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These Famous Kansans Were All Born In Late July

Late July produces some of Kansas' hottest weather all year.

It has also produced five of the Sunflower State's most famous residents.

Amelia Earhart, Bob Dole, Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker, Dr. Karl Menninger and Martina McBride were all born between July 22 and July 29 in Kansas.

From left are William Menninger, C.F. Menninger and Karl Menninger. The family members started the Menninger Foundation in Topeka.

Karl Menninger was born July 22

Menninger spent "six decades as the dominant figure in American psychiatry," according to his obituary in the New York Times. He was born July 22, 1893, in Topeka.

Menninger (pronounced with a hard "g") teamed up with his father, C.F. Menninger, and brother Will Menninger to create and run Topeka's Menninger Foundation, which became one of the world's most famous psychiatric hospitals. The organization remained in Topeka until moving in 2003 to Houston.

Karl Menninger became famous in particular for writing books that included "The Human Mind," published in 1930, which sold more than 200,000 copies while contending mental illness could successfully be addressed through treatment. He died four days short of his 97th birthday, in 1990.

Bob Dole, who represented Kansas in the U.S. House and Senate and later was the GOP nominee for president, was born July 22, 1923.

Bob Dole was born July 22

Dole was born July 22, 1923, in Russell. Standing 6-foot-2, he lettered in football at the University of Kansas before serving in World War II, where he suffered permanent, disabling wounds in battle in Italy. After the war, Dole earned a law degree and served as Russell County attorney.

More: Bob Dole spent 60 years in the political spotlight. His rise to national prominence started in small-town Kansas.

A Republican, Dole served from 1961 to 1969 in the U.S. House of Representatives and from 1969 to 1996 in the U.S. Senate, where he became a political icon and spent 11 years as majority leader. He left the Senate after it became clear he would be his party's candidate for president in 1996.

Dole lost that year's presidential election to Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton. He had also run unsuccessfully for vice president in 1976 on the Republican ticket led by incumbent Gerald Ford. Dole died at age 98 in 2021.

American aviatrix Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) operates the controls of a flying laboratory, circa 1935.

Amelia Earhart was born July 24

Amelia Earhart is known as one of history's most famous female pilots. She was born July 24, 1897, at Atchison.

After becoming the 16th woman in the U.S. To be issued a pilot's license in 1923, Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, the first woman to fly non-stop across the U.S. And the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland.

Accompanied by navigator Fred Noonan, the 39-year-old Earhart tried in 1937 to become the first woman to fly around the world and the first person to do that using a route that was roughly equatorial. Their trip was more than three-quarters finished when they vanished July 2, 1937, in the South Pacific, Their fate remains one of the world's great unsolved mysteries.

Former Kansas Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker, shown in this photo take in April 2019 at an event in Topeka, is among famous Kansans born in late July.

Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker was born July 29

Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker in 1978 was the first woman elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate whose husband hadn't previously served in that body. She also was the first woman to represent Kansas in the Senate.

Kassebaum was born July 29, 1932, in Topeka, the daughter of Alf Landon, who served from 1933 to 1937 as Kansas governor and ran unsuccessfully as the Republican Party's presidential candidate in 1936.

She served on the board of education at Maize, a Wichita suburb, and spent about a year as a staff member for Republican Kansas Sen. James Pearson before she won election in 1978 to the seat Pearson was vacating.

Kassebaum served three terms in the Senate before leaving in 1997 after choosing not to seek re-election. Now 91, she lives on a ranch in Morris County in central Kansas.

Martina McBride was born July 29

Country music singer and songwriter Martina McBride has sold more than 18 million albums.

McBride was born July 29, 1966, at Medicine Lodge in Barber County in south-central Kansas, Since relocating in 1989 to Nashville and putting out her first album in 1992, she has put 20 songs in the top 10 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Country Songs charts. Five of those reached No. 1, all between 1995 and 2001. Another of her songs reached the top spot on Billboard's Adult Contemporary charts in 2003.

McBride has been nominated for 14 Grammy awards but hasn't won any. She has four times won the Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist of the Year and has three times been named "Top Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Country Music.

How common is it to be born in July?

July is the second-most common birth month in the U.S., behind August, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.

People born during the summer tend to have more "excessively positive" attitudes than their counterparts, according to a study conducted by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Those born in the summer tend to be taller and healthier, concluded a study conducted by Cambridge University.

Which famous Kansans were born in mid-July?

Extremely famous Kansans born in mid-July include the following:

Arthur Capper, a governor, senator, newspaper publisher and radio station owner, was born July 14, 1865, at Garnett. Capper died in 1951.

Retired Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders, 56, who is the fourth-leading rusher in the history of the NFL, was born July 16, 1968, at Wichita.

What other well-known Kansans were born between July 22 and 29?

