February 29

Cullen Jones

February 29, 1984 was when Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones was born in New York City.  After almost drowning at age five, Jones learned to swim. This near catastrophic incident propelled his life into becoming one of the world's best swimmers.  Jones would go on to win his first gold medal in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China with teammates Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak and Garrett Weber-Gale. Jones won the gold medal in the 4 x 100-meter medley and silver medals in the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay and the 50-meter freestyle at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.  In college Jones swam for the North Carolina State University swimming and diving team.  It is estimated by some that as many as 70 percent of all African American children can not swim.  Jones is doing something to improve the percentages of all children who learn how to swim.  Jones teamed up with the USA Swimming Foundation's Make A Splash Tour to teach youth how to swim.  The USA Swimming Foundation has provided swimming lessons to over 3 million children

Tribute To Black History Month

December 19, 1875 – April 3, 1950 – Carter Godwin Woodson

Dr. Carter G. Woodson  began “Negro History Week” the forerunner to Black History Month. Dr. Woodson was a noted, historian, journalist, author and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.