David McKnight (1936–2023), actor in J.D.’s Revenge, Under Siege

David McKnight was an actor who starred in the 1976 blaxploitation horror film “J.D.’s Revenge,” along with appearances in dozens of other movies and TV shows, including “Under Siege,” “Superhero Movie,” and others.

Jim Kolbe (1942–2022), longtime U.S. representative from Arizona

Jim Kolbe was a Republican who represented Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1985 until 2007.

Edward Shames (1922–2021), last surviving “Band of Brothers” officer

Edward Shames was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the last surviving officer from Easy Company, profiled in the book and miniseries “Band of Brothers.”

Claude Humphrey (1944–2021), Hall of Fame defensive end

Claude Humphrey was a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end who played with the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles.

Narinder Kapany (1926–2020), physicist who co-invented fiber optics

Narinder Kapany was a physicist known as the “father of fiber optics,” who was one of the inventors of fiber optics technology.

Whitney Collings (2020), reality TV star of “Bad Girls Club”

Whitney Collings starred on season three of the Oxygen reality TV series “Bad Girls Club” in 2008.

Ernest Finney (1931–2017), South Carolina's first African-American chief justice

He was a prominent civil rights attorney before becoming chief justice…

John Anderson (1922–2017), Former longtime Illinois Congressman

Ran for President as an independent in 1980…

Scott Weiland (1967–2015), Stone Temple Pilots frontman

Charismatic singer-songwriter who fronted Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver.

Gwendolyn Brooks Made Poetry That Mattered

The life and career of the first African American poet to win a Pulitzer Prize.