Other well-known Kansans born between July 22 and July 29 include the following:

Sprinter Maurice Greene, 49, who was born July 23, 1974, in Kansas City, Kansas. Greene set world records in the 60-meter dash and 100-meter dash. He won two gold medals at the 2000 Olympics and won one silver and one bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics.

Actress Vivian Vance, who was born July 26, 1909, at Cherryvale in Montgomery County in southeast Kansas. Vance won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1953 as Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance as Ethel Mertz on the popular TV sitcom "I Love Lucy," which aired from 1951 to 1957. Vance died in 1979.

Baseball shortstop Joe Tinker, born July 27, 1880, at Muscotah in Atchison County in northeast Kansas. He was known for being part of a Chicago Cubs double play combination that included second baseman Johnny Evers and first baseman Frank Chance. All three entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. Tinker died on his 68th birthday in 1948.

Jazz singer Karrin Allyson, 60, who was born July 27, 1963, at Great Bend in Barton County in central Kansas. Allyson has been nominated for five Grammy awards but hasn't won any. She moved in 1998 from Kansas City, Missouri, to New York City. The New York Times has described her as a "singer with a feline touch and impeccable intonation."

Singer, songwriter and musician Randy Sparks, the founder and driving force behind the popular folk group the New Christy Minstrels, who was born July 29, 1933, at Leavenworth. Sparks led that group from its founding in 1961 until 1971, then from 1976 until he died last February at age 90.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.Com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Amelia Earhart among famous Kansans born in late July. Here's who else

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Famous Wrigley Field Rooftops Will Be Torn Down After City Signs Off

WRIGLEYVILLE — City Council has approved the rezoning for three iconic, century-old buildings across from Wrigley Field's right field bleachers on Sheffield Avenue to make way for one 29-unit apartment building.

The vote passed Wednesday despite an effort by some neighbors to block the project due to the historical significance of the buildings and the potential impact on the neighborhood's character.

The ownership group behind the project, led by rooftop property investor Marc Anguiano, plans to tear down the trio of properties at 3627, 3631 and 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. To build a five-story, 29-unit apartment building with 11 parking spaces along the alley behind the building.

The rooftop design includes two pickleball courts.

Renderings of a proposed 29-unit apartment building on Sheffield Avenue across the street from Wrigley Field. Credit: Provided/C-Strategies

Longtime Chicago Cubs fans will recognize the three buildings as the ones that featured the famous Torco billboard as well as the property that became famous for its "Eamus Catuli" sign — loosely translated from Latin as "Let's go Cubs."

That sign hung for years atop 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. But has since moved next door.

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The "Eamus Catuli" sign was joined for years by another sign that tracked the sad reminder of the Cubs' futility. Before the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, the sign read AC0071108: AC stood for Anno Catuli, or "the year of the Cubs," and the numbers meant it had been "00" years since a division title, "71" years since a pennant and "108" years since a world title.

After the Cubs won it all, the counter was reset to AC000000.

The Cubs tracker after it was updated following the World Series win. Credit: Shamus Toomey/Block Club Chicago

As the area around Wrigley Field went through massive renovations, the owners of the three buildings on Sheffield Avenue essentially drew the short stick. They used to sell rooftop tickets to fans who wanted to watch Cubs games, but those seats have mostly sat empty since 2015 due to the massive video scoreboard in right field that blocks the view from the rooftops.

"Twenty years ago, a lot of these property owners signed a deal with the Cubs to share revenue in order to get their view," Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th) previously told Block Club. "And then 10 years ago, the Cubs changed the deal with the city and blocked their view. Many of them sold to the Cubs — and then you have these guys who had nothing as part of the commercial side."

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Lisa Sorenson, a longtime Wrigleyville resident who owns property a block away, started an online petition for city officials to reconsider the development and landmark the buildings as historic properties.

The petition garnered nearly 2,900 signatures, but with the City Council vote on Wednesday, there may not be much neighbors can do to stop the project from moving forward.

"It's disappointing that the alderman is pushing his and the developer's agenda without taking into account community feedback," Sorenseon said Wednesday. "The neighborhood is not anti-development, but to destroy these three iconic buildings is unacceptable."

The three apartment buildings between between 3627 and 3633 N. Sheffield Avenue could soon be demolished for one newer 29-unit apartment building. Credit: Patrick Filbin/Block Club Chicago

Despite the online petition, Lawson had said community feedback on the project had been mostly positive.

Anguiano said the "Eamus Catuli" sign will be incorporated in the new building, though specific plans for it have yet to be finalized.

"One of the biggest things for us — that may not be true for everyone and all the developments in the area — is remaining true to the history and trying to preserve it as much as possible," Anguiano previously told Block Club. "That's very important to us. There are details within the design that we put in to try and stay as true as we can to what's there."

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:

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How Oregon's Most Famous Ghost Town Is Being Resurrected

Once known as the "Wool Capital of the World," this historic gem is now home to only 32 residents. But Shaniko isn't ready to put both feet in the grave yet.

