Bobby Duncum Sr. obit

Bobby Duncum Sr. Passes Away

 

He was not on the list.

Bobby Duncum Sr. has passed away at the age of 81.

Duncum made his debut in 1966, working for the NWA, AWA, WWWF, and more. In the 1970s, he would often face Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Championship. His final match was on November 16, 1986, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he tag teamed with Lord Zoltan to defeat Troy Orndorff and Kurt Kaufman.

From WWE:

WWE is saddened to learn that Bobby Duncum Sr. has passed away.

One of the most feared villains of the territories, the rugged cowboy from Austin, Texas, was as tough as they came. A graduate of West Texas State University, the same institution that produced Dusty Rhodes, The Funk Brothers and many other icons, Duncum was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1967 NFL Draft and played four pro games in 1968.

Carrying on the great tradition of Texas football stars turned pro wrestlers, Duncum entered the ring and became infamous for his wild street fights and brutal battles against WWE Legends like Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. He was also a member of the iconic Heenan Family, led by WWE Hall of Famer Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, in the AWA.

WWE extends its condolences to Duncum Sr.’s family, friends and fans.

Before wrestling, Duncum played football at West Texas A&M. He was drafted in the thirteenth round (331st overall) in 1967.

Fightful sends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Bobby Duncum Sr.

Rob Hirst obit

Rob Hirst Dies: Midnight Oil’s Founding Drummer & Songwriter Was 70

 

He was not on the list.

Robert “Rob” Hirst, who co-founded and played drums for Australian rock band Midnight Oil and co-wrote many of its songs, has died. He was 70. The group announced his death on social media but did not specify a date or cause, but he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023.

“After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain – “a glimmer of tiny light in the wilderness,” the band wrote. “He died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.” In a separate post, the group wrote: “We are shattered and grieving the loss of our brother Rob. For now there are no words but there will always be songs. Love Always from Jim, Martin & Pete.”

Fronted by singer and future Aussie politician Peter Garrett, the politically charged Midnight Oil enjoyed commercial success in the 1980s and ’90s, scoring international hit albums including Diesel and Dust (1987), Blue Sky Mining (1990) and Earth and Sun and Moon (1993). The group also scored a number of hit singles including “Beds Are Burning,” “The Dead Heart,” “Blue Sky Mine,” “Forgotten Years” and “King of the Mountain”

Born on September 5, 1955, in Camden, New South Wales, Hirst formed a trio in 1972 with school chums Jim Moginie on guitar and keyboards and Andrew “Bear” James on bass. After being known as Schwampy Moose and later Farm, they later became Midnight, having recruited Garrett in 1973, and guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977.

The band released its self-titled debut LP in 1978 and a second set, Head Injuries, the following year. Both sold well Down Under, eventually going platinum. But it’s third album, 1981’s Place without a Post Card, reached No. 12 in Australia, and 1982 follow-up 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 gave the group its first Aussie Top 10 hit with “Power and the Passion.” Hirst, who also sang and played guitar and keyboards, co-wrote the track with Garrett and Moginie.

By then, Midnight Oil was among the country’s most popular bands. Its next album, 1984′ Red Sails in the Sunset, began a string of three consecutive chart-toppers Down Under and dented the Billboard 200 in the United States.

Its next album made the group international stars.

Diesel and Dust was issued in 1987 and featured Midnight Oil’s breakthrough singles “Beds Are Burning” and “The Dead Heart.” Both co-written by Hirst, whose driving drums propelled them, the songs spotlighted Indigenous issues to non-native audiences. Featuring a big singalong chorus, “Beds Are Burning” hit No. 1 in three countries and went Top 10 in several others. It reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Album Rock Tracks chart. “The Dead Heart” featured another grabby chorus and was a lesser but broad hit. The album was the group’s lone platinum seller Stateside and its lone Top 20 in the UK.

“Beds Are Burning” was reissued in 1989 in the UK, where it became the country’s only Top 10 single.

Blue Sky Mining arrived in early 1990 and was another international hit, going Top 10 in seven countries and making the Top 30 in the U.S. and UK. The single “Blue Sky Mine” became the band’s biggest U.S. hit, topping Billboard’s Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts. Follow-up single “Forgotten Years” also topped the Modern Rock chart, and the album’s “King of the Mountain” reached No. 3 on that tally.

Midnight Oil would score three more Top 10 on the American Modern Rock chart with 1993’s “Truganini,” “Drums of Heaven” and “Outbreak of Love” — all from the album Earth and Sun and Moon and co-wrote by Hirst.

Midnight Oil wouldn’t reach that success with its subsequent releases and went on hiatus for nearly 15 years after 2001’s Capricornia. They would reunite in 2016 with Hirst, Garrett, Moginie and bassist Bones Hillman, who had joined in 1987 and died in 2020. The group released two more studio albums, most recently 2022’s Resist, giving it 13 in all, along with numerous live, compilation and box sets. Garrett left the group that year to pursue a career in Aussie politics.

