Rock Hudson

Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald (November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985), was tall, dark, handsome and muscular, just what Universal-International needed to develop one of the last major stars under the studio system. A former mail carrier, Navy airplane mechanic, and truck driver, his name was changed to Rock Hudson. His teeth were capped and he was given lessons in acting, elocution, riding, fencing and singing. It took him 38 takes to deliver one line in his film debut in 1948's Fighter Squadron. But he had star potential, so Universal-International [U-I] brought him along slowly.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year", "Favorite Leading Man", and similar titles by numerous movie magazines.

Source:  meredy| google

George Owens

George Washington Owens, the first African American to graduate from Kansas State Agricultural, Owens as teacher, Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute, 1920 | vintage

Source: lib.k-state.edu