SHANIKO, Ore. — Just three hours southeast of Portland lies Shaniko — Oregon's most famous ghost town. 

Once known as the "Wool Capital of the World," this historic gem is now home to only 32 residents. But as we discovered, both current inhabitants and spirits from the past are eager to welcome visitors and breathe new life into Shaniko.

A ghost town with a living spirit

As the golden hour settles over the tranquil two-street town just off Highway 97 in North Central Oregon, one can't help but sense the ghosts of Shaniko — and the spirit that still lives. Ernie Martin, whose father Ed bought several time-worn buildings in the 1970s, is continuing his dad's legacy. 

"It's Oregon's favorite ghost town," Ernie said. "It's where you come to escape the politics of the big city."

Ernie remembers fondly spending weekends in Shaniko with his twin brother, pretending they were part of the Wild West.

"For me as a child — I get emotional... It was so much fun having this as a weekend stomping ground," he recalled.  

Now, he's working to keep his father's dream alive. 

"This was Dad's dream to bring this town back to life, and I'm hoping to continue his legacy and put my stamp on it as well," Ernie said. 

From wool capital to ghost town

In its heyday, Shaniko was a bustling hub of commerce. The Columbia Southern Railroad terminated here, bringing wool buyers from all over the globe. At its peak, Shaniko set a one-day sales record of five million dollars — worth $176 million today.

David Long, a managing partner of the Shaniko Hotel, painted a picture of the town's wild past. 

"During sheep sales, 20,000 to 40,000 people would come," he explained. "It was kind of a rough place... Saloons, brothels... You had a lot of wild nights."

But the boom was short-lived. A competing railroad and two catastrophic fires in 1910 and 1911 sealed Shaniko's fate, transforming it into a ghost town.

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'It could die if people don't care'

Today, a small but dedicated group of individuals are working to preserve and revitalize Shaniko. 

Selina Kephart drives 80 miles from Lone Pine in the summer months to open her antique store, The Raven's Nest, she rents from Ernie Miller.

"It could die if people don't care," she says. "My dream is Shaniko will live for a long time after I am long gone."

Selina's shop is a treasure trove of history. 

"I bring in stuff all the time. You just never know what you're going to find here," she explains. 

From boots to banjos to bonnets, her store captures the essence of the Old West. 

"My main seller is palm leaf hats," she adds with a smile.

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The heart of Shaniko

The centerpiece of the town is the Shaniko Hotel. Gene and Dorothy Farrell renovated the hotel in the 1980s, then Robert Pamplin, Jr. Bought it, but it closed because of a water dispute in 2007.

Still, the hotel refused to die.

And it just reopened again in August 2023 as part of a nonprofit run by the South Wasco Fire and Rescue.

David Long and Scott Mars, who serve as hotel managers and volunteer firefighters, are passionate about preserving the town's history while supporting the local community.

"Once it dies, it's gone," David warned. "It came to death in the 60s... Buildings were falling over. If people don't take care of them, it's gone, and you can't get it back."

Scott Mars, who retired to Shaniko in 2017, jokes about his decision to get involved.

"It had to be insanity. I can't think of anything else," he laughs. 

But his commitment is clear: "No one person is making money off these projects... It's basically to donate to the city, i.E., the fire department — when we first started, it was all out of pocket."

Ghost stories

What's a ghost town without ghosts? Some say Shaniko's past residents never truly left. 

The hotel is rumored to be haunted by Nettie, the wife of a railroad doctor from the early 1900s. 

David explained, "Nettie seems to be a sweet soul, and a lot of people interact with her. You'll smell her perfume. It's not the style you can get today... You can tell this is an old-style perfume."

There's also Amelia, a 4-year-old spirit whose toy ball mysteriously moves up and down the hallways. 

"It makes a good noise and woke everyone up on the floor. They could hear it bouncing down the hall like it had been thrown," David recounted.

Looking to the future

As Ernie Martin hangs up the old "Gold Nugget" sign — a nod to Shaniko's rough-and-tumble past — there's a sense of hope for the future. 

"We are going to put up the old Gold Nugget sign. It's rustic, and it's the one my dad had up there," Ernie explained.

Through the perseverance of its protectors, this ghost town's golden days may not just be in the past. As a new day dawns on Shaniko, casting a warm glow on its weathered buildings, one can't help but feel that its best days may still lie ahead.

Shaniko Days

If you're planning your summer travels, consider a stop at Shaniko. The town is preparing to welcome visitors for its 50th annual summer festival, "Shaniko Days," happening August 2, 3 and 4. They're anticipating music, a beer garden, parade, cloggers, line dancing, raffles, Native American dancers and history talks. 

Who knows? You might even have your own ghostly encounter in Oregon's favorite ghost town.

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