Curtis Cokes obit

Curtis Cokes, Hall of Fame Welterweight Boxer, Dies at Age 82

He was not on the list.

Hall of Fame boxer Curtis Cokes died Friday of heart failure.

He was 82.

Erwin "Sparky" Sparks told Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News that Cokes had been in hospice for a week.

Cokes was the world welterweight champion from August 1966 through April 1969, retaining his title on five occasions before losing to Jose Napoles. His reign made him the first world champion in Dallas boxing history.

Known as a deliberate fighter who waited for his opponents to make mistakes, Cokes won 32 of his 62 career victories by decision.

"The name of the sport is boxing, not fighting," Cokes told the Dallas Morning News in 2013. "You can play football, you can play basketball, but you can't play boxing. It's serious business where you can get hurt every time you step into the ring. It's an art to hit and not be hit."

Cokes finished with a career record of 62-14-4, retiring in 1972 to become a boxing trainer. He and Sparks were partners at the Home of Champions gym in Dallas.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame inducted Cokes in 2003.

Bob Kulick obit

Bob Kulick, KISS and Lou Reed Guitarist, Dies at 70

He was not on the list.

Bob Kulick, the guitarist who performed live and in the studio with KISS, W.A.S.P., Meat Loaf, Michael Bolton, Diana Ross and Lou Reed, has died at the age of 70. His younger brother, Bruce (also a KISS guitarist who is performing in Kuarantine with Chris Jericho now) shared the news on social media Friday morning.

“I am heartbroken to have to share the news of the passing of my brother Bob Kulick. His love of music, and his talent as a musician and producer should always be celebrated. I know he is at peace now, with my parents, playing his guitar as loud as possible. Please respect the Kulick Family’s privacy during this very sad time,” Bruce Kulick’s post read.

    I am heartbroken to have to share the news of the passing of my brother Bob Kulick. His love of music, and his talent as a musician and producer should always be celebrated. Please respect the Kulick Family’s privacy during this sad time. RIP pic.twitter.com/LUWC6k69Ml

    — Bruce Kulick (@brucekulick) May 29, 2020

One of Kulick’s earliest gigs was playing guitar in the studio for Reed on Coney Island Baby. He toured with Meat Loaf for a while and appeared on his 1984 album Bad Attitude. He performed on KISS records like Alive II, Paul Stanely, Unmasked and Killers.

Kulick produced Motorhead’s 2004 version of Metallica’s “Whiplash,” for which the band won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance.

Shortly after Bruce’s post about the news of his brother’s death, tributes from the music community poured in.

“RIP Bob Kulick. Condolences to @brucekulick and their entire family. Bob played an important part in the history of @kiss and many others. Sad news. @BobKulickMusic,” famed DJ Eddie Trunk said.

    Very sad to hear of #BobKulick’s passing today. Bob was a true character and had a decorated career playing with Lou Reed, Meatloaf, W.A.S.P and KISS – among many others. He was a true collaborator and was also a gifted producer. He’ll be greatly missed.

    — mark eglinton (@MarkEglinton) May 29, 2020

    RIP Bob Kulick. Condolences to @brucekulick and their entire family. Bob played an important part in the history of @kiss and many others. Sad news. @BobKulickMusic

    — Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) May 29, 2020

    💔

    — Todd Dammit Kerns (@todddammitkerns) May 29, 2020

    So sorry for your loss Bruce.

    😔❤️🙏🏻

    — Pat Francis (@Pat_Francis) May 29, 2020

Rosey Taylor obit

Former Bears star safety Taylor passes away

He was not on the list.

Roosevelt "Rosey" Taylor, a two-time Pro Bowl safety with the Bears in the 1960s, passed away Friday at the age of 82.


Taylor spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Bears from 1961-69, never missing a game. He appeared in 118 contests with 108 starts and registered 23 interceptions. The New Orleans native scored four defensive touchdowns, three on interceptions and one on a fumble return.


In 1963, Taylor was named first-team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with a career-high nine interceptions while helping the Bears win the league championship. He was chosen second-team All-Pro in 1964 and 1965 and was voted to his second Pro Bowl in 1968.


Taylor is ranked as the 56th best player in Bears history by Hall of Fame writers Don Pierson and Dan Pompei in the "Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook," which was published last year to commemorate the team's 100th season.


Taylor was traded by the Bears on Oct. 28, 1969 along with a 1971 fifth-round draft pick to the 49ers in exchange for guard Howard Mudd. Taylor finished his career by playing three seasons with the 49ers (1969-71) and one with the Redskins (1972), starting at free safety in Washington's 14-7 loss to the Dolphins in Super Bowl VII.


Taylor's son, Brian, was a running back who had a brief NFL career, including a stint with the Bears. He appeared in five games in 1989, rushing for seven yards on two carries—with both attempts coming in a 20-0 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Brian also played three games with the Bills in 1991, but did not carry the ball.

Sam Johnson obit

Sam Johnson, Former Texas Congressman and Prisoner of War, Dies at 89

He was not on the list.

Sam Johnson, a long-serving Texas congressman and an Air Force pilot held as a prisoner while fighting in the Vietnam War, died Wednesday, according to multiple news outlets. He was 89.

The military veteran and staunch conservative died at a hospital in Plano, Texas, of causes that were not related to the novel coronavirus, former aide Ray Sullivan told The Washington Post.

Johnson was the oldest member of Congress to retire, at age 88 in 2019, after serving 28 years in the House of Representatives — double what he had vowed to stay when he was first elected in 1991, according to The New York Times.

The Texas native reportedly had served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, where he flew nearly 100 combat missions. In April 1966, he was completing a mission in Vietnam when his plane was shot down. He was held as a prisoner of war for nearly seven years.

Johnson was imprisoned at the Hanoi Hilton in solitary confinement. Years later, he shared a cell with the late Sen. John McCain for 18 months though the two went on to have a sometimes turbulent political relationship.

In 2000, Johnson supported then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush during his presidential campaign, over McCain, the Post reported.

Upon hearing of his passing, Bush shared a statement of admiration for the late lawmaker.

"Laura and I join our community in giving thanks for the life of Sam Johnson," President Bush said in a statement. "Laura and I are grateful for this man of humility and patriotism, and we take comfort knowing that he is with his beloved wife, Shirley, again."

Rep. Van Taylor, the Republican congressman who now holds Johnson's seat, also paid tribute to his "real life legend" predecessor.

    Sam Johnson was a legend – a real life legend. He spent nearly 7 years as a POW - but never broke and never wavered in his commitment to his country. He was the embodiment of an American hero and I'm blessed to have known Sam. Today, we mourn the passing of a true hero. pic.twitter.com/roiI25vs0W

    — Rep Van Taylor (@RepVanTaylor) May 27, 2020

"He spent nearly 7 years as a POW - but never broke and never wavered in his commitment to his country. He was the embodiment of an American hero and I'm blessed to have known Sam. Today, we mourn the passing of a true hero," Taylor wrote on Twitter.

Johnson reportedly married Shirley Lee Melton in 1950, who died in 2015.

Their son, James Robert "Bob" Johnson, died two years earlier in 2013, according to the Post.

Johnson is survived by his two daughters, Gini Johnson Mulligan and Beverly Johnson Briney, as well as 10 grandchildren.