Midnight Oil was on a break in 1990 when Hirst teamed with Hoodoo Gurus guitarist Richard Grossman to form Ghostwriters, which ultimate would release three albums that decade and another in 2006. “Someone’s Singing New York New York,” a single written by Hirst from the band’s 1991 eponymous debut, made the Top 30 in Australia.

Hirst issued a series of solo albums starting in 2005, and Born Electric was released in October.

Information on survivors was not immediately available, but the family asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Pankind or Support Act.

Ronald Joseph obit

Ron Joseph, Olympic Medalist and Pioneering Surgeon, Remembered for Grace and Family

 He was not on the list.

Before illness stilled his body, Dr. Ronald Joseph was once a picture a power, precision and grace.

A decorated Olympic figure skater and later a pioneering orthopedic surgeon, he died peacefully Tuesday after a grueling battle with ALS.

He was the husband of St. Johns County Commissioner Krista Joseph, who departed Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting after receiving the news on the dais.

Before ALS confined him to a wheelchair and ventilator, Joseph was a world-class master of the ice, whose speed and daring carried him to Olympic glory.

Competing with his sister, Vivian Joseph, he represented the United States in pairs figure skating at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, ultimately earning the bronze medal and becoming part of the first Jewish medal-winning team in Olympic figure skating history.

Born in Chicago on Oct. 9, 1944, Joseph began skating with his sister in the late 1950s. Leaving crowds spellbound, the pair ascended quickly, winning the U.S. junior national title in 1961 and earning senior national medals in 1962 and 1963.

Known for their blistering pace and technical complexity, they competed internationally at the World and North American Championships.

In 1965, the Josephs won the U.S. senior national championship, followed by gold at the North American Championships and silver at the World Championships, before retiring from competition.

Six decades later, Joseph and his sister were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Joseph chose medicine over a professional skating career, training at Northwestern University and the Mayo Clinic. Over a 50-year career, he became a renowned orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder, hand and wrist surgery and helped pioneer arthroscopic shoulder repair.

Joseph met Krista Keating in 1990, and they built a blended family that included their daughter Ali and Krista’s three children from her first marriage.

The couple shared 32 years of marriage, marked by deep partnership and faith. His devastating diagnosis was delivered on his wife’s first day in office.

Even as the disease progressed, Joseph, who later converted to Catholicism, remained engaged and humorous, with Krista providing unwavering care and support throughout the ordeal.

“Eventually, he could only communicate with his eye movements on a computer screen,” read a statement from St. Johns County. “And yet, his intellect, his love for his family, and his sense of humor never waned.”

In his final interview, he reflected on the principle that charted his life’s course: “It’s the journey that counts, not the medals.”

Donations in Dr. Ronald B. Joseph’s name can be made to Our Lady Star of the Sea in Ponte Vedra Beach where a Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at 1 PM on Friday. The public is welcome.

Valentino obit

Valentino Dies: Legendary Italian Fashion Designer Was 93

He was not on the list.

Legendary Italian Fashion Designer Valentino has died at the age of 93, his foundation announced on Monday.

The foundation said the designer, whose full name was Valentino Garavani, died in his home in Rome on January 19.

Across his career, Valentino dressed a host of stars including Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbra Streisand, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, and Monica Vitti.

His other famous clients included Jackie Kennedy for whom he designed the wedding dress for her second marriage to Aristotle Onassis in 1968.

The designer was born in the Northern town of Voghera in 1932 to a well-off bourgeois family. His mother named him after the 1920s Italian-born Hollywood film star Rudolph Valentino, and from a young age he obsessed with Hollywood glamor.

He enrolled at the L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne fashion school in Paris at the age of 17, and then secured apprenticeships in the workshop of fashion houses Balenciaga, Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche.

After a close to a decade living and working in Paris he returned to Rome and with the support of his parents set up his own fashion house close to Piazza di Spagna in 1960.

That same year, he met Giancarlo Giammetti who would become his lifelong partner and the business brains behind the Maison Valentino fashion house.

Valentino began to gain international fame in the early 1960s following a commission from Kennedy for six haute couture dresses in black and white, which she wore during her year of mourning following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

She became a life-long client with the wedding dress he would later design for her wedding to Onassis hailed as groundbreaking for the shortness of its length.

The fashion house would become synonymous with glamour and a jet-set life-style which Valentino embodied himself, splitting his time between statement luxury homes in Rome, New York, London, and Gstaad as well as France where he owned the Château de Wideville outside Paris.

Valentino and Giammetti were also known for their star-studded parties and receptions. Legendary among these was the three-day Valentino 45th anniversary party in Rome in 2007, spanning a fashion show, gala ball and concert by Annie Lennox, with guests including Mick Jagger and Claudia Schiffer.

