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January 27, 2010 at 2:05 pm #88203
A few years back, I wrote a Screenplay titled “Desperate Swans” (I make my living as a Screenwriter/Editor). It’s the story of a man who discovers he has ADD and all the changes he goes through as he tries to accept that fact and change his life. When it was done, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be helpful to run a list of famous people with ADD alongside the closing credits.” I thought I might get two or thee pages of names.
I now have twenty one pages!
You will have seen some of these names in Rick & Patricks terrific, “Tottally ADD & Loving It” Special.
But I thought it might help people starting out to see just how “not alone” you really are, by copying the full list here.
So if it’s okay with the Webmasters, I’ll start “serializing the list.”
Sidebar: To clarify, living, or recently deceased people on this list have “come out of the ADD Closet” publically and we have their own words, and many references, to back that up. Historical figures have been “diagnosed” by way of their autobiographies, or the historic record (and while the “science” there isn’t as good, few would argue that people like Thomas Edison or Mozart suffered from ADD).
For the record: Most people on this list have ADD/ADHD. Some were diagnosed with Autism, Aspergers, Bi-Polar Disorder, Clinical Depression, Dyslexia, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Tourettes Syndrome.
What they/we all share in common is a Brain Chemistry Imbalance, a problem that – thanks to modern meds – can be controled in more than 80% of cases (and that number increases with the introduction of every new medication).
So … away we go!
I’ll start with famous pilots (because that’s what “Desperate Swans” is all about), then go from there:
PILOTS:
Buzz Aldrin Astronaut, Second Man on the Moon
Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington (1912 – 1988) WWII Flying Ace (Black Sheep Squadron)
Admiral Richard Byrd (1888 – 1957) Explorer & Aviator
John Denver (1943- 1997)Pilot, Musician, Composer, Writer.
Harrison Ford Actor, Pilot
Howard Hughes Pilot, Entrepreneur
Charles Lindbergh (1927 – 1974)Pilot, Author
Eddie Rickenbacker (1890 – 1973) WWI Flying Ace
General James (Jimmy) Stewart (1908 – 1997) Pilot & Actor
Sally Wagstaff Five time world aerobatic Champion
Wilbur Wright (1867 – 1912) Co-Inventor of Powered Flight
U.S. PRESIDENTS:
George W. Bush 43rd US President.
Calvin Coolidge (1872 – 1933) 30th U.S. President
Bill Clinton 42nd US President
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 – 1969) 34th U. S. President/WW 2 General.
Lyndon B. Johnson (1908 – 1973) 36th U.S. president
John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963) 35th U. S. President
Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) 16th US President
Richard M. Nixon(1913 – 1994) 37th U.S. President
Ronald Reagan 40th U.S. President
George Washington (1732- 1799) 1st US President.
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) 28th U. S. President
RULERS, GENERALS, POLITICIANS & THEIR WIVES:
Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England
Prince Charles Future King of England
Diana Spencer (1961- 1997) Princess of Wales
Menachem Begin (1913 – 1992) Prime Minister, Nobel Laureate
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 – 1821) General, Emperor
Barbara Bush, Former First Lady (U.S.)
Lawton Chiles (1930-1998) Senator, Governor of Florida
Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) British Prime Minister
Garnet Coleman, Legislator (Texas)
Kitty Dukakis, Former First Lady of Massachusetts
Betty Ford, Former First Lady
Tipper Gore, Activist
Abbie Hoffman (1936 -1989,) Writer, Political Activist
Luci Baines Johnson, LBJ’s Daughter
Robert F. Kennedy (1925 – 1968) U.S. Attorney General
Frances Lear(1923 -1996) Writer, Women’s Rights Activist
Robert E Lee (1807-1870) General
Mary Todd Lincoln, Former First Lady
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918 – 1970) Egyptian Leader
George S. Patton (1885- 1945) U.S. General
Alma Powell, Wife of Gen. Colin Powell
Nelson Rockefeller, US Vice President
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 – 1962) Former First Lady
Muhammad Anwar alSadat (1918 – 1981) Egyptian President, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
Gen. William Westmoreland (1914-2005) General
Boris Yeltsin, Former President of Russia
Up next:
Famous Entertainers (and their ranks are legion!)
