CNNis reporting that North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms give away at the tender long time of 86 . And while his legacy is certainly a polarizing one , I was surprised to see how many other famous people passed away on the 4th . Here ’s a curt list of multitude who died on that most American of U.S. vacation ( other than Jefferson and Adams ):
1. Bob Ross
You know him as : PBS instructional puma , creator of happy tree and their little friends .
Surprising facts ( other than the one about him dying on the 4th):The ultra - mellow Ross picked up painting when he was in the Air Force . He was also pretty financially savvy- he turned his public broadcast medium show into a multi - million dollar sign Johnny Cash cow by deal how - to Good Book and branded art supply .
2. Hannibal Hamlin
You know him as : VP to Abraham Lincoln . Or maybe you do n’t .
Surprising fact : Despite only lasting one term with Lincoln , and playing a quiet role in the White House , the Republican from Maine did urge on the universe of the Emancipation Proclamation . He also supported fortify African Americans during the Civil War .
3. Charles Kuralt
You know him as : American diarist , well known for his " On the Road" segments . Surprising fact : He was good friends with John Steinbeck , and was to a great extent inspired byTravels with Charlie . Even stranger : Salonclaims that he had a kept woman and a 2nd family that he hide out in Montana , which would explain all that extra metre on the route . Savvy readers can judge for themselves .
4. Barry White
You eff him as : Singer , ballad maker , cosmopolitan soundtrack for romantic Night / likely inspiration for your younger sibling . Surprising fact : accord to Wikipedia , the Sultan of Soul was jailed at 17 for steal $ 30,000 Cadillac tyre . Even stranger , he apparently had a living - shift present moment in prison when he take heed Elvis croon " It ’s Now or Never , " and decided to go directly . He was also purportedly volunteer the role of Chef on South Park , but change by reversal it down because of the crass humor .
