Notable Birthdays for December 22
James Scott Negley (1826-1901) - Major General in the Union Army.
Robert Ogden Tyler (1831-1874) - Brevet Major General in the Union Army.
Austin Norman Palmer (1860-1927) - Inventor of the Palmer Method of handwriting.
Marcus Hurley (1883-1941) - Gold medal cyclist.
Grote Reber (1911-2002) - Radio astronomer who invented the first parabolic radio telescope.
Lady Bird Johnson (1912-2007) - American beautification activist.
Barbara Billingsley (1915-2010) - Actress fondly remembered as June Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver.
Gene Rayburn (1917-1999) - Game show host for the Match Game.
Joseph Muhler (1923-1996) - Biochemist and dentist who developed Crest toothpaste.
Larry Stevenson (1930-2012) - Skateboarder who invented the kicktail trick.
Héctor Elizondo (1936-Still Living) - Actor who played Phillip Watters in Chicago Hope.
Bernnadette Stanis (1953-Still Living) - Actress who played Thelma in Good Times.
Diane Sawyer (1945-Still Living) - ABC journalist.
Rick Nielsen (1948-Still Living) - American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Tony Isabella (1951-Still Living) - Comic book writer who created the first Black superhero (Black Lightning).
Memorable Events for December 22
1807 - President Jefferson signs the Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries.
1851 - The Library of Congress burns.
1886 - The first national accountants' society is formed in NY City.
1894 - The Golf Association is formed.
1937 - The Lincoln Tunnel opens in NY.
1945 - President Truman issues an executive order giving World War II refugees precedence in visa applications.