Chapter 20 Important People

An internationally known artist, his ambition was to paint cowboys, Indians, and frontier scenes. William Robinson Leigh

famous photographer Francis Benjamin Johnston

opened a drive-in that became the national Shoneys, and Big Boy’s chain of restaurants. Alex Shoenbaum

was a U.S. senator who was instrumental in securing the vote for 18 year olds. Jennings Randolph

most famous book is The Good Earth, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize in Pearl Buck

was born Cornelius Calvin Sale, Jr. in North Carolina. He has held powerful positions as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and majority leader. Robert C. Byrd

During the Civil War, Delany was appointed a major, the first black field officer of high rank. Martin R. Delany

In 2001, he was promoted to a four-star general, making him the second highest ranking officer in the U.S. Air Force. General Robert H. Foglesong

At Harvard, he was chairman of the Afro-American Studies Department. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

is an internationally recognized author, and his books include three about growing up in Coalwood. These books are Rocket Boys, A Memoir; The Coalwood Way; and Sky of Stone. Homer Hickam, Jr.

founder of Mother’s Day Anna M. Jarvis

his most memorable role was as Barney Fife, in the television series “The Andy Griffith Show”. Don Knotts

In 1989 and 1990, she was named country music’s Female Vocalist of the Year. Kathy Mattea

founder of Grandparent’s Day Marian McQuade

1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, she won a gold medal in the all- round gymnastics competition. Mary Lou Retton

In 1982, he was elected vice president of the UMWA, and became the organization’s president in Cecil Roberts

One of her novels, O Beulah Land, describes the social, political, and economic background of the early settlers’ struggle to civilize West Virginia after the American Revolution. Mary Lee Settle

became the first African American member of the board of directors at General Motors Company. Leon Sullivan

served as secretary of state under President Jimmy Carter Cyrus Vance

played professional basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers for whom he served as general manager at the end of his playing career Jerry West

He became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound. Charles Yeager