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 27, 2010 at 2:54 pm #92308
AnonymousInactiveJanuary 27, 2010 at 2:54 pmPost count: 14413Interesting…Do you have a list of ADD/ADHD artists?..painters, creators, designer…
And what about accountant, secretaries, office workers…
Can we make a comparaison…in which field those wonderful ADD/ADHD people work better or in which field their a less productive?
Just curious…Thanks
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 27, 2010 at 5:28 pm #92309oh my gosh! you’re kidding… bush has add?!? i would have never guessed that! *snickers* sorry, couldn’t help it. hee hee it’s only b/c my bro (who also has add) reminds me of the former pres and if i knew that he wouldn’t be sensitive about it, i would tease him. *evil grin*
river, you can add me to the secretary/PA/office worker. oh, wait! i’m not famous….. yet. (insert kool-aid smile here)
this is a great list GN. me likey! thanks for posting. it’s interesting to see the great folks that made the list and all of their accomplishments.
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 28, 2010 at 2:01 pm #92310Continuing with my list of famous ADDErs (or people with Brain Chemistry Imbalances)…
River asked if I had a list of ADD Artists.
Of COURSE I do. <vbg>
I’ll do that next. Here we go:
WRITERS, POETS, ARTISTS & ENTREPRENEURS:
Ansel Adams Photographer
Louis Althusser (1918-1990) Philosopher, Writer
Diane Arbus (1923-1971) Photographer
Samuel Becket (1906-1989) Writer
Clifford Beers (1876-1943) Humanitarian
John Berryman (1914-1972) Poet
L. Brent Bozell (d. 1997) Attorney, Writer
Richard Brautigan (d. 1984) Writer
Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821 – 1890)Explorer, Writer
Truman Capote (1924-1984) Writer
Thomas Carlyle Scottish historian, critic, writer
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) Industialist
Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) Author of Alice in Wonderland
Neal Cassady (1926-1968) Writer
Agatha Christie (1890-1976) Author
Hart Crane(1899 1932) Poet
Salvador Dali (1904-1989) Artist
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Inventor/Artist
Emily Dickinson Poet
Terence Donovan (1936-1996) Photographer
Michael Dorris (1945-1997) Writer
James Farmer (1920-1999) Civil Rights Activist
Philo T. Farnsworth (1906-1971) Inventor of Television
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 1940) Author
Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) Magazine Publisher
Andre Franquin (1924-1997) Cartoonist
Arshille Gorky (1904-1948) Artist
Phil Graham Owner, Washington Post
Graham Greene (1904-1991) Writer
Philip Guston (1913-1980) Artist
Valerie Hardin Gothic poet, Artist, Children’s Author
William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) Newspaper Magnate
Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) Writer
Ernest Hemingway (1898-1961) Writer
Milton Hershey (1857-1945) “The Chocolate King”
Herman Hesse (1877-1962) Writer
Edward Hopper 1882-1967 Artist
Eugene Izzi (1954-1996) Writer
William James (1842-1910) Philosopher, Writer
Randall Jarrell (1914-1965) Poet
Samuel Johnson Author
Franz Kafka (1883-1924) Writer
Jane Kenyon (1940-1995) Poet
William Kurelek (1927-1977) Artist
Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) Explorer(Lewis & Clark Expedition)
Ross Lockridge, Jr. (1914-1948) Writer
Jack London (1876-1916) Writer
Malcolm Lowry (1909-1957) Writer
J. Anthony Lukas (1933-1997) Writer
Peter McWilliams (1949-2000) Writer, Activist
Claude Monet (1840-1926) Artist
Eugene O’Neill (1888-1953) Writer
Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) Poet, Soldier
Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) Writer, Poet
Walker Percy (1916-1990) Writer
Pierre Peladeau (1925-1997) Entrepreneur
Murray Pezim (1920-1998) Financier
Pablo Picasso (1882-1973) Artist
Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) Writer
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) Author/Poet
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) Artist
John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) Founder, Standard Oil
Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Artist
August Rodin (1840-1917) Artist/Sculptor
Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) Writer
Amelia Rosselli (1930-1996) Poet
Mark Rothko (1903-1970) Artist
Gabrielle Roy (1909-1983) Writer
May Sarton (1913-1995) Poet, Diarist, Novelist
Charles Schulz (1922-2000) Artist, Cartoonist
Delmore Schwartz (1913-1966) Poet
Anne Sexton (1928-1974) Poet
George Bernard Shaw Author
Socrates (469-399 B.C.) Philosopher
George Stephanopoulos Political Advisor, Educator
August Strindberg (1849-1912) Writer
Dylan Thomas Irish Author
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Author
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy Russian Author
Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) Artist
Mark Twain Writer
Joseph Vasquez (1963-1996) Writer, Director
Vincent Van Gogh Artist
Russell Varian (1899-1959) Inventor
Jules Verne (1828-1905) Author
Kurt Vonnegut Writer
Mary Jane Ward (1905-1981) Writer
Norman Wexler (1926-1999) Screenwriter, Playwright
Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) Writer
William Carlos Williams (1883-1963) Physician, Writer, Poet
Bill Wilson (1895-1971) Co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous
F. W. Woolworth (1852-1919) Department Store Innovator
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) Architect
William Wrigley, Jr. Chewing Gum Maker
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) Writer
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) Irish Author
How’s that?
