April 04

Richard M. Brewer was born in 1850 and ventured west to work in cattle ranching. He emerged as a prominent leader of the Regulators, a faction in the Lincoln County War. The conflict involved rival groups battling over land, cattle, and economic influence in New Mexico. Brewer fought alongside well-known figures like Billy the Kid and earned a reputation for toughness. His leadership style blended camaraderie with ruthless action in a lawless frontier setting. In 1878, Brewer was killed under disputed circumstances, cementing his place in Wild West history. His life and death remain emblematic of the violence and intrigue of American frontier conflicts.

Born in 1893 in the Russian Empire, Andrey Dikiy was a journalist and historian who chronicled the tumult of the early Soviet era. A participant in White émigré circles, he emigrated to the United States and wrote extensively on Russian history from a staunchly anti-communist perspective. Dikiy also engaged in émigré political activities, influencing Ukrainian nationalist thought before his death in 1977.

Born in 1899 in Poughkeepsie, New York, Butts worked as an architect before turning to game design during the Great Depression. He developed Scrabble by analyzing letter frequencies in newspapers to create its scoring system. After initial challenges, the game was popularized in the 1950s and became a global sensation. Scrabble has since sold millions of copies worldwide and spawned numerous adaptations. Butts continued to create puzzles and games but did not witness Scrabble's peak popularity. He died in 1993, remembered as the creative mind behind a timeless word game.

Dimitris Christoulas was a retired pharmacist in Athens who took his own life in 2012 as a protest against severe pension cuts during Greece's financial crisis. His public act sparked nationwide outrage and brought global focus to the human cost of austerity measures. Christoulas left a farewell letter criticizing the government for undermining citizens' dignity. His death ignited discussions about social justice, mental health, and the responsibilities of economic policy. Memorial gatherings were held in his honor, symbolizing collective frustration and grief. Christoulas's final act remains a poignant reminder of the personal impact of national economic policies.