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A Look at Notable & Celebrity Deaths from January 2025 Week 3

Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reviewed and fact-checked by the Legacy.com news team in the third week of January 2025.

Jimmy Wilkerson (1981–2024), former Chiefs defensive end

Jimmy Wilkerson was a defensive lineman for such NFL teams as the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the New Orleans Saints.

Chuck Woolery (1941–2024), Love Connection host

Chuck Woolery was a longtime game show host best known for “Love Connection” and as the original daytime host of “Wheel of Fortune.” 

Bela Karolyi (1942–2024), coach who transformed U.S. gymnastics

Bela Karolyi was a gymnastics coach whose sometimes-controversial methods helped transform U.S. gymnastics and bring home gold medals, techniques that also stirred up criticism for alleged abuse.

Chauncy Glover (1985–2024), Emmy-winning news anchor

Chauncy Glover was a news anchor at KCAL in Los Angeles and KTRK in Houston, where he was known for his philanthropy and mentorship.

Ron Ely (1938–2024), Tarzan of the 1960s

Ron Ely was an actor best known for starring in the 1960s television show “Tarzan” and hosting the Miss America pageant.

Thelma Mothershed Wair (1940–2024), Little Rock Nine member

Thelma Mothershed Wair was the oldest of the Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957, prompting one of the most important civil rights clashes in American history. 

Jay J. Armes (1932–2024), famous private investigator

Jay J. Armes was a private investigator from Texas who became famous thanks to his unusual cases, prosthetic hands, offbeat lifestyle, and action figure made in his likeness. 

J.D. Souther (1945–2024), co-writer of The Eagles’ most popular hits

J.D. Souther was a singer, songwriter, and occasional actor best known for penning hits for The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, including “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight.” 

John Cassaday (1971–2024), noted X-Men, Planetary comic book artist

John Cassaday was a comic book artist best known for his work with Joss Whedon on “Astonishing X-Men" and as the co-creator of “Planetary.” 

Allen Aldridge (1972–2024), Denver Broncos Super Bowl champion

Allen Aldridge was an NFL linebacker who won Super Bowl XXXII with the Denver Broncos and played for the Detroit Lions.

Rob “Rabbit” Pitts (1979–2024), Tex Mex Motors star

Rob “Rabbit” Pitts was a vintage car enthusiast known for his YouTube channel and his 2023 Netflix show, “Tex Mex Motors.” 

Shaun Martin (1978–2024), Snarky Puppy keyboardist

Shaun Martin was a seven-time Grammy Award winner as a keyboardist for the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy and music director and producer for gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

Jerry Fuller (1938–2024), Travelin’ Man songwriter

Jerry Fuller was a singer and songwriter best known for his compositions for other artists, including Ricky Nelson’s “Travelin’ Man” and “Young Girl” for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.

Sheila Jackson Lee (1950–2024), 30-year congresswoman from Texas

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a 30-year congresswoman from Texas best known for her advocacy of progressive causes.

Abner Haynes (1937–2024), Kansas City Chiefs legend

Abner Haynes was a star running back who was the first-ever Player of the Year in the AFL and a Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame inductee.

Shelley Duvall (1949–2024), star of The Shining, Faerie Tale Theatre

Shelly Duvall was an actress known for standing out in the horror classic, “The Shining,” as well as for playing Olive Oyl in “Popeye,” supporting work in Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall,” and her role in the Robert Altman favorite, “Nashville.” 

Kinky Friedman (1944–2024), singer, humorist, and provocateur

Kinky Friedman was a singer, humorist, columnist, and all-around provocateur who led the band The Texas Jewboys and once ran for governor of Texas.

Jewel Brown (1937–2024), Houston jazz legend

Jewel Brown was a Houston jazz legend who for years performed with the band of jazz icon Louis Armstrong.

Spencer Milligan (1937–2024), dad Rick Marshall on Land of the Lost

Spencer Milligan was an actor best known for playing Rick Marshall, the park ranger and widowed father on the popular Saturday morning adventure show, “Land of the Lost.” 

Johnny Canales (1942–2024), Tejano singer and TV host

Johnny Canales was a Mexican Tejano singer and popular television show host who helped launch the career of singer Selena.

Mark James (1940–2024), songwriter of Hooked on a Feeling

Mark James was a songwriter who wrote a string of major hits performed by artists like Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson, including “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Suspicious Minds,” and “Always On My Mind.”

Robert Hughes (1928–2024), winningest boys’ HS basketball coach

Robert Hughes was a boys’ high school basketball coach in Fort Worth, Texas whose successful leadership lead to over 1,300 victories for his teams over decades.

