Katherine Johnson (born August 26, 1918) is an American physicist, space scientist and mathematician who contributed to the United States’ aeronautics and space programs with the early application of digital electronic computers at NASA. Known for accuracy in computerized celestial navigation, she calculated the trajectory for Project Mercury and the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon. In November 2015, President Barack Obama included Johnson on a list of 17 Americans to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for her pioneering example of African-American women in STEM. Obama also highlighted Johnson in his final State of the Union address on January 12, 2016.
West Liberty University, in Wheeling, West Virginia, is where my parents met in the late 1970s. Wheeling is on the West Virginia-Ohio border in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The Wheeling Suspension Bridge spans the main channel of the Ohio River and was once the largest suspension bridge in the world. The road and sidewalk are constructed from open steel grating, which makes it an interesting bridge to cross, especially for those with a fear of heights. As for Topper the Bear, all I can think about is Topper from Dilbert, and I imagine this black bear has the same social deficiency of obsessive one-upmanship.
Note: It was 33 years ago today that Southern Airways Flight 932 crashed, killing all 75 people on board, including 37 Thundering Herd football team players and five coaches. The accident is widely considered to be the deadliest sports-related tragedy in U.S. history. The 2006 movie We Are Marshall depicts the aftermath of the plane crash. This 8-bit pixel art character is for my cousin Adam, a Marshall alum.
Gino Marchetti is a retired National Football League (NFL) player who played for the Dallas Texans (1952) and the Baltimore Colts (1953-1966). He was voted “the greatest defensive end in pro football history” by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. Marchetti won his first of two NFL championships in the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Colts and the Giants, which is often referred to as “The Greatest Game Ever Played” in NFL history. In 1959, Marchetti founded Gino’s Hamburgers. Gino’s became a successful East Coast regional fast food chain and had 313 company-owned locations when it was sold to Marriott in 1982, which converted many of the restaurants to Roy Rogers. In 2010, Marchetti revived the Gino’s name with Gino’s Burgers & Chicken, which first opened in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Born in the historic coal-mining town of Smithers, West Virginia on January 2, 1927, Gino Marchetti is my first cousin, twice removed. Now 86 years old, he is the most famous member of my extended Italian-American family.
Randy Moss is a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Last season he played for the San Francisco 49ers, but Moss spent most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. He holds the NFL single season touchdown reception record (23, set in 2007) and is second on the NFL all-time regular season touchdown reception list with 155. A freakishly gifted athlete, Moss played college football at Marshall University and is one of the most famous “sons of Marshall.” He was born on this day in 1977 in West Virginia.
After a 15-1 regular season with the 1998 Vikings, and an 18-1 season with the juggernaut 2007 Patriots (whose only loss was the Super Bowl XLII upset), Moss just missed another chance at his first Super Bowl ring with the 2012 49ers. “I really think I’m the greatest receiver to ever play this game,” Moss said at Super Bowl media day in New Orleans on January 29, 2013. I agree that Moss is the greatest NFL receiver, in terms of pure, terrifying athletic talent, but NFL legend Jerry Rice leads him in every significant career statistical category. If Moss had a stronger work ethic, I’m pretty sure he could have been the greatest football player of all time.
Mr. Clutch is a former NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1960-1974. He played the guard position and is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. West’s silhouette serves as the current NBA logo.
Note: This is 8-bit character #8 of the 13 greatest NBA players of all time.
Booker T. Washington was an African-American educator, reformer and adviser to Republican presidents. He was the dominant figure in the black community in the U.S. from 1890 until his death in 1915. Representing the last generation of black American leaders born in slavery, he spoke on behalf of those who had lost their ability to vote through disfranchisement by southern legislatures. He was born on this day in 1856.
With apologies to Kurt Vonnegut: This is I. This is me. This is the author of this site. Today I am celebrating 365 days of pixel art with my most self-indulgent 8-bit character of all. I was born on this day in 1979. This year on 3/3 I celebrate 33 revolutions around the sun. For many years I called Pennsylvania home, but I’ve lived in Oregon since 2001. My three cats are Eli, Tanuki and The King.
West Liberty Hilltopper – No. 742
The West Liberty Hilltoppers mascot, Topper the Bear, is NCAA Division II pixel art mascot #1 of 320. (View reference images.)
West Liberty University, in Wheeling, West Virginia, is where my parents met in the late 1970s. Wheeling is on the West Virginia-Ohio border in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The Wheeling Suspension Bridge spans the main channel of the Ohio River and was once the largest suspension bridge in the world. The road and sidewalk are constructed from open steel grating, which makes it an interesting bridge to cross, especially for those with a fear of heights. As for Topper the Bear, all I can think about is Topper from Dilbert, and I imagine this black bear has the same social deficiency of obsessive one-upmanship.