In the last week, many notable Americans passed away. This will cover a few of these amazing people from various walks of life that helped to shape American culture and life in some way.
Entertainers
Albert Johnson (1974-2017), who was known as Prodigy, was a rapper and member of the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep with Havoc. Mobb Deep formed in 1992, but the duo saw their first major success with their 1995 album "The Infamous." A year later, it was followed up with their next album, "Hell on Earth." By this point Prodigy and Havoc were at the forefront of East Coast rappers.
The duo continued to preform until 2007, when Prodigy was sentenced to three years in jail for illegal possession of a firearm. Following his release Mobb Depp went back to making music before having a falling out that lasted almost a year. The duo officially reunited in March 2013 and continued making music until Prodigy's death on June 20 at age 42.
Sports
Tony Liscio (1940-2017) played left tackle in the NFL for 9 seasons. He was drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 1963 draft but was released the week of the season opener after failing to impress as a defensive lineman. The Cowboys picked him up off of waivers and he would become their left tackle. He missed all of the 1965 season with a staph infection, but would bounce back the next year, being named a Second Team All-Pro.
In the 1971 offseason he was traded to the Chargers and later the Dolphins but never played for either team, and soon retired. In November, the Cowboys called needing help after being hit with injuries and Liscio returned. He started the last five games of the season and all three playoff games. He never allowed a sack and Dallas went 8-0 on their way to winning Super Bowl VI.
Liscio died on June 18 at age 76 from ALS.
Tony DiCicco (1948-2017) was a soccer player, coach, and later a commentator. He played for five seasons in the American Soccer League in the 1970s. In 1994, he became the head coach of the U.S. Women's national team. In five years the team would go 103-8-8, winning the 1996 Gold Medal and the 1999 Women's World Cup.
In 2008, he coached the U-20 Women's national team, winning the Women's U-20 World Cup. He later worked as a commentator for women's soccer for ESPN and Fox Sports. DiCicco died on June 19 at age 68 from cancer.
Keith Loneker (1971-2017) was a guard in the NFL for 4 seasons and later an actor. He made the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted player and would player in 19 games for the team, starting 5 of them. Loneker spent his last season in 1996 with the Falcons, but never played in a game. He then became an actor, with roles in movies like "Out of Sight," "Superbad," "Leatherheads," and "Lakeview Terrance." Loneker died on June 22 at age 46 from cancer.
Frank Kush (1929-2017) was best known for being the head coach that made Arizona State University into a football powerhouse.
During his 22 years as coach the team went 176-54-1 (.764%), won 9 conference championships, and went 6-1 in bowl games. He also won the Walter Campbell and AFCA Coach of the Year awards in 1975.
After his dismissal from the school, he coached the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the CFL for one year, going 11-4-1. He then moved to the NFL, coaching the Baltimore Colts for three seasons and going 11-28-1. Finally, he coached the Arizona Outlaws of the USFL for one season, going 8-10 before the league folded. Kush died on June 22 at age 88.
Others
Gabe Pressman (1924-2017) was a journalist for WNBC-TV in New York City for more than 60 years, with a career spanning seven different decades. He enlisted in the U.S.
Navy during World War II, working as a communication officer aboard submarine chaser USS PC-470 from 1943-1946.
He was considered one of the pioneers of U.S. television news and is credited as the first reporter to do "street reporting" during major events. During his career, he won a Peabody award and 11 Emmys. Pressman died on June 23 at the age of 93.
