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Ferociousness and French fries Ferociousness and French fries
(10 minutes later)
BEEN AND GONE By Bob Chaundy BBC News Profiles Unit Our regular column covering the passing of significant - but lesser-reported - characters of the past month.BEEN AND GONE By Bob Chaundy BBC News Profiles Unit Our regular column covering the passing of significant - but lesser-reported - characters of the past month.
Hit man who escaped and emerged after eight years, Randolph Dial• Jim Clark was a racist sheriff from Selma, Alabama, who famously ordered his police force to attack, with tear gas and clubs, a civil rights protest march headed by Martin Luther King in 1965. Such was the outrage caused by the sustained assault which injured 56 demonstrators, that President Lyndon Johnson, who watched it live on TV, immediately set about enacting legislation that gave black people the right to vote. Afterwards, Clark was removed from office and later served a prison term for importing and selling marijuana. He was 84.Hit man who escaped and emerged after eight years, Randolph Dial• Jim Clark was a racist sheriff from Selma, Alabama, who famously ordered his police force to attack, with tear gas and clubs, a civil rights protest march headed by Martin Luther King in 1965. Such was the outrage caused by the sustained assault which injured 56 demonstrators, that President Lyndon Johnson, who watched it live on TV, immediately set about enacting legislation that gave black people the right to vote. Afterwards, Clark was removed from office and later served a prison term for importing and selling marijuana. He was 84.
• Randolph Dial, who has died at 62, also spent time in jail, though for the greater crime of murder. As a hit man for the Kansas City mob, he killed a karate instructor for which he was given a life sentence. However, in 1994, he escaped from an Oklahoma jail and took with him the wife of the deputy warden, some 18 years his junior. The couple emerged in 2002 when Dial rang the author of a book about him. It wasn't until 2005 that the FBI finally found them living on a chicken farm in Texas.• Randolph Dial, who has died at 62, also spent time in jail, though for the greater crime of murder. As a hit man for the Kansas City mob, he killed a karate instructor for which he was given a life sentence. However, in 1994, he escaped from an Oklahoma jail and took with him the wife of the deputy warden, some 18 years his junior. The couple emerged in 2002 when Dial rang the author of a book about him. It wasn't until 2005 that the FBI finally found them living on a chicken farm in Texas.
• Former American wrestling champion, Chris Benoit, 40, also committed murder, though in more tragic circumstances. Known as the "Rabid Wolverine", Benoit had been acting strangely after sending strange text messages to friends. They alerted the police who then found Benoit, his wife and seven-year-old son dead at their home. They believe Benoit killed them both before committing suicide. There was immediate speculation that the side-effects of steroids, known to sometimes incur paranoia, depression and bouts of violence, may have been to blame for the killings. • Former American wrestling champion Chris Benoit, 40, also committed murder, though in more tragic circumstances. Known as the "Rabid Wolverine", Benoit had been acting strangely after sending strange text messages to friends. They alerted the police who then found Benoit, his wife and seven-year-old son dead at their home. They believe Benoit killed them both before committing suicide. There was immediate speculation that the side-effects of steroids, known to sometimes incur paranoia, depression and bouts of violence, may have been to blame for the killings.
Notable for his impact on fast food - Edwin Traisman • Edwin Traisman needed no steroids for his claim to fame. A food scientist who helped create Cheez Whiz, he went on to develop the freezing process used to make McDonald's French fries. All the French fries in McDonald's restaurants used to be made fresh in each restaurant. But there was a problem in getting a consistent, year-long supply of the right potatoes. Edwin Traisman solved the problem in the 1960s by creating a freezing process that first reduced the moisture in the potato, thereby not adversely affecting its flavour and firmness. Edwin Traisman has died aged 91.Notable for his impact on fast food - Edwin Traisman • Edwin Traisman needed no steroids for his claim to fame. A food scientist who helped create Cheez Whiz, he went on to develop the freezing process used to make McDonald's French fries. All the French fries in McDonald's restaurants used to be made fresh in each restaurant. But there was a problem in getting a consistent, year-long supply of the right potatoes. Edwin Traisman solved the problem in the 1960s by creating a freezing process that first reduced the moisture in the potato, thereby not adversely affecting its flavour and firmness. Edwin Traisman has died aged 91.
• Too many French fries may not have benefited the art of Serena Wilson who has died aged 71 from a pulmonary embolism. She popularised belly dancing in the United States. For four decades her Serena Studios offered both instruction as well as belly dancers for hire. Her dance troupe, known most recently as Serena Dance Theater, appeared often in New York City. Serena Wilson wrote two books on belly dancing and held workshops throughout the United States. She worked hard to dispel any misconceptions that belly dancers, though erotic, were not strippers.• Too many French fries may not have benefited the art of Serena Wilson who has died aged 71 from a pulmonary embolism. She popularised belly dancing in the United States. For four decades her Serena Studios offered both instruction as well as belly dancers for hire. Her dance troupe, known most recently as Serena Dance Theater, appeared often in New York City. Serena Wilson wrote two books on belly dancing and held workshops throughout the United States. She worked hard to dispel any misconceptions that belly dancers, though erotic, were not strippers.
Sir Wally, as an explorer, and (inset) receiving his knighthood • Sir Wally Herbert also wrote books about his speciality; in his case, polar exploring. In 1969, the British explorer became, undisputedly, the first man to walk to the North Pole. Sir Ranulph Fiennes called him "the greatest of all polar travellers since Captain Scott". After reaching the pole, he then led his team of three companions and 40 dogs to complete the 3,800-mile expedition from Alaska to Norway across the frozen ocean. He was awarded the Polar Medal that he had received once before after becoming the first person to cross the Antarctic peninsula in 1957. Herbert was 72.Sir Wally, as an explorer, and (inset) receiving his knighthood • Sir Wally Herbert also wrote books about his speciality; in his case, polar exploring. In 1969, the British explorer became, undisputedly, the first man to walk to the North Pole. Sir Ranulph Fiennes called him "the greatest of all polar travellers since Captain Scott". After reaching the pole, he then led his team of three companions and 40 dogs to complete the 3,800-mile expedition from Alaska to Norway across the frozen ocean. He was awarded the Polar Medal that he had received once before after becoming the first person to cross the Antarctic peninsula in 1957. Herbert was 72.
Among others who died in June are former Japanese prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa; fashion designer Liz Claiborne; former UN chief Kurt Waldheim; broadcaster Sir David Hatch; philosophers Richard Rorty and John Moriarty; classical musicians Dame Thea King and Oskar Morawetz; and comedian Bernard Manning.Among others who died in June are former Japanese prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa; fashion designer Liz Claiborne; former UN chief Kurt Waldheim; broadcaster Sir David Hatch; philosophers Richard Rorty and John Moriarty; classical musicians Dame Thea King and Oskar Morawetz; and comedian Bernard Manning.