Those We Lost — October 21

Honoring those we lost on October 21 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

Alfred B. Hilton

Born c. 1842 — died October 21, 1864

Union Army color sergeant and Medal of Honor recipient

Hilton, a farmer from Harford County, Maryland, enlisted in Baltimore in 1863 in the 4th U.S. Colored Troops. At the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm (New Market Heights) on September 29, 1864, he carried the national flag and, when the regimental color bearer fell, took up that flag as well until he was badly wounded. His right leg was amputated, and he died at the hospital at Fort Monroe. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously on April 6, 1865. He was one of the Black soldiers honored for the assault at New Market Heights.

Lucy Diggs Slowe

Born July 4, 1883 or 1885 — died October 21, 1937

Educator, college administrator, tennis champion, and Alpha Kappa Alpha founder

Slowe was one of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Howard University. In 1917 she won the first women’s title at the American Tennis Association’s national tournament, becoming the first African American to win a national title in any sport. In 1919 she became principal of Washington, D.C.’s first Black junior high school, and in 1922 Howard University appointed her Dean of Women. She made the dean of women a professional, specialist role at Howard and remained in that post until her death.

Charles E. Anderson

Born August 13, 1919 — died October 21, 1994

Meteorologist, chemist, educator, and U.S. Air Force officer

Anderson became the first known Black American to earn a doctorate in meteorology and worked in weather research, atmospheric science, military forecasting, and university teaching. His career opened a highly specialized scientific field to later Black meteorologists and helped strengthen severe-weather and atmospheric research.

Vada Pinson

Born August 11, 1938 — died October 21, 1995

Major League Baseball outfielder and coach

Born in Memphis and raised in Oakland, Pinson played eighteen major-league seasons, eleven with the Cincinnati Reds. He led the National League in hits in 1961 and 1963. He was a key player on the Reds’ 1961 pennant winners. He retired with 2,757 hits, 256 home runs, and 305 stolen bases. That made him one of only nine players with at least 2,700 hits, 250 home runs, and 300 steals.

Major Owens

Born June 28, 1936 — died October 21, 2013

Librarian, community organizer, New York state senator, and U.S. representative

Owens represented Brooklyn in Congress for twelve terms after work in libraries, antipoverty programs, and state government. He became a leading advocate for education and disability rights. Known as the Librarian in Congress, he helped shape and pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.