RIP BITZ OF 2009

In 2009, we lost many great movers and shakers who were either artists born, raised or who lived in the STL area. Below, are a few of them who made an impact in the arts, politics or to their respective areas.









Before our cut off date in December 2008, there were two significant women in the STL area who had passed on




To Illinois Rep Wyvetter H. Younge, one of the longest-serving current members of the Illinois House who died December 26 in the hospital after receiving artery surgery in early December . She was 78. Younge, who had a middle school named in her honor in East St. Louis, represented East St. Louis as a Democrat since 1975. She also was a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.









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The mother of former St. Louis Mayor and current radio personality Freeman Bosley Jr. died New Year's Eve. Marjorie Ellen Bosley, 73, was surrounded by friends and family when she died. She worked for the federal government and in the Missouri Circuit Clerk's office. Bosley was a member of Samaritan United Methodist Church

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We also lost St. Ann mayor Tim James, an accomplished local actor and performer, died at his home Dec. 26 . He had battled diabetes and coronary artery disease. He was 54 years old. James was elected mayor of St. Ann in 2007. Before that, he served as that city's 3rd ward alderman.

FEB.2009

STL comedian/actor Rodney Winfield who died at the age of 76. Winfield was probably best known for his performance in Talking Dirty After Dark and Dead Presidents

Paul Harvey, the news commentator and talk-radio pioneer whose staccato style made him one of the nation's most familiar voices, died Saturday, ABC Radio Networks said. He was 90. Mr. Harvey was born in Tulsa, Okla. He was working in St. Louis for KXOK when he asked Lynne Cooper, a graduate of Washington University who covered women's issues for the station, to dinner. At that dinner, on their first date, he proposed. Over the years, she served as his writer and editor. Harvey had been forced off the air for several months in 2001 because of a virus that weakened a vocal cord. But he returned to work in Chicago and was still active as he passed his 90th birthday. His death comes less than a year after that of his wife and longtime producer -- Lynne, a native of St. Louis.

MARCH 2009

Ernest Trova, the most famous St. Louis visual artist of the post-war era, dies this week at the age of , 82. He was born in Clayton, Mo. At the time of his death, , he lived in Richmond Heights. Known primarily as a sculptor, Mr. Trova also made paintings and works on paper.

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Poet Jim Thomas, a professor emeritus at Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State University). He taught literature for more than 30 years, after a stint in the Army during the Korean War. Thomas was also a retired National Guard lieutenant colonel. He lived in Hermann. Mo. with his wife, Rita and was the father to six children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

APRIL 2009

Harry Bean, owner and GM of Blacktie-St. Louis, died suddenly while exercising early Wednesday. Bean, a longtime photographer about town, was 53.. Blacktie-St. Louis, which employs 32 photographers, provides photos for about 26 St. Louis publications.



MAY 2009

St. Louis bid farewell to last surviving Munchkin from the Wizard of Oz, St,. Louisan Mickey Carroll. Born Michael Finocchiaro, Carroll at age 7, began dance lessons at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. It was there that Carroll met Jack Haley. Haley took him to Hollywood, where one of his first jobs was as "Mickey" in approximately seven of the Spanky and Our Gang series. At 17 he was one of six bellhops in the 'Call for Phillip Morris' live radio ads, and at 18 was appearing in shows with Mae West.While under contract to MGM, he went to school with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. It was Garland herself who offered him a part in The Wizard of Oz.[ Carroll was cast as Munchkinland's "Town Crier".

STL comedian Arvin Mitchell lost his sister Ebony Mitchell to a drag racer incident in St. Louis.

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Blue Springs, Mo native and 2007 American Idol winner David Cook’s brother, Adam, succumbed to cancer.

STL rapper Tega of UC MEs’ Da Camp who was shot after a robbery attempt.

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Urbana, Illinois based musician Jay Bennett formerly of the Chicago based group Wilco and the STL based Undertow Music Collective.





JULY 2009

The national newz A &E item with Missouri ties was the death of legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite at the age of 92. He was born in St. Joseph , Mo.November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009)[2][3][4] was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News (and his tag line” And that’s; the way it was.” )for 19 years (1962–81). During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited in viewer opinion polls as "the most trusted man in America" because of his professional experience and kindly demeanor.[5][6] Although he reported many events from 1937-1981,




AUG 2009

We lost guitar pioneer Les Paul who died last week at the age of 94. Born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin,, he was an American innovator, inventor, musician and songwriter. He was credited as a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which "made the sound of rock and roll possible" At age seventeen, Paul played with Rube Tronson's Texas Cowboys, and soon after he dropped out of high school to join Wolverton's Radio Band in St. Louis, Missouri, on KMOX.





SEPT 2009

Longtime KMOX broadcast journalist Jim White had passed. Known as "The Big Bumper” and famous for hangin up on people, White died last of complications from surgery, according to reports . He was 72. According to stltoday.com, White joined KMOX as an assistant news director in 1969, launching a 30-year career with the station. He held various positions there but for 20 years reigned over the hours either side of midnight, with the clear-channel station's powerful transmitter sending his voice out to much of North America. Mr. White was born and raised in western Pennsylvania. Before coming to St. Louis, he was a rock jock at Pittsburgh's WJAS and then moved to that city's KDKA, ala KMOX.


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Longtime socialite Joseph “Cozy Up Joe” Walker who died after a lengthy illness with throat cancer. He was main fixture at the now defunct bar Kathy’s Cozy Up in University City. Mo. R.I.P to Cozy Up Joe.

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Bally Total Fitness personal trainer and Muscle For Hire bouncer, Short Dog who was killed in a freak motorcycle accident.


OCT 2009

Longtime car dealer Dave Sinclair Sr., the South County Ford dealer, passed away after a battle with gallbladder cancer. He founder of Dave Sinclair Automotive Group, was 81. And who can forget those deadpan TV commercials 9which spunoff to Dave Sinclair and Sons) he did wearing those leisure styled suits standing at a podium with the name o f his car dealership on the front of it talking about the cars he had on his lot and ending with the now famous line, “Thank you and hears; my address”.



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Toriano Porter II died in a last week in an ambush with two other youngsters on St. Louis Avenue, the other two teens survived. He was the son to STL journalist and author Toriano Porter he was 16.


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WHHL Radio personality Demetrius Johnson’s mother, Eddie Mae Binion who was the director of Southside Welfare Rights Organization helped educate recipients and public officials about the needs of the poor and to enhance the welfare of all people. When she was hospitalized with a stroke she still managed to get out the summer issue of her Education Association Newspaper. She was 74 year old and has been working tirelessly for 30 years in this struggle for economic justice



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SIUE music major Ben Krauzz was killed in a head-on crash last Saturday in a two-vehicle accident on Illinois 177. on the highway outside the town of Mascoutah.


We also like to give our condolences to those who have lost loved ones this year due to an illness, an act of violence or natural causes.