Cheers,
GN
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 28, 2010 at 2:05 pm #92311Veronica …
Yeah, I think Bush is a pretty obvious case recognized by just about everyone. <g>
(Sidebar: I shouldn’t laugh. The poor man’s dyslexia is painfully obvious and made him an object of ridicule.)
Interesting point – when I was compiling a list of recent U.S, Presidents with ADD, I had a hard time finding one who wasn’t!
Only one I could find was Jimmy Carter (who, interestingly lobbied for assistance for those with Mental Disorders).
Haven’t seen any blatant signs of ADD in Obama.
Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. <vbg>
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 28, 2010 at 2:14 pm #92312Oh, what the heck – let’s do ADD Entertainers as well.
(Note “Musicians” are in a separate list I’ll put here later.)
ENTERTAINERS:
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) Dancer, Choreographer
Harry Anderson Actor
Louie Anderson Comedian, Actor
Tom Arnold Actor
Norma Jean Baker (Marilyn Monroe) Actor, Singer
Ann Bancroft Actor
Rona Barrett Entertainment Reporter, Author
Kim Bassinger Actor
Ned Beatty Actor
Harry Belafonte Actor, Singer
John Belushi Actor, Comedian, Singer
Maurice Benard Actor
Danny Bonaduce Radio Personality, Actor, Writer
Clara Bow (1905 – 1965) Actor
Cheyenne Brando (1970 – 1995) Actor
Marlon Brando Actor
Jeremy Brett 1933 – 1995, Actor
Art Buchwald Writer, Humorist
Delta Burke Actor
George Burns (1896-1996) Actor
Tim Burton Artist, Movie Director
Gary Busey Actor
Cher Actor, Singer
Nicholas Cage Actor
Donald Cammell (1934-1996) Movie Director, Screenwriter
Naomi Campbell Model
Truman Capote (1924-1984) Writer, TV Personality.
Drew Carey Actor
Jim Carrey Actor
Lisa Nicole Carson Actor
Dick Cavett Writer, Media Personality
Paddy Chayefsky (1923 – 1981) Writer, Movie Director
Margaret Cho Actor, Comedian
Dick Clark Television Personality, Producer
John Cleese Comedian, Actor, Writer
Paula Cole Actor
Jeff Conaway Actor
Francis Ford Coppola Director
Bill Cosby Actor, Comedian
Dennis Crosby (1935-1991) Actor
Carey Crosby, (1938-1989) Actor
Bill Dana Comedian
Rodney Dangerfield Comedian, Actor
Sandra Dee Actor
Ellen DeGeneres Comedian, Actor
Johnny Depp Actor
Walt Disney Animator
Eric Douglas Actor
Kirk Douglas Actor
Michael Douglas Actor
Tony Dow Actor, Producer, Director
Robert Downey Jr. Actor
Patty Duke (Anna Duke Pearce) Actor, Writer
Robert Evans Producer
Craig Ferguson TV Host, Comedian, Actor, Writer
Sally Field Actor
Eddie Fisher Singer, Actor
Carrie Fisher Writer, Actor
Michael J. Fox Actor
Judy Garland (1922-1969) Singer, Actor
James Garner Actor
Danny Glover Actor
Tracey Gold (1969-Present) Actor
Whoopi Goldberg Comedian, Actor
Cary Grant Actor
Rick Green Actor, Writer, Director, Producer
Shecky Greene Comedian, Actor
Linda Hamilton Actor
Tony Hancock Comedian, Actor
Moss Hart (1904-1961) Actor, Director, Playwright
Mariette Hartley Actor
Margaux Hemingway (1955-1996) Actor, Model
Mariel Hemingway (1961-Present) Actor
Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) Actor
Dustin Hoffman Actor
Anthony Hopkins Actor
Ashley Judd Actor
Naomi Judd Actor Singer
Margot Kidder Actor
