September 29

David Keith Ballow was born in Scotland in 1804. He trained as a physician before emigrating to Australia. He served as a colonial surgeon in New South Wales and Queensland. During the 1850 typhus outbreak, he cared for the sick despite personal risk. He contracted the disease and died in 1850, remembered for his dedication to patients.

Born in 1919 as Madalyn Murray, she became a central figure in the fight for secularism in the United States. In 1962, she successfully challenged mandatory school prayer in the landmark Supreme Court case Murray v. Curlett. She founded the organization American Atheists in 1963 and frequently spoke out against religious influence in government. Her bold, unapologetic style made her one of the country’s most controversial public figures. In 1995, she and her family disappeared in a tragic and mysterious crime that garnered national attention. O'Hair’s legal victories and activism profoundly shaped debates over church and state in America.

Austin Leslie was a pioneering American chef whose culinary creations popularized New Orleans Creole flavors. Born in 1934, he honed his skills in local eateries before opening his own restaurant. Leslie became renowned for dishes like smothered pork chops and shrimp Creole, blending deep traditions with inventive techniques. He authored cookbooks and taught cooking demonstrations across the country. Colleagues and customers praised his warm hospitality and his mentorship of young chefs. Leslie's legacy lives on through the chefs he inspired and the enduring popularity of his recipes.