Deaths in the News: 1997 Quiz | Death Becomes Them

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Planetary geologist Eugene Shoemaker, aged 69, died in Alice Springs, Australia on July 18. What was the cause of his death?

Answer: Car crash

Shoemaker was among the first to validate the idea that Meteor Crater in Winslow, Arizona was created by a meteoritic impact. His knowledge of impact cratering became valuable to NASA, who used him to train astronauts bound for the Moon. Shoemaker's wife, Carolyn, sustained serious injuries in the same crash, but survived.

2. Multimillionaire Jack Kent Cooke died in Washington, DC, on April 6 at the age of 84. In addition to Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (now FedEx Field), Cooke was also responsible for the building of what West Coast sports arena?

Answer: Great Western Forum

Great Western Forum was home to both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Kings from 1967 until 1999, and was the first privately funded facility of its kind in the United States. Cooke constructed the building after running into problems negotiating a lease with the city's coliseum authority to continue using the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

3. Civil rights activist Betty Shabazz died on June 23, at age 61, from burns she suffered in an apartment fire in New York City. What or who was responsible for that fire?

Answer: Her grandson

The widow of civil rights leader Malcolm X, Betty Shabazz raised six daughters as a single mother. One of those daughters, Qubilah Shabazz, had problems raising her son, named Malcolm after her father. She sent the boy to New York, from her home in Minnesota, to live with Shabazz, hoping she would be a positive influence on him. Malcolm started the fire in hopes that he would be sent home. Ironically, Mrs. Shabazz died looking for him, thinking he was still trapped in the apartment.

4. Singer Lawrence Payton died in Southfield, Michigan, on June 20, 1997, at age 59. Of what popular Motown group was Payton a founding member?

Answer: The Four Tops

During the 1960s and 1970s, The Four Tops--Payton, Renaldo Benson, Abdul Fakir and Levi Stubbs--had a bevy of hits, including "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)". They debuted in 1964 with the hit "Baby I Need Your Loving", which rose to #11 on the charts.

In 1990, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Thanks to history-of-rock.com for information on The Four Tops.)

5. Author Helene Hanff died in a New York nursing home at age 80 on April 9. Who played Hanff in the theatrical adaptation of her famous work, "84 Charing Cross Road"?

Answer: Anne Bancroft

A native of Philadelphia who wrote for such television series as "Playhouse 90" and "Hallmark Hall of Fame", Hanff began a running correspondence with a London bookstore that carried the types of books she liked. That group of correspondence was published as "84 Charing Cross Road" in 1970. (Thanks to the Internet Movie Database and The New York Times for information on Helene Hanff and "84 Charing Cross Road".)

6. Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson died on June 26, at age 84, in Rancho Mirage, California. Hutson spent his entire career as a member of which team?

Answer: Green Bay Packers

A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's charter class of 1963, Don Hutson held 18 major records at the time of his retirement in 1945. He won the NFL's MVP award twice (1942 and 1943) and was voted all-NFL nine times. Like many players of his era, Hutson played multiple positions; he also played safety and placekicker during his time in the game. (Thanks to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's website for additional information on Don Hutson.)

7. Rapper Notorious B.I.G. (real name Christopher Wallace) died on March 9 in Los Angeles, at age 24, from gunshot wounds. The tribute song made in his honor is derived from a popular song by what '80s group?

Answer: The Police

Before Elton John rewrote his hit song "Candle in the Wind" to honor the fallen Princess Diana, B.I.G.'s friend, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, reworked The Police's classic "Every Breath You Take" in his honor. Faith Evans, B.I.G.'s widow, can be heard on the background vocals.

8. Business executive Robert W. Sarnoff, aged 78, died on February 22 in New York City. He served as chairman of what major corporation from 1970 until 1975?

Answer: RCA

Succeeding his father, broadcasting pioneer David Sarnoff, Robert W. Sarnoff became president of NBC in 1956 and of RCA in 1965. The younger Sarnoff played a role in the integration of television, supporting Nat King Cole's groundbreaking variety series and Bill Cosby's role on the series "I Spy". Sarnoff was ousted after his attempts to diversify the corporation, including the acquisitions of Hertz car rental and Banquet frozen foods, went sour. (Thanks to the Information Please Almanac's online edition for information on Robert W. Sarnoff.)

9. Author James Dickey, aged 73, died in Columbia, South Carolina, of lung disease on January 19. Dickey, the author of the classic novel "Deliverance" and the screenplay for the motion-picture adaptation, also played what character in the movie?

Answer: A sheriff

Though Dickey, an Atlanta native, is best known for this white-knuckled thriller, he was also an accomplished poet and flight instructor. In fact, he served as the poet-in-residence at the University of South Carolina from 1968 until his death. (Thanks to the Internet Movie Database and the website jamesdickey.org for additional information on James Dickey.)

10. All-star outfielder Curt Flood died in Los Angeles on January 20, at age 59. Which of the following statements about Flood is FALSE?

Answer: He won three Gold Gloves.

A prolific playmaker and base-stealer for the St Louis Cardinals, Flood earned seven Gold Gloves for his work in center field. But when the Cardinals decided to trade him to Philadelphia as part of a seven-player deal, he refused. He didn't want to play for a losing team in a rickety old stadium. Flood challenged baseball's reserve clause, which prevented him from becoming a free agent and bound him to the Cardinals' wishes, with the help of former Supreme Court justice Arthur Goldberg. Flood lost the case, but within a few years and in large part because of Flood's efforts, the reserve clause was a thing of the past.

The highly-paid, nomadic stars of today's baseball have Flood to thank for setting the stage for free-agency.

Source: Author cag1970

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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Deaths in the News: 1997 Trivia Quiz

A number of famous people passed away in 1997. How much do you know about their lives or how they came to an end?

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