That same year, the designer announced his retirement in 2008 and he delivered his last last haute couture show in Paris the following January. He continued to be make a splash on the social scene, hosting a special reception for Sofia Coppola at Château de Wideville in 2017.

With his career and image intertwined with the film and entertainment world, Valentino also made big screen cameo appearances in 2006 hit The Devil Wears Prada and Zoolander 2 in 2016.

He was also the subject of the 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor, following the designer nd his inner circle throughout various events including the 45th anniversary celebrations. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2008.

Valentino and Giammetti sold Maison Valentino in 1998 for $300 million to German company HDP. It was then acquired by the Italian Marzotto textile family in 2002 and the Permira Fund in quick succession, before being sold to Qatari luxury investment group Mayhoola, which has controlled the brand since 2012.

In 2023, Kering acquired a 30% stake, with the fashion giant holding an option to buy the entire company in 2029.

Compatriot fashion designer Donatella Versace was among those who paid tribute to Valentino, writing on Instagram: “Today, we lost a true maestro who will forever be remembered for his art. My thoughts go to Giancarlo who never left his side for all these years.”

The foundation said Valentino would lay in state on Wednesday and Thursday in the fashion house’s historic headquarters in Piazza Mignanelli in Rome and that the funeral would take place at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs on Friday.

Billy Parker obit

Legendary KVOO radio DJ Billy Parker dies at 88, shaped country music for decades

Billy Parker, the beloved KVOO DJ who shaped country music broadcasting for over four decades, passed away this week at 88.

 

He was not on the list.

TULSA, Okla. -Billy Parker, one of the most influential voices in country music for decades, passed away in a Tulsa hospital early Monday morning. He was 88 years old.

Born in Tuskegee, Oklahoma, Billy first began performing on the radio as a teenager in McAlester, Oklahoma. By the time he was 18, he was playing and singing regularly on KOTV, Channel 6, and from there he became affiliated with country star Red Foley, who was working out of Springfield, Mo. at the time.

Ultimately settling on Tulsa for his home base, Billy continued performing and working as a disc jockey there until 1968, when he was selected by Ernest Tubb to replace Cal Smith as the front man for Tubb’s band, the Texas Troubadours. It was during this time that Billy recorded a number of singles for Decca Records, produced by the legendary Nashville figure Owen Bradley. (As Billy used to say, “I cut some records with Owen Bradley, and I’m still owin’ Bradley.”)

Tiring of the road life, Billy and his wife, Jerri, moved back to Tulsa in 1971. It was then that Billy became a significant force in national country-music radio, creating one of the first all-night truckers’ programs in the country, Billy Parker’s Big Rigger Show, and winning Disc Jockey of the Year awards from both the Country Music Association (1974) and the Academy of Country Music (1975, 1977, 1978, 1984). In 1992, he was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. Many other awards followed.

During his career as an air personality and station executive with KVOO, Billy saw 23 of his singles reach the Billboard magazine Hot Country chart, including his signature songs “Lord, If I Make It to Heaven” and “Thanks A Lot.” The latter was also the title of his 2021 autobiography.

For most of his radio career, Billy’s home station was KVOO, whose call letters stand for “Voice of Oklahoma.” Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, and beyond, that’s exactly what Billy Parker was. No one who met him or heard him will ever forget him.

Services are pending.

Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore obit

Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, Jamaican music icon and Third World co-founder, dies at 69

 

He was not on the list.

Stephen “Cat” Coore, co-founder of legendary reggae band Third World and one of Jamaica’s most respected musicians, has died.

The iconic guitarist passed away suddenly on Sunday evening, according to a statement from his publicist. He was 69.

Coore was one of the early members of Inner Circle before leaving to start Third World with keyboardist Ibo Cooper.

Third World’s pioneering fusion of reggae, soul, funk, pop, and rock helped shape the reggae-fusion sound and propel Jamaican music onto the global stage.

The band achieved international acclaim with enduring classics such as Now That We’ve Found Love, 96 Degrees in the Shade, and Try Jah Love, becoming one of Jamaica’s longest-running and most successful bands.

Coore, who is celebrated for his exceptional musicianship, compositional brilliance, and deep musical knowledge, was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Government of Jamaica in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Jamaican culture and the creative arts.

He leaves behind his wife Lisa, his children, Shiah, Kanna, Stephen, and Ashley, his grandchildren, as well as extended family, bandmates, colleagues, and countless fans across the globe.

Ralph Towner obit

RIP Ralph Towner (1940-2026)

 

He was not on the list.

The sad news of the death earlier today of Ralph Towner has been announced with the following brief epitaph on his website:

“Never has one person conceived of such beautiful music, a triumph of human creativity, and brought it to a world audience. He was one of the greatest of men, not only in his artistic spirit, but in his generous and magnanimous character.”

Tributes to follow. In sadness.

Ralph Towner. Born Chehalis WA, 1 March 1940. Died Rome, 18 January 2026

He was an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He played the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet, and French horn.