Gelsey Kirkland Dancer
Ashton Kutcher Actor
Jessica Lange Actor
Hugh Laurie Actor, Comedian
Vivien Leigh 1913-1967, Actor
Jay Leno Comedian & TV Host
Dave Letterman Comedian & TV Host
Bill Liechtenstein Producer
Allie Light Director
Joshua Logan 1909-1988 Broadway Director, Producer
Courtney Love Musician, Actor
Howie Mandel Comedian, Actor
Camryn Manheim Actor
Ann Margret Actor, Dancer
Jay Marvin Radio Personality, Writer
Gary McDonald Actor
Kevin McDonald Comedian, Actor
Patrick McKenna Actor, Writer, Producer
Rod McKuen Poet
Kristy McNichol Actor
Steve McQueen (1930-1980) Actor
Burgess Meredith 1908-1997, Actor, Director
Spike Milligan (1918-2002) Comic Actor, Writer
Carmen Miranda (1909-1955) Dancer, Actor
Demi Moore Actor
Vaslov Nijinksy (1889-1959) Dancer, Choreographer
Deborah Norville Television Journalist
Rosie O’Donnell Actor, Talk Show Host
Sir Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) Actor
Nicola Pagett Actor
Susan Powter Motivational Speaker
Freddie Prinze (1954-1977) Actor , Comedian.
Joan Rivers Comedian, Talk Show Host
Robbie Rist Actor
Roseanne Actor, Writer, Comedian
Winona Ryder, Actor
Yves Saint Laurent, Fashion Designer
Charles Schulz, 1922-2000 Artist, Cartoonist
George C. Scott (1927-) Actor
Willard Scott Weather Forecaster
David O. Selznick (1902-1965) Film Producer, Director
Neil Simon Writer, Playwright
Paul Simon Composer, Musician
Don Simpson (1944-1996) Movie Producer
Will Smith Actor,Rapper,Entertainer
Tom Smothers Actor,Singer,Entertainer
Jose Solano actor
Suzanne Sommers Actor
Steven Spielberg Producer
Sylvester Stallone Actor, Writer, Producer, Director
Rod Steiger (1925-2002) Actor
Barbara Streisand Singer, Actor, Director, Producer
David Strickland (1970-1999) Actor
Elizabeth Taylor Actor
Lili Taylor Actor
Gene Tierney (1920-1991) Actor
Spencer Tracy (1900-1967) actor
Ted Turner Entrepreneur, Media Giant
Liv Tyler Actor. Daughter of Steve Tyler
Jean Claude Van Damme Athlete, Actor
Vivian Vance (1909-1979) Actor
Joseph Vasquez (1963-1996) Writer, Director
Carey Wagner Actor
Lindsay Wagner (1949-Present) Actor
Mike Wallace Journalist
Damon Wayans Comedian, Actor, Writer, Director, Producer
Norman Wexler (1926-1999) Screenwriter, Playwright
Robin Williams Comedian, Actor
Henry Winkler Actor, Producer
Oprah Winfrey Talk Show Host, Actor
Jonathan Winters Comedian, Actor, Writer, Artist
Ed Wood (1925-1978) Director
Natalie Wood (1938-1981) Actor
Robert Young (1907-1998) Actor
Up next:
Scientists & Athletes.
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 28, 2010 at 2:26 pm #92313Just realized I didn’t answer River’s question.
Re where do ADDers fit?
It’s no surprise so many of us are in “Show Biz.”
I’ve heard it said that L.A. should be re-named “ADD-Town” (though I personally prefer, “Swan Lake” <g>)
We suck in mundane occupations.
We blossom in any arena that demands high concentration (because of the ADD “gift” of hyper-focus).
BUT … there’s a catch.
We “gotta wanna.”
If the arena doesn’t catch our imagination, fugetaboudit.
If it does – especially once we have the right meds – we excel.
To put it another way…
I can’t work 9 to 5 to save my life (if there’s no reason, other than money, to be there).
