Notable Birthdays for December 14
Philander Chase (1775-1852) - Founder of Kenyon College (OH).
John Mercer Langston (1829-1987) - The first Black to hold a U.S. political office.
Allen Thomas (1830-1907) - Brigadier General for the Confederate Army.
William Wells (1837-1892) - Brevet Major General for the Union Army.
Louis Marshall (1856-1929) - One of the founders of the American Jewish Committee.
Lillian Randolph (1898-1978) - Actress known for her roles in It's A Wonderful Life: Roots and The Onion Field.
Frances Bavier (1902-1989) - Actress fondly remembered for her role as Aunt Bee in The Andy Griffith Show.
Morey Amsterdam (1908-1996) - Actor who played Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Edward Lawrie Tatum (1909-1975) - Geneticist.
Don Hewitt (1922-2009) - Creator of 60 Minutes.
Cecil Payne (1922-2007) - Baritone saxophonist.
Charlie Hodge (1934-2006) - Musician and best friend to Elvis Presley.
Lewis Arquette (1935-2001) - Actor known for his role as J.D. Pickett on The Waltons.
Carl Scheer (1936-2019) - Inventor of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Patty Duke (1946-2016) - Actress and star of The Patty Duke Show.
Michael Ovitz (1946-Still Living) - Co-founder of the Creative Artists Agency.
Diane Williams (1960-Still Living) - Medal winning sprinter known worldwide.
C. J. Snare (1964-2024) - Founding member and lead singer to the rock band Firehouse.
Tamecka Dixon (1975-Still Living) - WNBA guard for LA Sparks.
Jackson Rathbone (1984-Still Living) - Actor who played Jasper Hale in The Twilight Saga.
Vanessa Hudgens (1988-Still Living) - Actress who rose to fame after starring as Gabriella in the High School Musical films.
Memorable Events for December 14
1793 - The first state road authorized is authorized between Kentucky and Cincinnati.
1798 - David Wilkinson receives the patent for a nut and bolt machine.
1819 - Alabama becomes the 22nd state to join the Union.
1849 - The first chamber music group gives the first concert in the U.S.
1903 - The Wright brothers make their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk.
1906 - The Pure Food and Drug Act is introduced in the Senate.
1914 - President Wilson signs the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act to regulate opiates and coca products.
1934 - The first steam locomotive is introduced N.Y.
1948 - Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann are granted a patent for the earliest version of the electronic game.