Mel Counts

Basketball player, 1964 NBA Champion

Mel Counts - Basketball player, 1964 NBA Champion
Born

October 16th, 1941
83 years ago

Category

Athletes & Sports Figures

Country

United States

Links & References

Played professional basketball primarily as a center. Spent significant time with the Boston Celtics, contributing to their success during the 1960s. Won the NBA Championship in 1964. Also played for teams including the Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns in a career spanning over a decade. Achieved recognition for skills in rebounding and defense.

Won NBA Championship with Boston Celtics in 1964

Played for Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns

Selected as the 8th overall pick in the 1963 NBA Draft

Other People Born on October 16th

Johann Gottfried Eichhorn

Theologian and academic of German heritage
Born
October 16th, 1752 272 years ago
Died
June 27th, 1827 198 years ago — 74 years old

Contributed significantly to biblical criticism and theology. Played a crucial role in advancing the historical-critical method in the study of the Bible. Published works that analyzed the New Testament's origins and its impact on Christian thought. Worked as a professor at various universities, influencing a generation of theologians and scholars.

Continue Reading

Casey Stoner

Motorcycle racer and MotoGP champion
Born
October 16th, 1985 39 years ago

A highly accomplished motorcycle racer, achieved significant success in MotoGP. Competed for notable teams including Ducati and Honda. Secured two MotoGP World Championships in 2007 and 2011. Renowned for exceptional skill and speed on the track, earned multiple race victories throughout career, establishing a prominent presence in the sport.

Continue Reading

Roger Hawkins

American session drummer for Muscle Shoals
Born
October 16th, 1945 79 years ago
Died
2021 4 years ago — 76 years old

A prominent session drummer, contributed extensively to the Muscle Shoals sound during the 1960s and 1970s. Played on numerous hit tracks for various artists, including Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and The Rolling Stones. Known for a distinctive drumming style that greatly influenced the southern rock genre. Collaborated with the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, recording on many albums that defined the era.

Continue Reading

Luke Wadding

Irish Franciscan historian and writer
Born
October 16th, 1588 436 years ago
Died
1657 368 years ago — 69 years old

Contributed significantly to the historical documentation of the Franciscan order. Provided detailed accounts of the order's history in works that were key to understanding its development and influence. Wadding was also instrumental in the founding of the Irish Franciscan College in Louvain, aiding in the education of many Irish clergy during a time of great upheaval in Ireland. His writings, particularly the 'Annales Minorum', served as a crucial resource for historians studying Franciscan history and the climate of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Continue Reading

Paul Kariya

Ice hockey player and Stanley Cup finalist
Born
October 16th, 1974 50 years ago

A Canadian ice hockey player played primarily as a winger in the National Hockey League (NHL). Notable career included stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, and Nashville Predators. Achieved significant recognition for extraordinary speed and scoring ability. Accumulated several awards during the playing career, including the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship. Contributed to the Canadian national team, winning a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Continue Reading

Jan Dismas Zelenka

Czech composer and viol player
Born
October 16th, 1679 345 years ago
Died
1745 280 years ago — 66 years old

A prominent Baroque composer and viol player, Zelenka contributed significantly to the sacred music repertoire. He spent a considerable part of his life in Dresden, where he served as a composer for the court. Zelenka's work is characterized by its intricate polyphony and rich harmonic language. The influence of Czech folk music is evident in his compositions, which include both instrumental and vocal works. He composed numerous liturgical and orchestral pieces, with a particular focus on the use of choral elements within the arrangements. His music, although lesser-known during his lifetime, has gained recognition and admiration in contemporary performances.

Continue Reading