But, I will happily work 5 to 9 (that’s 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.), 7 days a week, if the arena catches my fancy.
(Been doing that since 1972!)
Hope that partially answers your question.
MUST get back to work.
Cheers till next time,
GN
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 28, 2010 at 8:11 pm #92314
AnonymousInactiveJanuary 28, 2010 at 8:11 pmPost count: 14413WOW! I KNEW IT!….I KNEW IT!! (laughing out loud….!!!)
When you say that : I can’t work 9 to 5 to save my life (if there’s no reason, other than money, to be there).
But, I will happily work 5 to 9 (that’s 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.), 7 days a week, if the arena catches my fancy.
I’m struggling about that lately…FInding THE right job for me…since I’M 45 and cannot fit a job for over few months whtitout getting sick after that period of time….well, i guess that I dd’nt find the right med..yet…I have to find a specialist first!
But now I look to help my younger boy because I think he have ADD…(trouble concentring, easily distracted in school, but he is SOOOO funny….!))
Thanks Fearwidg!! )
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 29, 2010 at 12:38 am #92315
AnonymousInactiveJanuary 29, 2010 at 12:38 amPost count: 14413RULERS, GENERALS, POLITICIANS & THEIR WIVES:
Kim Jong-il ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il )
He’ll never admit it and tends to jail anybody that knows anything about his human frailties
but it’s obvious to me that he has it.
5-9? I have 5 or 6 days a week of 30-36 hours each, with the occasional long day when
I get busy with something interesting. Having no circadian rhythm makes it easy for me. ;]
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 29, 2010 at 4:54 am #92316I ‘ve seen these lists before and I’ve always wondered if ADHD is a recently diagnosed condition, say within the last 40 or so years for the sake of argument, is there any anecdotal evidence that says Wilbur Wright of the Wright Brothers, or going further back George Washington or Edgar Allan Poe was definitely ADHD? Like, were they tested back then? Or are we just assuming based on some facts that “may” indicate the probability of being ADHD. I’m not trying to burst anyone’s balloon here. We could use all the encouragement we can get….
Strange, few Canadians on that list….
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 29, 2010 at 5:12 am #92317
AnonymousInactiveJanuary 29, 2010 at 5:12 amPost count: 14413It does leave distinctive marks on one’s life and those of famous people are documented
well enough to get a clear picture of their personal struggles and foibles. Their grade school
report cards will look very familiar to all of us, for example, with all the usual phrases like “he’s
brilliant but does not apply himself” “daydreamer” “trouble finishing assignments” and the like.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it became common knowledge that we drove the renaissance.
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 29, 2010 at 1:26 pm #92318Absolutely right ADDled.
Before ADHD, it was ADD (though in fact, those terms really should apply to ADD – the quiet, non-obvious variety, and ADHD – “wall-bouncers” like myself <g>).
Before that it was (my personal favourite) – “minimal brain dysfunction.” (Really? Gee. Thanks a lot.)
Before that – “Bad Kids.”
(Even the curren term doesn’t really describe what we have. When hyper-focus kicks in, we can pay more attention, for longer periods of time, than most “normal people” {whatever the heck “normal” means. <g>}
I think Attention Variability Disorder is closer to the mark, though personally … I’m sticking with “Swans.” <vbg>)
You’re also right when it comes to historical figures. We can’t know they were ADD with any absolute certainty, but experts (not me) have come up with a “diagnosis” by reading their autobiographies, or looking at their recorded behaviour.
A perfect example is Thomas Edison. His brain was so “all over the place,” that his formal education ended at Grade 3. After that, his mother taught him at home. But when you look at what the man achieved – and the way he achieved it – it’s fairly obvious that Edison was “a Swan.” <g>
Anyone I’ve included on the list who is currently, or was recently, alive “came out of the ADD closet” and publically admitted they had ADD. Many have done that on late night TV shows! I’ve personally watched Anthony Hopkins, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Mandel & Gary Busey admit “they’re one of us.” <g>
And Aaron – I agree that your renaissance remark is probably true.
“Our” ability to achieve greatness is in the historical record time and time again.
But at what personal cost?
In WW2, my Island home of England was saved by an aging man who suffered terrible bouts of depression ( or “My Black Dog” as he called it).
(Sidebar: I met Winston Churchill when I was a little kid!)