Towner was born into a musical family in Chehalis, Washington, United States, on March 1, 1940. His mother was a piano teacher and his father a trumpet player. Towner learned to improvise on the piano at the age of three. He began his career as a conservatory-trained classical pianist, attending the University of Oregon from 1958 to 1963, where he also studied composition with Homer Keller. He studied classical guitar at the Vienna Academy of Music with Karl Scheit from 1963 to 1964 and 1967–68.

He joined world music pioneer Paul Winter's "Consort" ensemble in the late 1960s. He first played jazz in New York City in the late 1960s as a pianist and was strongly influenced by the renowned jazz pianist Bill Evans. He began improvising on classical and 12-string guitars in the late 1960s and early 1970s and formed alliances with musicians who had worked with Evans, including flautist Jeremy Steig; bassists Eddie Gómez, Marc Johnson and Gary Peacock; and drummer Jack DeJohnette.

Along with bandmates Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, and Collin Walcott, Towner left the Winter Consort in 1970 to form the group Oregon, which over the course of the 1970s issued a number of influential records mixing folk music, Indian classical forms, and avant-garde jazz-influenced free improvisation. At the same time, Towner began a longstanding relationship with the ECM record label, which released virtually all of his non-Oregon recordings after his 1973 debut as a leader Trios / Solos.

Towner appeared as a sideman on Weather Report's 1972 album I Sing the Body Electric. His 1975 album Solstice, which featured a popular track called "Nimbus", demonstrated his skill and versatility to the fullest using a 12-string guitar.

From the early 1990s, Towner lived in Italy, first in Palermo and then in Rome.

Paul B. Stager Jr obit

Paul B. Stager Jr Dies: Former SVP Legal Affairs At Warner Bros TV Was 96

 He was not on the list.

Paul B. Stager Jr, a longtime television legal affairs executive who spent decades at major studios including Warner Bros Television, died Sunday at his Westwood home after a brief illness. He was 96.

A family representative said Stager died peacefully after a brief illness.

Born in 1929 in Delaware, Ohio, he attended Ohio Wesleyan University and later served two years in U.S. Army Intelligence in Germany before earning his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1956. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar that year and the California Bar in 1961 and went on to specialize in copyright law and TV and motion pictures law.

After early work in private practice and at the National Labor Relations Board, Stager moved his family to Los Angeles in 1959, settling in Sherman Oaks. He joined the Writers Guild’s legal department and later transitioned into studio roles at Screen Gems, Columbia Television and Lorimar. He joined Warner Bros Television after its acquisition of Lorimar and retired in 1999 as SVP Legal Affairs and Administration.

Stager is survived by his daughter, Susan Vandebunt; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. His wife of 70 years, Carol, whom he met at Ohio Wesleyan, died in 2023.

Stephen Hess obit

Remembering Stephen Hess

 

He was not on the list.

Stephen H. Hess, 1933–2026

I lost a great friend, and America lost one of its finest writer/historians, when Steve Hess passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 92.

Perhaps you don’t recognize the name. Perhaps that’s because he did not seek the limelight—and perhaps because the latest of his 25 books emerged seven years ago, a memoir that he titled Bit Player: My Life with Presidents and Ideas. But Steve was so much more than a “bit player.” He was, along with much else, one of our foremost biographers of presidents, critical observers of the election process, and students of the Washington media, as well as the White House and presidency. You’ll find a partial biography and bibliography on the Brookings website and an inadequate one on Wikipedia. Dig a bit deeper and you’ll find such seminal works as America’s Political Dynasties, The Washington Reporters, and Organizing the Presidency. The list goes on.

Yes, those were all pre-Trump and much has changed in the past few years. Steve, in recent months, would sort of shrug his shoulders when asked about Trump. He said he had stopped talking to journalists about it because there was nothing useful to say. But the last time we saw him, he also commented on a bit of light at the end of the present dark tunnel, mostly because he saw some cracks in the current edifice—and didn’t see how it could sustain itself over time. (Others have lately made similar comments.)

Steve was a classic “moderate Republican” who earned his first political spurs as a speechwriter in the Eisenhower White House. I met him in 1969 when I (a 25-year-old graduate student) followed my doctoral advisor to Washington and became part of Pat Moynihan’s team at the White House. Turned out that Steve was already there, serving as Pat’s deputy. And what a superb deputy/boss he was.

Four years later, I’m working in New Delhi, again with Moynihan (now U.S. ambassador to India), and who should turn up to visit, tour, and lecture but Steve Hess. That’s when Renu—my then fiancé—also made his acquaintance. And a year after that, as she and I were trying to figure out where back in the U.S. we might both reconnect to jobs and locate our young family, it was Steve who introduced me to Brookings, where he already was situated (and remained for half a century!). That led to our settling in the D.C. area and made possible a stateside relaunch of Renu’s medical career. We likely wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing today if it weren’t for Steve.

