JULY 31 | Birthdays and Events

Memorable Birthdays for July 31

Lydia Moss Bradley (1816-1908) - Founder of Bradley Polytechnic Institute (Illinois).

Mary Vaux Walcott (1860-1940) - Painter and illustrator known for her watercolor paintings of wildflowers.

S. S. Kresge (1867-1966) - Founder of Kmart.

Fred Quimby (1886-1965) - Animation producer best known for producing the cartoon Tom and Jerry.

Louise Smith (1916-2006) - Second woman to race in top level NASCAR.

Curt Gowdy (1919-2006) - Sportscaster who was the announcer for the Boston Red Sox games.

Donald Malarkey (1921-2017) -  Non-commissioned Army officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Also portrayed in Band of Brothers (Scott Grimes).

Stephanie Kwolek (1923-2014) - Chemist who invented Kevlar (tire material).

Ted Cassidy (1932-1979) - Actor who played Lurch in the Addams Family.

Bill Berry (1958-Still Living) - Drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M.

Mark Cuban (1958-Still Living) - Businessman and television personality on Shark Tank.

Zac Brown (1978-Still Living) - Lead singer and guitarist for the Zac Brown Band.

Notable Birthdays for July 31

1790 - Samuel Hopkins is issued the first patent of a "potash" process.

1792 - Stones are laid for first government building (U.S. Mint in Philadelphia).

1874 - Patrick Francis Healy became the first Black person to be inaugurated as President (Georgetown University) of a predominantly white university.

1876 - The Coast Guard officers' training school is established in New Bedford , MA.

1912- The government censors movies and photos of prizefights.

1922 - Ralph Samuelson rides the world's first water skis in MN.

1971 - Astronauts on Apollo 15 become the first to ride in a lunar rover.

2012 - Michael Phelps breaks the 1964 record for the most medals won at the Olympics.