Memorable Birthdays for February 17
Samuel Read Anderson (1804-1883) - Brigadier General for the Confederate Army.
Haller Nutt (1816-1864) - Southern Plantation owner of Longwood house, which is considered the largest octagonal house in the U.S.
Aaron Montgomery Ward (1843-1913) - Founder of Montgomery Ward.
Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879-1958) - Social reformer who managed the first adult education program in the U.S.
Mary Carson Breckinridge (1881-1965) - Nurse midwife and founder of the Frontier Nursing Service.
Andre Norton (1912-2005) - Science fiction and fantasy author.
Annie Glenn (1920-2020) - Advocate for people with disabilities and communication disorders.
Huey P. Newton (1942-1989) - Co-founder of the Black Panther Party.
Richard Karn (1956-Still Living) - Actor known for his role as Al Borland in the sitcom Home Improvement.
Lou Diamond Phillips (1962-Still Living) - Actor who played Ritchie Valens in La Bamba.
Larry the Cable Guy (1963-Still Living) - Comedian and voice actor.
Michael Jordan (1963-Still Living) - Former NBA basketball player and businessman.
Billie Joe Armstrong (1972-Still Living) - Singer, guitarist, lead singer and co-founder of the rock band Green Day.
Memorable Events for February 17
1801 - Thomas Jefferson is named President and Aaron Burr VP after the House of Representatives breaks an electoral college tie.
1878 - California opens 18 phone lines.
1897 - The National Organization of Mothers is formed.by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst.
1913 - Oregon becomes the second state to enact the minimum wage law.
1933 - Newsweek distributes its first issue.