Clarence Sasser (1947–2024), Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient 

Clarence Sasser was a U.S. Army combat medic in the Vietnam War who was given the Medal of Honor for his valor in rescuing the wounded.

Eddie Gossage (1958–2024), president of Texas Motor Speedway

Eddie Gossage was a race promoter and president of Texas Motor Speedway, credited with helping bring NASCAR back to Texas after its long absence. 

Rev. Bill Lawson (1928–2024), civil rights leader who worked with MLK

Rev. William “Bill” Lawson was a Houston civil rights leader who helped peacefully integrate his city and worked alongside

Jimmy Johnson (1938–2024), Hall of Fame 49ers cornerback

Jimmy Johnson was a cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1960s and ‘70s and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gary Floyd (1952–2024), founder of pioneering punks The Dicks

Gary Floyd was a punk vocalist and the founder of groundbreaking band The Dicks, known for their confrontational anti-authoritarian approach, as spearheaded by Floyd’s in-your-face sexuality and disdain for those in power.

Rev. Cecil Williams (1929–2024), San Francisco pastor and humanitarian

Rev. Cecil Williams was the pastor of Glide Church in San Francisco for 60 years, turning it from a small congregation to San Francisco’s largest social services provider, one years ahead of its time in welcoming LGBTQ members.

Jerry Grote (1942–2024), catcher for the Miracle Mets 

Jerry Grote was a Major League Baseball catcher who won the 1969 World Series with the New York Mets.

Pat Zachry (1952–2024), MLB Rookie of the Year in 1976

Pat Zachry was the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 1976, winning a World Series with the Cincinnati Reds that same year before being traded for future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.

Paul Alexander (1946–2024), spent over 70 years in an iron lung 

Paul Alexander survived polio as a child and as a result was placed in an iron lung in 1952, in which he remained almost entirely confined for the rest of his life. 

Lichelle “Boss” Laws (1969–2024), pioneering female rapper 

Lichelle Laws was better known as Boss, a pioneering rapper and the first woman signed to Def Jam Records.

Héctor Ortiz (1969–2024), coach with the Texas Rangers 

Héctor Ortiz was a former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher and a coach with the Texas Rangers.

Robert Reid (1955–2024), Houston Rockets star in the 1980s

Robert Reid was a 13-year NBA veteran best known for his long tenure with the Houston Rockets, with whom he went to two NBA Finals.

Jack Burke Jr. (1923–2024), two-time major-winning golfer 

Jack “Jackie” Burke Jr. was a PGA Tour golfer and winner of both the Masters and PGA Championship in 1956 who won 16 PGA Tour events overall during his career.

Shawn Barber (1994–2024), world champion pole vaulter 

Shawnacy “Shawn” Barber was a Canadian pole vaulter who won his event in both the World Championships and Pam American Games in 2015.

Jo-El Sonnier (1946–2024), Grammy-winning Cajun musician

Jo-El Sonnier was a Cajun and country singer-songwriter known for “No More One More Time” and “Tear-Stained Letter.” 

Adan Canto (1981–2024), The Cleaning Lady star 

Adan Canto was a Mexican actor best known for playing Arman Morales on “The Cleaning Lady” for two seasons, as well his role as Aaron Shore on “Designated Survivor.” 

Eddie Bernice Johnson (1935–2023), longtime U.S. Rep. from Texas

Eddie Bernice Johnson represented the Dallas area in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 until her retirement in 2023.

Laura Lynch (1958–2023), Dixie Chicks founding member

Laura Lynch was a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, playing bass and providing vocals as part of the original line up. 

Sandra Day O’Connor (1930–2023), first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court

Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States.

D.J. Hayden (1990–2023), Raiders, Jaguars cornerback 

D.J. Hayden was a cornerback for such NFL teams as the Oakland Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Walt Garrison (1944–2023), Dallas Cowboys fullback 

Walt Garrison was a star fullback for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960s and ‘70s who would go on to be inducted into both the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Billy Miller (1979–2023), The Young and the Restless star

Billy Miller was an actor who won Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance as Billy Abbott in the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” 

Charlie Robison (1964–2023), country singer and songwriter 

Charlie Robison was a Texas singer and songwriter whose country music singles included “I Want You Bad.” 

Douglas Lenat (1950–2023), pioneer in AI development 

Douglas Lenat was a computer scientist and artificial intelligence developer who worked on systems to allow AIs to use “common sense” when parsing data.0

Gayle Hunnicutt (1943–2023), Dallas star 

Gayle Hunnicutt was an actress best known in the U.S. for her role as Vanessa Beaumont on “Dallas.”