Butterfly McQueen (1911 - 1995)

Born Thelma McQueen in Tampa, Florida on January 7, 1911, she planned to become a nurse until a high school teacher suggested that she try acting. McQueen initially studied with Janet Collins and went on to dance with the Venezuela Jones Negro Youth Group. Around this time she acquired the nickname “Butterfly” – a tribute […]

Buttermilk (1970 - 1970)

Show horse. When Dale Evans was signed to be the co-star of Roy Rogers, the studio was under the impression, she being from Texas, was proficient in horsemanship.  However, she had never before been in a saddle and was unable to ride.  Lessons were arranged and she became an expert rider. It was determined that […]

Byron De La Beckwith (1920 - 2001)

White supremacist convicted of the June 12, 1963, murder of NAACP field secretary Medgar Evers in Mississippi. In 1964, Beckwith was tried twice for the murder, but both trials ended with hung juries, both juries being all-white. In 1989, at the insistence of Evers’ widow Myrlie Evers Williams, Hinds County, MS, Assistant District Attorney Bobby […]

Byron Haskin (1899 - 1984)

Byron Conrad Haskin (April 22, 1899 – April 16, 1984) was an American film and television director. He was born in Portland, Oregon. Byron Haskin is known for directing The War of the Worlds (1953), one of many films where he teamed with producer George Pal. In his early career, he was a special effects artist, […]

Byron Kilbourn (1801 - 1870)

Business Magnate, Milwaukee Founder and Mayor. The son of US Congressman James Kilbourne, he worked in Ohio as a surveyor and state engineer, and moved to Wisconsin in 1834. In 1837 he established Kilbourntown on 160 acres west of the Milwaukee River. There were already two new settlements in the region, Solomon Juneau’s Juneautown (east […]

Byron Laflin Smith (1853 - 1914)

Founder of the Northern Trust Company, a major financial institution.  Family links:  Spouse:  Carrie Cornelia Stone Smith (1856 – 1929)*  Children:  Walter Byron Smith (1878 – 1945)*  Bruce Donald Smith (1885 – 1952)* *Calculated relationship

Byron Nugent (1842 - 1908)

Nugent founded a small company, B. Nugent & Bro. Dry Goods Company, & turned it into one of the largest operations in the midwest. (bio by: Connie Nisinger)  Family links:  Spouse:  Julia Lake Nugent (1852 – 1928)*  Children:  Edwin Nugent (1876 – 1934)*  Byron Nugent (1881 – 1906)*  Julian Lake Nugent (1893 – 1958)* *Calculated […]

Byron Raymond “Whizzer” White (1917 - 2002)

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice, Professional Football Player. Born in in Fort Collins, Colorado, he grew up in tiny Wellington, where his father was a lumber dealer and staunch Republican mayor.  White excelled in both academics and athletics.  He graduated first in his high school, college, and law school classes.  His athletic achievements included […]

Byron Raymond “Whizzer” White (1917 - 2002)

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice, Professional Football Player. Born in in Fort Collins, Colorado, he grew up in tiny Wellington, where his father was a lumber dealer and staunch Republican mayor.  White excelled in both academics and athletics.  He graduated first in his high school, college, and law school classes.  His athletic achievements included […]