On this week in 1928 that Larry Simon Gelbart, the American television writer, playwright, screenwriter, director and author, most famous as the creator and producer of the television series M*A*S*H, was born in Chicago, Illinois.

Larry Gelbart would grow up in Chicago and Los Angeles before he was drafted for World War II. After returning, he would work for Armed Forces Radio Service in LA, eventually obtaining the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged after serving 1 year and 11 days, just short of the beginning of the Korean War.

Did you know 114 years ago the Famous American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh was born in Streator, Ill. on Feb. 4th 1906?

Tombaugh was the first astronomer to discover what was identified as the Kuiper Belt, but more specifically he was the man accredited to the discovery of the dwarf planet Pluto. The son of a farmer, Tombaugh’s plans for attending college were stifled by a hailstorm ruining his family farm at a young age. He started to build his own telescopes with lenses and mirrors, drawing images of Jupiter and Mars to the Lowell Observatory which offered him a job.

Did you know the Illinois is home to a top-ranked and two-time Olympic steeple chaser? Evan Jager, an Algonquin native, is the current American record holder and reigning four-time USA champion in the men’s 3000 meter steeplechase, which is foot race that includes ditches and hurdles the runners must clear.

Born on March 8^th 1989, Jager attended Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin, a northwestern suburb of Chicago. During his high school career, he won three individual state championship titles and one relay title.

On this day, January 24, in 1949, the famous comedian, actor and musician John Belushi was born in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Belushi grew up with his Albanian American parents before he started his own successful comedy troupe called “The West Compass Trio.” Belushi would go on to perform at The Second City comedy club in Chicago and would eventually go on to be one of the seven original cast members for the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

On this day in 1935, the famous American operatic baritone Sherrill Milnes was born in Downers Grove, Illinois. Milnes was born into a life of dairy farming, where he grew with extraordinary musical talent, learning to play the piano, violin, viola, double bass, clarinet, and tuba alongside his singing abilities. Sherrill was once found on a tractor practicing an operatic laugh and singing to the cows on his parents’ farm.

Sherrill continued his love of music by studying music education at Drake and Northwestern University, serving as a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus during his time.
Milnes started his career in 1960 at the Opera Company of Boston and quickly became known for his talent, performing in Milan and at the Statue of Liberty in New York for the 100th anniversary. Sherrill Milnes performed for the last time at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, New York on March 22, 1997 concluding his 32 year career of singing in 653 different performances.