James Tolkan (1931-2026)

Tolkan died at his home in Saranac Lake, New York, on
March 26 at the age of 94.
 

Character actor James Tolkan was best known for his roles as
high school vice-principal in charge of discipline Mr. Strickland
in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989),
and as the character’s ancestor, Marshal James Strickland, in
Back to the Future Part III (1990).

His other memorable film roles include Serpico (1973), Love and
Death (1975), Prince of the City (1981), Top Gun (1986), Masters
of the Universe (1987), Viper (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), and
Problem Child 2 (1991).

At 4 a.m. on March 28, 1979, one of the worst accidents in the
history of the U.S. nuclear power industry began when a
pressure valve in the Unit-2 reactor at Three Mile Island failed  
to close.

Cooling water, contaminated with radiation, drained from the
open valve into adjoining buildings, and the core began to
dangerously overheat.

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant was built in 1974
on a sandbar on Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River, just 10
miles downstream from the state capitol in Harrisburg.

In 1978, a second state-of-the-art reactor began operating on
Three Mile Island, which was lauded for generating affordable
and reliable energy in a time of energy crises.         
        
        
        
        
        
        

President Jimmy Carter (center) toured the site in April 1979.

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight
Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969)

President Dwight D. Eisenhower died on March 28, 1969, at
age 78 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington,
D.C..

The 34th U.S. President and former Allied commander
passed away due to congestive heart failure,