Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was an English-born Founding Father of the United States. An inventor and philosopher, he authored Common Sense, a pamphlet that was influential at the start of the American Revolution.

Ronald Martin Popeil (1935-2021) was an American inventor and marketing personality. His TV infomercials became an overnight staple, and earned him more than $2 billion in sales during his 40-year run. His coined the marketing catchphrase “But wait… there’s more!”

Aristotle (384-322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts.

He was between eight and nine years old when he ascended to rule a kingdom. Reigning from 1332 to 1323 BC, King Tut became leader of ancient Egypt. A Pharaoh was a statesman, religious leader, military commander, administrator and steward of the land.

William Whiting Borden (1887-1913) was an American philanthropist, millionaire and Christian missionary. Borden surrendered his life to Christ as a child as a result of the witness of his mother. Borden wrote three phrases in his Bible that defined his life: “No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.”

Dietrick Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a German pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident. He was opposed to Hitler’s genocide of the Jews, and ran “underground seminaries” during the war. In 1943 he was imprisoned by the Gestapo. Bonhoeffer was executed in the spring of 1945.

Charlemagne (747-814) united the majority of Western and Central Europe during the Middle Ages. People call him the “Father of Europe,” and the Pope made him the first Holy Roman Emperor.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) was an English pastor of the New Park Street Chapel (later renamed Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years. He became known as the “Prince of Preachers” for his spellbinding sermons, which sometimes ran two hours or more.

James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. (1924 - ) is an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th President of the United States. Though many believe his presidency a failure, his post-Oval Office years have been nothing short of phenomenal.

Saint Nicholas of Myra (270-373) was an early Christian bishop from the city of Myra in Asia Minor during the time of the Roman Empire. That he loved children and was tremendously generous is widely accepted, and gave rise to the modern day tales of Santa Claus.

Nicholas Lou Saban, Jr. is an American football coach, most known for his 17 years as Head Coach at the University of Alabama. He is widely considered one of the greatest college coaches of all time.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is among the most admired classical composers in history, and the melodies of his great symphonies and sonatas are recognized around the world.

Elvis Aaron Presley (1935 – 1977) was known as the “King of Rock and Roll”. He began his music career in 1954, and over the next 30 years would sell 300 million albums, make 33 movies, and become one of the most well-known and celebrated artists in history.

Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee (1955-) is an English computer scientist, professorial research fellow at the University of Oxford and a professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is widely credited as the inventor of the World Wide Web.

Howard D. Schultz is an American businessman and author. He served as Chairman and CEO of Starbucks from 1986 to 2000, and again from 2008 to 2017, and in 2022-2023. He was named one of the World’s Richest People by Forbes with a net worth in 2020 of $4.3 billion.

Socrates (470-399 BC) was a Greek philosopher credited with founding Western philosophy and the first among moral philosophers and the ethical tradition of thought. Socrates did not author any texts, and what is known of him is through accounts of other classical writers.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso (1881 –1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist and theatre designer. Picasso demonstrated extraordinary artistic talent throughout his life and is considered the father of modern art.

Neil Armstrong (1930 –2012) was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who became the first person to walk on the moon in 1969. He was also a naval aviator, test pilot, and university professor.

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1554) was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. He is known for his striking masterpieces, including the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the statue of David.

Historians consider Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC) the greatest and most powerful Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom period. He lived to be at least 90 and ruled for more than 65 years. During his reign, the Egyptian army is estimated to have totaled some 100,000 men.

Nicola Tesla (1856 – 1943) was an eccentric inventor. Tesla is the inventor of alternating current electricity, radar, x-ray photography, wireless communication, and solar power. His AC power is still the world standard for electricity to this day.

Sir Richard Branson is a British entrepreneur and business magnate. He is the founder of Virgin Group, which is a cadre of more than 400 companies including an airline, cruise line, retail empire and space tourism concern.

John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963) was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States until his assassination at the end of his third year in office. He was the youngest person to be elected President and served during the height of the Cold War.

Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC) was a Roman general and stateman who rose to become dictator of Rome. Today Caesar is still considered one of the greatest military commanders to have ever lived.

William Franklin Graham Jr. (1918 – 2018) was an American evangelist and ordained minister who became internationally well known in the 1940s, and preached the Gospel to millions.

George Washington (1732 – 1799) was an American military officer, stateman and first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797.

Inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931) established many of the technologies of our modern world, including electric power, the light bulb, mass communication, batteries, and motion pictures.

Known as the “Apostle of Ireland”, Saint Patrick is the primary patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17, the supposed day of his death.

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III (1951 - ) is a retired fighter pilot and commercial airline pilot, best known as Captain of crashed US Airways Flight 1549, the “Miracle on the Hudson”. Sullenberger landed in the Hudson River in New York, saving the lives of all 155 people on board.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the sixteenth President of the United States. He held office during the Civil War. He is considered by many to be America’s greatest President.