Who then remained a dear friend, birthday celebrant, travel companion, and brunch guest along with his wonderful wife of many decades, Beth Amster Hess. He invariably offered insights into the state of the nation, the GOP, whomever was then president, and the world beyond. He listened patiently. He replied thoughtfully. It was all very old school. And it was invariably educational for us, as well as pleasurable. Old school, yes, but never stodgy. Plus he was almost as interested in the doings and accomplishments (and challenges) of our kids and grandkids as we were.

Among the many Hess books on our shelves, in addition to his mis-titled memoir, two are particular favorites. One is his astute guide to the lost world of “campaign etiquette” (circa 1998). The other is his wonderfully insightful account of the odd-couple relationship between Moynihan and Nixon, which of course intersects with my own history.

When Steve, at 90, finally went “emeritus” at Brookings after five decades of affiliation there, the Brookings team produced a wonderful podcast series of reminisces, spanning his long and (for a guy who more or less stayed in one place) extraordinarily varied career. It repays attention both by anyone with an interest in modern American history and all who may want to learn more about a man who was so much more than a “bit player” and in so many ways. May he now rest in peace.

Claude Gibson obit

Raiders mourn the passing of Claude Gibson

He was not on the list. 

The Raiders Family mourns the passing of Claude "Hoot" Gibson, who played defensive back for the Silver and Black for three seasons from 1963-65. After entering the AFL out of North Carolina State with San Diego in 1961, Gibson came to Oakland the same year Al Davis was named the Head Coach and General Manager of the Raiders. His play on defense and as a returner helped spark one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in pro football history, as the Raiders went 10-4 after going just 1-13 the previous year. In just five pro seasons, Gibson totaled 22 interceptions, including nine with the Raiders. He led the AFL in punt returns in 1963 and 1965, and in punt return yards in both 1963 and 1964. His three punt returns for touchdowns remain tied for the most in franchise history. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Claude's family at this time.

A defensive back and kick returner, he played college football for the NC State Wolfpack before playing professionally in the American Football League (AFL) for the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders.

Gibson attended Lee H. Edwards High School in Asheville, North Carolina.

Gibson was an instant star on the NC State Wolfpack freshman team, as a defensive back, receiver, return man and halfback. For the next three seasons, Gibson rarely came out of a ballgame. He led the Pack in punt returns in 1958 and 1960, kickoff returns in 1959 and interceptions in 1960 with four. He provided crucial rushing and receiving yards whenever needed. He played his entire senior season with a broken hand and wrist. Gibson concluded his senior year by playing in four post-season all-star games — Senior Bowl, Copper Bowl, Coaches All-America Bowl and the Chicago All-Star Game. Gibson, and teammate Roman Gabriel, with four appearances each, played in more postseason all-star games than any Wolfpack player ever.

It was Gibson's versatility, speed and daring that made him a valuable pro commodity. He was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, but elected instead to sign with the American Football League's San Diego Chargers. Gibson played two years for pro football hall of fame coach Sid Gillman at San Diego, leading the league in interceptions in 1962. During Gibson's rookie season, the Chargers lost to the Houston Oilers, 10–3, in the AFL Championship game. Soon after the championship, Earle Edwards encouraged Gibson to return to NC State to finish his degree work, and help coach spring ball. He received an education degree from State in 1961.

Gibson's first year in the pro ranks he picked up a nickname. His Charger teammates gave him the nickname "Hoot." "During my pro career I never saw my name in the paper as Claude", said Gibson. "It was 'Hoot' everywhere I went, and still is today."

Following the 1962 season, Gibson was traded to the AFL's Oakland Raiders, where his head coach was Al Davis. In both 1963 and 1964, Gibson led the AFL in punt returns, the only player in modern history to do so. In fact, Gibson owns the third best punt return average of all professional football players with 75 or more punt returns. Gibson returned 110 punts for 1,381 yards during his career for a 12.1 average. He scored three punt return touchdowns and had a long return of 85 yards. Gibson's pro career lasted five years, when he abruptly retired at age 27. For the next two years he served as a scout and recruiter in the Raiders' organization.

In 1967 when Edwards had an opening come up on his staff, Gibson was the first person he called. Gibson returned to Raleigh just in time for what is arguably the greatest football season in NC State history. He coached the "white shoed" defensive backs of the 1967 Wolfpack, a squad that started the year 8–0 and rose to #3 in the polls. The 1967 Pack finished the year 9–2. Following the 1967 season, Gibson began a pro coaching career that lasted two years. At age 29, he coached the Boston Patriots defensive backs in 1968, becoming the youngest assistant coach in professional football. He spent the 1969 season on the Buffalo Bills staff.

