First African American is confirmed to Supreme Court - This Day in History – Aug 30th

Back in 1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first African American to be appointed to the Supreme Court.  Born in Baltimore, MD Justice Marshall’s legacy of upholding the rights of the U.S. Constitution ran for 24 years.  He retired in 1991 due to health reasons.  Marshall died in 1993 at the age of 85 from heart failure.

http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/122/hill/marshall.htm

Hollywood Tough-Guy, Actor, Charles Bronson dies

Charles Bronson, an actor who portrayed tough-guy roles in Hollywood movies 7 died on this day back in 2003.  Born Charles Buchunsky in 1921, this Ehrenfeld, PA, resident worked in Pennsylvania Coal Mines and was a World War II Veteran.  Mr. Bronson is well known for movies such as: Death Wish, The Mechanic, Breakheart Pass, Mr. Majestic and The Magnificent. Mr. Bronson lived to the age of 81.

Guy Bluford becomes first African American in Space

Back in 1983, NASA approved Philadelphian, Guion “Guy” Stewart Bluford II as the first African American in Space.  Mr. Bluford along with his associates boarded The Challenger from Cape Canaveral, Florida for a 6-day space mission.

According to history.com, “In 1979, he was accepted into the U.S. astronaut program. He made his first flight in 1983 as a mission specialist on the eighth shuttle mission. He later flew three more shuttle missions, logging a total of 700 hours in orbit. After returning from NASA, he became vice president and general manager of an engineering company in Ohio.”

Singer, Songwriter Christopher Cross goes “Sailing” with his #1 hit ballad

Christopher Cross, rose from obscurity with his the #1 ballad, “Sailing,” back in 1980.  Cross says MTV may have kept him from more big hits because the music channel moved further and further away from his soft rock, ballad style.

According to history.com, Cross once said: "Would I have rather had a career like Peter Gabriel's or Sting's or somebody that grows over a long period of years and sustains like they have?" Cross asked himself in an interview 20 years after his heyday. "I'd prefer that as opposed to the sort of meteoric curve of my career...[but] I hear my music in grocery stores and people do know who I am, and I continue to tour so it's great. Given the options, I wouldn't change a thing."

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/casey-stengel-retires