A Look Back at Some Notable Losses of 2021

Each New Year it seems only appropriate to remember the noteworthy lives lost the previous year. At the Telegram, we look back at these exceptional lives and recall the contributions they made.

January brought sports fans the news of the death of National Baseball Hall of Famer Henry L. "Hank" Aaron. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Aaron began his baseball career playing in the Negro Leagues and minor league teams, eventually receiving two offers from Major League Baseball teams, one from the New York Giants and one from the Boston Braves. Aaron debuted with the Braves in 1954 after the team moved to Milwaukee. Aaron was a NL All-Star for 20 seasons and an AL All-Star for one season. In 1957 he won the NL Most Valuable Player award when the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series. Aaron holds the MLB record for the most career runs batted in (RBI) at 2,297. Aaron died in his sleep at his Atlanta home on January 22 at the age of 86.

Also in January, the entertainment world lost actress Cicely Tyson. Tyson won awards for her work on more than 100 roles on TV, stage, and in films. She was first nominated for an Academy Award in 1972 for her work in the film "Sounder." She appeared on television in Alex Haley's "Roots" and "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," which earned her two Emmy Awards in 1974. More recently, she played maid Constantine Bates in the 2011 film "The Help" and appeared in the 2012 film "Alex Cross" with Tyler Perry. In 2015, she appeared on Broadway in the Pulitzer-Prize winning play "The Gin Game" with James Earl Jones. Her memoir "Just As I Am" was published on January 26 and Tyson died two days later in New York at the age of 96.

In May, American runner and Olympic Gold Medalist Lee Evans passed away. The California native demonstrated running ability and speed as a child and attended San Jose State University, where he was coached in track and field. As a freshman he won his first Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championship in the 440-yard dash, a title he won four years in a row from 1966 to 1969. In 1967 at the Pan American Games, Evans won the 400-meter dash, doing so in under 45 seconds. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Evans took two Gold Medals for the 400-meter dash and the 4x400-meter relay. Upon receiving his medals, Evans wore a black beret as a sign of support for the Black Panther Party and other civil rights organizations. Evans worked within the Civil Rights Movement and established national athletic programs in six different African nations. He later coached track and field at the University of South Alabama. Evans suffered a stroke and died on May 19 at the age of 74.

In June, actor Clarence Williams III passed away. A native New Yorker, Williams began his acting career on the theater stage, gaining accolades for his work. He received a Tony Award nomination for his work in the stage play "Slow Dance on the Killing Ground." His breakout television role came when he appeared as undercover cop Linc Hayes on the hit show "Mod Squad" which ran from 1968 to 1973. He continued work in television, stage, and films which include "Purple Rain" and "Tales from the Hood." In 2015 he appeared on Fox's television series "Empire." Williams died on June 7 at age 81 from colon cancer.

In September, fans of the "Today" show learned of the passing of the show's longtime weatherman Willard Scott. Scott first began working at NBC in 1950 as a page. His talents also led to successful ventures as a radio presenter, television host, and the very first actor to portray Ronald McDonald in television commercials. He joined the "Today" show in 1980 as weatherman and continued in that role until 1996, later making appearances on the show until his retirement in 2015. Scott passed away at his home in Virginia on September 4.

Also in September, actor Michael K. Williams, known for his role as Omar Little on HBO's "The Wire" passed away. Born in Brooklyn in 1966, Williams initially intended to become a dancer and appeared in music videos, which led to an interest in acting. He began his acting career in the 1996 crime drama "Bullet," acting alongside Tupac Shakur. On television, he had roles on shows that included "Law and Order" and "Boston Legal." He first gained recognition for his role as Omar Little in 2002 and appeared in films "12 Years a Slave" and "Assassin's Creed." Williams was open about his struggle with substance abuse and was found dead at his New York apartment on September 6 of an apparent drug overdose.