In 1970, Gibson returned to college football as the offensive coordinator at the University of Tulsa. During July of that year, Gibson was elevated to interim head coach when Golden Hurricane coach Vince Carillot resigned. When Gibson's Tulsa squad started the season 4–1, which included a stunning upset of Memphis State, a team Tulsa had not beaten in six years, the interim label was removed. His first Golden Hurricane team finished 6–4. Gibson would spend three seasons at Tulsa, before returning home to the North Carolina mountains. He became the head football coach at Mars Hill College. He spent ten seasons there, compiling a 55–37–2 record, winning one South Atlantic Conference championship, producing four Division II All-Americans and 25 All-SAC players. He was recently inducted into the (State of) North Carolina Football Hall of Fame and the Mars Hill University Hall of Fame.

Career history

Playing

San Diego Chargers (1961–1962)

Oakland Raiders (1963–1965)

Coaching

NC State (1967)

Defensive backs coach

Boston Patriots (1968)

Defensive backs coach

Buffalo Bills (1969)

Assistant coach

Tulsa (1970-1972)

Head coach

Mars Hill (1973-1982)

Head coach

Awards and highlights

SAC champion (1980)

First-team All-ACC (1960)

Career AFL statistics

Interceptions    22

Kick / Punt Return yards        1,649

Total touchdowns        4

Tucker Zimmerman obit

Tucker Zimmerman

February 12, 1941 - January 17, 2026 

He was not on the list.

Tucker Zimmerman, the American singer-songwriter whose poetic lyricism and introspective folk sound captivated a dedicated audience for over five decades, passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 84. A distinctive voice in the folk tradition, Zimmerman crafted a rich body of work that explored themes of love, freedom, and the human condition with profound depth and sensitivity. Though he never achieved widespread commercial fame, his artistry earned him a revered place among connoisseurs of thoughtful, independent music.

Born in California in 1941, Zimmerman emerged from the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene of the 1960s, a crucible for many influential artists. His early experiences in this fertile musical landscape shaped his unique approach to songwriting. He signed with Regal Zonophone, an EMI subsidiary, and released his debut album, "Ten Songs," in 1969. This critically acclaimed record immediately established his reputation as a formidable lyricist and a compelling, if understated, performer.

Following his initial success, Zimmerman made the pivotal decision to relocate to Europe in the early 1970s, eventually settling in Belgium. This move marked a new chapter in his career, allowing him to cultivate his craft away from the commercial pressures of the American music industry. He continued to release a steady stream of albums, including "Song Poet" (1970) and "Over Here in Europe" (1973), each showcasing his evolving lyrical prowess and melodic sensibility. His European base provided a supportive environment for his artistic independence.

Throughout the subsequent decades, Zimmerman maintained a prolific output, releasing albums such as "The Traveler" (1980), "A Sea of Dreamers" (2004), and "The Royal Road" (2020). His work, often characterized by its philosophical undertones and intricate narratives, resonated deeply with listeners who appreciated its authenticity and intellectual rigor. Tucker Zimmerman leaves behind a legacy of beautifully crafted songs that stand as a testament to his unwavering artistic vision and his enduring commitment to the power of words and music. He will be remembered as a true song poet whose contributions enriched the landscape of contemporary folk music.

Roger Allers obit

 

Roger Allers Dies: ‘The Lion King’ Co-Director Was 76; Bob Iger Pays Tribute To “Creative Visionary”

He was not on the list.

Roger Allers, the Disney Animation filmmaker known for The Lion King, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and more, has died. He was 76.

Producer and frequent collaborator Dave Bossert shared the news of Allers’ death in a statement on Sunday morning. “I am deeply saddened by the news that our friend Roger Allers has passed on to his next journey,” he started in the Facebook post.

“We were just trading emails this past week while he was traveling in Egypt, which makes this loss feel all the more unreal,” added Bossert. “Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance.”

Bossert noted that Allers got his start at Disney as part of the storyboard team on Tron (1982), also working on Oliver & Company (1988) and The Little Mermaid (1989) before becoming head of story on Beauty and the Beast (1991).

“I had the privilege of being part of the crew with Roger on many films in the late ’80s and throughout the ’90s,” noted Bossert. “And he was, without question, one of the kindest people you could hope to know and work alongside. He went on to co-direct The Lion King, a phenomenal success, yet it never went to his head.

“Roger treated everyone with genuine kindness and respect, regardless of title or position. I worked very closely with him on The Little Matchgirl, and it was nothing short of a joy—he carried a sense of wonder, generosity, and enthusiasm that lifted everyone around him. Roger had a joyful, luminous spirit, and the world is dimmer without him. Rest in peace, my friend. Until we meet again on the other side,” he added.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement, “Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come. He understood the power of great storytelling — how unforgettable characters, emotion, and music can come together to create something timeless. His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and collaborators.”

Born June 29, 1949 in Rye, New York, Allers grew up in Arizona, where he received a fine arts degree from Arizona State University before getting a job with Lisberger Studios, working on Sesame Street and other projects.

Allers relocated to Los Angeles to work on the 1980 animated feature Animalympics with director Steven Lisberger, before working on Tron. He also spent time in Tokyo while working on Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989).