Albert Einstein was obviously a genius … but he couldn’t maintain any sort of relationship and eventually lost the woman he loved.
THAT’S my personal reason for advocating so heavily for ADDers. I just don’t think it’s necessary for the people who contribute so much to this world to endure lives of personal hell.
Like I’ve said before … if you get a proper diagnosis (from someone who knows what they’re talking about), and get the right meds, you can “leash your demons,” BUT you DON’T lose the ADD gift of hyper-focus. You get to keep and CONTROL it. You’re more “you” than you’ve ever been AND, you get to have a happy home life as well.
Why would ANY of us settle for anything less?
… But I digress. <vbg>
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 29, 2010 at 1:33 pm #92319Almost forgot (Gee, I wonder why? <g>)
As promised, here’s today’s list of Scientists and Athletes with ADD (or other Brain Chemisty Imbalances).
See above re historic Figures.
SCIENTISTS:
Alexander Graham Bell Inventor
Werner von Braun (1912-1977) Rocket Scientist
Harvey Cushing M.D.(1869-1939) Neurosurgeon
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Physicist
Michael Faraday (1791-1867) British physicist and chemist
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Politician, Writer, Inventor
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Mathematician/Astronomer
Primo Levi (d. 1987) Chemist, Writer
Karl Paul Link Chemist, Scientist
Salvador Luria (1912-1991) Geneticist, Nobel Laureate
James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) British Physicist
Sir Issac Newton (1642-1727) Scientist, Mathematician
Nostradamus (1503-1566) Physician, Prophet
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) Scientist
ATHLETES:
Chris Antley (1967-2001) Jockey
Terry Bradshaw (1948 – Present) Football Quarterback
Tyrus Cobb (1886-1961) Baseball
Ron Ellis Hockey Player
Dwight Gooden Baseball Athlete
Peter Gregg (1940-1980) Race Car Driver
Doug Harvey Hockey Player
Bruce Jenner Track & Field
“Magic” Johnson Basketball Player
Michael Jordan Basketball Player
Jason Kidd (1973-Present) Basketball Player
Carl Lewis (1961-Present) Olympic Gold Medalist
Greg Louganis Olympic Diver
Michael Phelps Olympic Gold Medalist (14 times)
Pete Rose Baseball Player
Babe Ruth (1895-1948) Baseball Legend
Nolan Ryan Baseball Player
Monica Seles Tennis Pro
Jackie Stewart Grand Prix Hall of Famer
Alberto Tomba (1966-Present) Italian Alpine Ski Champion
Bert Yancey (1938-1994) Pro Golfer
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 29, 2010 at 1:48 pm #92320One specific answer I can give you re a “historic character” is Wilbur Wright.
Both Wilbur & Orville were dyslexic, both had a terrible time with numbers, both were “high school drop-outs.”
Many agree that their most important invention wasn’t the airplane. (Otto Lilienthal & Octave Chanute had already figured out the importance of curving the upper surface of a wing, and the Wrights borrowed heavily from their observations,)
What the Wrights did that no one else had was to create the “Wind Tunnel.”
This invention allowed them to experiment with all kinds of wing shapes BEFORE they flew. In effect, they “invented” the modern science of aerodynamics.
BUT …
Once they had all their data, they had a hard time reducing it.
It was their sister Katherine (who HAD gone to College & was a teacher) who assisted them during this crucial period.
It is also said that Katherine funded the First Flight experiments (though there is some dispute over that fact).
But I digress… <vbg>
REPORT ABUSEJanuary 29, 2010 at 8:57 pm #92321Hi everyone, Thanks for the list…it’s funny when I read that Bill Clinton had ADHD…I thought alright all is good. I’m so impressed by him. I’ve seen him speak several times and it is very inspiring so to me…I’m comparing my behaviour to his (not the Monica comparision ) as then I’m comparing myself to another ADDer which is apples to apples and not apples to veggies. So many times we want to be “Normal” and we want to compare ourselves to those who don’t and let me tell you it is a sure way to go crazy. I felt different almost immediately after I went into the website – how to explain that don’t know but I felt confident and excited that someone of his prominence goes through the same thoughts and difficulties that I do. I felt inspired. Thanks for the information
Elizabeth “the next prime minister of Canada”…maybe funny…okay maybe not but fancy me it’s Friday.
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