Notable Birthdays for January 24
John Milton Thayer (1820-1906) - Brevet Major General for the Union Army.
John Pegram (1832-1865) - Brigadier General for the Confederate Army.
Thomas Jaggar (1871-1953) - Volcanologist.
Hoyt Vandenberg (1899-1954) - Air Force General.
Doris Haddock (1910-2010) - Activist who walked across the U.S. between the age of 88 and 90 to advocate for campaign finance reform.
Marvin Creamer (1916-2020) - The first recorded mariner to sail around the world without navigational instruments.
Ernest Borgnine (1917-2012) - Actor known for his role in The Dirty Dozen (1967) and The Wild Bunch (1969).
Oral Roberts (1918-2009) - Founder of the Oral Roberts University and Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association.
Jerry Maren (1920-2018) - Actor who played a lead munchkin in The Wizard of Oz.
Maria Tallchief (1925-2013) - Critically acclaimed ballerina.
Neil Diamond (1941-Still Living) - Singer well known for songs like Cracklin' Rosie, America, and Sweet Caroline.
Aaron Neville (1941-Still Living) - Singer whose distinct voice is heard in the song Don't Know Much.
David Gerrold (1944-Still Living) - Science fiction screenwriter who wrote the 2nd episode in Star Trek: The Original Series.
John Garamendi (1945-Still Living) - The first U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
Warren Zevon (1947-2003) - Singer-songwriter of many hits, including Werewolves of London.
John Belushi (1949-1982) -Actor fondly remembered for his role in The Blues Brothers with Dan Aykroyd.
Mary Lou Retton (1968-Still Living) - Olympic gold gymnast.
Ed Helms (1974-Still Living) - Actor known for his role as Stuart Price in The Hangover trilogy.
Memorable Events for January 24
1639 - The Connecticut colony organizes under Fundamental Orders.
1656 - The first Jewish doctor in the U.S. arrives in MD.
1848 - James Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill in CA.
1935 - The first canned beer (Krueger's Cream Ale) is sold by the Krueger Brewing Co.
1984 - Apple Computer goes on sale in the U.S.
1989 - The first case of AIDS transmitted by heterosexual is reported.
2003 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.