Notable Birthdays for December 17
Samuel Jones (1819-1887) - Major General for the Confederate Army.
Frederick Tracy Dent (1820-1892) - General for the Union Army.
James T. Holtzclaw (1833-1893) - Brigadier General in the Confederate Army,
Willard Libby (1908-1980) -Chemist who helped discover radiocarbon dating that is still being used in archaeology and palaeontology.
Burt Baskin (1913-1967) - Co-founder of Baskin-Robbins.
James McGaugh (1931-Still Living) - Neurobiologist and co-founder of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.
Cal Ripken Sr. (1935-1999) - MLB player, coach, manager and later scout.
James Booker (1939-1983) - Pianist often referred to as the Black Liberace.
Ernie Hudson (1945-Still Living) - Award winning actor who had major roles in Ghostbusters, The Crow, and Congo.
Wes Studi (1947-Still Living) - Actor recognized for his roles in Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans.
Laurence F. Johnson (1950-Still Living) - Founder and CEO of EdFutures.org.
Mike Mills (1958-Still Living) - Founding member of the rock band R.E.M.
Giovanni Ribisi (1974-Still Living) - Actor who had significant roles in Gone in 60 Seconds, Public Enemies, Sneaky Pete and Friends.
Memorable Events for December 17
1791 - The first one-way street is created in NY City.
1862 - General Ulysses Grant expels Jews from TN.
1895 - The Anti-Saloon League of America is formed in D.C.
1900 - The Ellis Island Immigration Station is completed.
1924 - The first diesel electric locomotive begins running in NY.
1944 - US Army announces the end of detaining Japanese Americans and beings their release.
1965 - The largest newspaper (Sunday NY Times) is sold for 50 cents for 946 pages.
1999 - International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women is created.
2003 - International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is created.