and through hard work and determination made a career for herself on the stage. Thurston was born Adelaide Belle Sawyer on...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Ethel Ray Nance
As a young girl growing up in Duluth, Ethel Ray would sit on the rocks above her Central Hillside home and, watching ships head out of the harbor and onto Lake Superior, dream of traveling away from...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Peggy Knudsen
Growing up in Duluth, Peggy Knudsen dreamed of a life as an actress. After taking advantage of opportunities to learn her craft in amateur theater productions and local radio, she left the Zenith City...
View ArticleForgotten Duluthian Clinton F. Russell
Anyone who has tried golfing knows it’s a difficult game to play well. Imagine a blind person trying to master the game. Native-Duluthian Clinton Russell, who lost his sight in his late twenties, not...
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