Upon his 1985 return to LA, Allers got his start with Disney as a storyboard artist on films like Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under and The Prince and The Pauper, before serving as a co-director with Rob Minkoff on The Lion King (1994), earning them the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. Allers also wrote The Lion King‘s 1998 Tony-winning Broadway adaptation.

Also during his Disney tenure, Allers worked on The Emperor’s New Groove, Lilo & Stitch and The Little Matchgirl. He then co-directed Open Season with Jill Culton for Sony, also helming 2014’s The Prophet.

Allers is survived by ex-wife Leslee Hackenson, their daughter Leah and son Aidan.

 

Director

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (2015)

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection

7.6

Video

directed by (segment "The Little Matchgirl")

2015

 

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet (2014)

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

7.1

Director

2014

 

The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animation (2007)

The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animation

6.0

segment

2007

 

Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Cody Cameron, and Maddie Taylor in Open Season (2006)

Open Season

6.1

Director

2006

 

The Little Matchgirl (2006)

The Little Matchgirl

7.8

Short

directed by

2006

 

100 Greatest Cartoons (2005)

100 Greatest Cartoons

7.0

TV Special

Director

2005

 

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (2001)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Video Game

series director

2001

 

Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones in The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King

8.5

directed by

1994

 

Writer

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (2015)

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection

7.6

Video

story adaptation by (segment "The Little Matchgirl")

2015

 

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet (2014)

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

7.1

screenplay by

2014

 

The Little Matchgirl (2006)

The Little Matchgirl

7.8

Short

story adaptation by

2006

 

Nathan Lane in The Lion King 1½ (2004)

The Lion King 1½

6.5

Video

additional screenplay material

2004

 

Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Suarez in Brother Bear (2003)

Brother Bear

6.9

story (uncredited)

2003

 

David Spade in The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

The Emperor's New Groove

7.4

based on an original story by

2000

 

Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1994)

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

5.9

Video Game

based on story by

1994

 

Robin Williams, Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried, Linda Larkin, Douglas Seale, Scott Weinger, and Frank Welker in Aladdin (1992)

Aladdin

8.0

story

1992

 

Bette Midler, Cheech Marin, Roscoe Lee Browne, Billy Joel, Joey Lawrence, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Richard Mulligan in Oliver & Company (1988)

Oliver & Company

6.6

story

1988

 

Animalympics (1980)

Animalympics

6.8

character developmentstory

1980

 

Animation Department

Odyssey Into the Mind's Eye (1996)

Odyssey Into the Mind's Eye

7.2

Video

character designer

1996

 

The Gate to the Mind's Eye (1994)

The Gate to the Mind's Eye

7.2

Video

animation director

1994

 

Beyond the Mind's Eye (1992)

Beyond the Mind's Eye

7.4

Video

layout artist

1992

 

The Mind's Eye (1990)

The Mind's Eye

7.7

Video

background artist

1990

 

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989)

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

7.1

animator (uncredited)

1989

 

Rock & Rule (1983)

Rock & Rule

6.4

animator

1983

 

A Room Full of Energy

Short

animator

1982

 

Animalympics (1980)

Animalympics

6.8

animator

1980

 

Dirty Duck (1974)

Dirty Duck

5.2

character designer

1974

 

Art Department

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)

Waking Sleeping Beauty

7.5

caricaturist

2009

 

Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Cody Cameron, and Maddie Taylor in Open Season (2006)

Open Season

6.1

storyboard artist (uncredited)

2006

 

Timeless Tales (2005)

Timeless Tales

8.3

Video

storyboard artist (segment "The Prince and The Pauper")

2005

 

Countdown to Christmas (2002)

Countdown to Christmas

6.6

Short

storyboard artist (segment "The Prince and the Pauper")

2002

 

Jenny Agutter, Brian Blessed, Ben Kingsley, Phyllis Logan, Victor Maddern, John Sessions, and Billie Whitelaw in Freddie as F.R.O.7. (1992)

Freddie as F.R.O.7.

5.2

graphic designer

1992

 

Charlie Adler, Wayne Allwine, Tony Anselmo, Arthur Burghardt, and Bill Farmer in The Prince and the Pauper (1990)

The Prince and the Pauper

7.1

Short

storyboard artist

1990

 

Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, Tristan Rogers, Adam Ryen, and Frank Welker in The Prince and the Pauper (1990)

The Rescuers Down Under

6.8

storyboard artist

1990

 

Jodi Benson in The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid

7.6

storyboard artist (uncredited)

1989

 

Tron (1982)

Tron

6.7

pre-production concepts

1982

 

Additional Crew

Nathan Lane in The Lion King 1½ (2004)

The Lion King 1½

6.5

Video

additional screenplay material

2004

 

Chris Sanders in Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Lilo & Stitch

7.4

additional story supervisor

2002

 

Robby Benson and Paige O'Hara in Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast

8.0

story supervisor

1991

 

Art Director

Animalympics (1980)

Animalympics

6.8

Art Director

1980

 

Soundtrack

The Sweatbox (2002)

The Sweatbox

7.1

performer: "Walk the Llama Llama" (2000) (uncredited)

2002

 

Thanks

Tiana

special thanks

In Development

 

John Kani, Seth Rogen, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Billy Eichner, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Blue Ivy Carter, and Aaron Pierre in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)

Mufasa: The Lion King

6.6

the filmmakers would like to thank

2024

 

James Earl Jones, Kathy Griffin, Alfre Woodard, Scott Adsit, Carlos Alazraqui, Kristen Alderson, Kristen Ariza, Michael Beattie, Bob Bergen, Sebastian Cavazza, Cedric The Entertainer, Dane Cook, Walt Dohrn, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Penny Johnson Jerald, John Kani, Florence Kasumba, Beyoncé, Phil LaMarr, Danny Mann, Mike Mitchell, Don Rickles, Seth Rogen, Amy Sedaris, Peter Sohn, Aron Warner, Christopher Knights, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Will.i.am, Kristen DeLuca, Christopher Lee Parson, J. Lee, Donald Glover, Eric André, Billy Eichner, Teri Reeves, Ryan Potter, Chance the Rapper, Kristen Phaneuf, JD McCrary, Josh McCrary, and Shahadi Wright Joseph in The Lion King (2019)

The Lion King

6.8

the filmmakers would like to thank

2019

 

The 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows (2017)

The 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows

6.4

special thanks

2017

 

18th Annual Animation Show of Shows (2016)

18th Annual Animation Show of Shows

6.7

special thanks

2016

 

Mario Cantone, Zooey Deschanel, Shia LaBeouf, and Jon Heder in Surf's Up (2007)

Surf's Up

6.7

special thanks

2007

 

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast (2002)

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast

8.7

Video

thanks

2002

 

Tale as Old as Time: The Making of 'Beauty and the Beast'

8.1

Video

thanks

2002

 

Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Bruno Miguel, and Ernie Sabella in The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King

7.8

Video Game

special thanks

1994

 

Elton John: Circle of Life (1994)

Elton John: Circle of Life

7.2

Music Video

special thanks

1994

 

Elton John: Can You Feel the Love Tonight (1994)

Elton John: Can You Feel the Love Tonight

7.2

Music Video

special thanks

1994

 

Self

Howard (2018)

Howard

7.5

Self

2018

 

Collector's Café

Video

Self - Guest

2016

 

Variety Studio (2010)

Variety Studio

7.0

TV Series

Self

2014

1 episode

 

Jambareeqi Reviews (2012)

Jambareeqi Reviews

7.2

TV Series

Self

2014

1 episode

 

Food Network Challenge (2003)

Food Network Challenge

7.1

TV Series

Self - Guest Judge

2011

1 episode

 

Greatest Ever 80s Movies (2007)

Greatest Ever 80s Movies

6.1

TV Movie

Self

2007

 

The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007)

The 79th Annual Academy Awards

7.1

TV Special

Self

2007

 

Film '72 (1971)

Film '72

7.0

TV Series

Self

2006

1 episode

 

Treasures Untold: The Making of Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' (2006)

Treasures Untold: The Making of Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'

8.3

Video

Self

2006

 

Greatest Ever Blockbuster Movies (2006)

Greatest Ever Blockbuster Movies

7.8

TV Movie

Self

2006

 

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast (2002)

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast

8.7

Video

Self - Director, 'The Lion King'

2002

 

Tale as Old as Time: The Making of 'Beauty and the Beast'

8.1

Video

Self - Head of Story

2002

 

The Sweatbox (2002)

The Sweatbox

7.1

Self

2002

 

The Making of 'Tron' (2002)

The Making of 'Tron'

7.4

Video

Self

2002

 

The 52nd Annual Tony Awards (1998)

The 52nd Annual Tony Awards

5.7

TV Special

Self - Nominee

1998

 

The 67th Annual Academy Awards (1995)

The 67th Annual Academy Awards

6.0

TV Special

Self - Winner

1995

 

Troldspejlet (1989)

Troldspejlet

8.8

TV Series

Self - Director

1994

1 episode

 

The Making of the Lion King (1994)

The Making of the Lion King

7.8

TV Movie

Self

1994

 

E! Behind the Scenes (1991)

E! Behind the Scenes

TV Series

Self - Interviewee

1994

1 episode

 

Howard Ashman in The Making of Beauty and the Beast (1991)

The Making of Beauty and the Beast

8.3

TV Movie

Self

1991

 

Archive Footage

Beware the Groove: The Making of A Cult Classic (2023)

Beware the Groove: The Making of A Cult Classic

Self (archive footage)

2023

 

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)

Waking Sleeping Beauty

7.5

Self (archive footage, voice)

2009