January 30, 1882 – The 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is born in Hyde Park, New York. Despite being crippled by polio, he launched a successful political career and as President oversaw relief efforts for the Great Depression and America’s response to World War II. He died in office during his unprecedented fourth term as President.
January 31, 1919 – Baseball great Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in major league baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, is born in Cairo, Georgia.
February 2, 1895 – Papa Bear George Halas is born in Chicago. He was a standout athlete at the University of Illinois. Enlisting in the Navy, he was named MVP in the 1919 Rose Bowl game playing for the winning team. He went on to join the Decatur Staleys football team (renamed the Bears when they moved to Chicago) as player-coach. He retired from coaching in 1968 with 318 wins and six NFL titles.
February 3, 1894 – Prolific American artist and illustrator Norman Rockwell is born in New York City. He produces more than 4,000 original works during his lifetime.