Patrick Gottsch (1953–2024), founder of RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel

Patrick Gottsch was a media executive who helped shine a spotlight on rural, western American life via RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel, both of which he founded.

Barbara Mullen (1927–2023), unconventional 1950s model

Barbara Mullen was a model in the 1950s whose slim frame offered a glimpse into the future of modeling.

Larry McMurtry (1936–2021), Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Lonesome Dove”

Larry McMurtry was an author and screenwriter known for novels including “Lonesome Dove” and “The Last Picture Show” as well as his Oscar-winning adapted screenplay for “Brokeback Mountain.”

Steve Dalkowski (1939–2020), the inspiration for "Nuke LaLoosh" in the movie Bull Durham

SteveDalkowskiwas one of the fastest pitchers in organized baseballhistorywith a fastball thought to be over100 miles per hours. Known for having trouble controlling the strike zone, he was the inspiration for the character NukeLaLoosh1d in the movie Bull Durham .

Joe Coulombe (1930–2020), founder of Trader Joe’s

Joe Coulombe was the founder of Trader Joe’s, the budget-conscious grocery store chain that focuses on unusual prepared foods, gourmet goods, and produce. Coulombe later worked with retail brands including Thrifty Corp. and Petrini’s.

Azellia White (1913–2019), pioneering Black female pilot

Pilot Azellia White (1913–2019)helped pave the way for black women in aviation. White trained in Tuskegee where her husband was stationed during World War II as a mechanic with the famed Tuskegee Airmen. She received her pilotfs license on March 26, 1946.

Chuck Barris (1929–2017), The Newlywed Game creator

Chuck Barris, the "dangerous mind" behind game shows including "The Newlywed Game" and "The Gong Show," died Tuesday, March 21, 2017. He was 87.

Yordano Ventura (1991 - 2017), Kansas City Royals pitcher

Yordano Ventura, a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic, according to multiple news sources. He was 25.

Herb Weatherwax (1917–2016), Pearl Harbor survivor

Herb Weatherwax, a Pearl Harbor survivor who was a greeter at the USS Arizona Memorial, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, according to The Associated Press. He was 99.

Tony Curtis: The Artist

On screen, actor Tony Curtis was at his peak during the 1950s and '60s. Then, in the 1980s, Curtis revealed another side of himself: He was an artist.

Curtis Mayfield: The Sound of Civil Rights

Curtis Mayfield, born 70 years ago today, wrote music that inspired a generation and a movement...