Charles Osgood Remembers 2006's Departed

Many Influential People Passed Away In The Year Just Past

(CBS) 
Ann Richards was one brassy politician. Her 1988 put down of Vice President George Bush put her on the road to the Texas statehouse. "Poor George. He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth," she said then.

Jeane Kirkpatrick gave us tough talk at the United Nations. Milton Friedman gave us the theory of free-market economics. William Styron gave us provocative tales that grappled with the moral questions of his day. We said goodbye to him this year.

It was much too soon to say goodbye to Dana Reeve. She was an actress in her own right, but it was her supporting role as wife, and then widow, that touched us so.

Joe Rosenthal couldn't fight in World War II. Bad eyes, they said. But what he saw through his camera became perhaps the most memorable picture of America's fighting men — Marines raising the Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima. Thank you, Joe Rosenthal, for an image we can never forget.

Paul Douglas and James Brolan captured images of war too. Last Memorial Day, the CBS News team was with American soldiers on the streets of Baghdad. The assignment: to see if war took a holiday. Sadly, it didn't. Thank you, Paul and James, with all our hearts.

And thank you to all who paid so dear a price this year. More than 900 men and women of our armed forces died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Too many to name. Too many to forget.

Hugh Thompson died this year. In another war, in another time, Hugh Thompson showed us the meaning of courage. In 1968 the army helicopter pilot and his crew rescued Vietnamese civilians during the My Lai massacre. He was shunned for speaking out, but finally 30 years later he was honored by his peers.

Coretta Scott King was the matriarch of the civil rights movement. Widowed at 40, she took up her husband's torch and kept the flame burning bright. She inspired millions with her courage and her grace.

Katherine Dunham was a magnificent dancer, teacher and choreographer. With her troupe, she brought the roots of black dance to the Western stage. "We weren't pushing 'black is beautiful,'" she once wrote. "We just showed it."

Gordon Parks showed us an America in black and white. He was quite simply one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.

"Anybody who was suffering, my camera had to be there as a tool, I don't care what color they were," he said. But Gordon Parks was much more: a poet, a composer, the first major black director. Thank you, Gordon Parks, for all your gifts.

[n_a_t_t_y]

i thought you did a good job in summarizing the deaths of the year 2006, but i was quite disapointed that you did not mention the loss of Steve Irwin. I respect him very much, and i would like for you to recognize him.

[dp1949]

In a sort of macabre way I do look forward to watching those that departed us during the year.

How can you miss Steve Irwin, Glenn Ford and Peter Jennings? Yet, you mentioned several other persons that I am sure the overwhelming majority of the people watching your program never heard of. It is interesting to know who started the Philadelphia cheese steak, and there were of few others of that importance, but the three that I mentioned above were much more significant.

[acapobia-2009]

Dear Ed Bradley,

You've demonstrated to my wife Sharon and I, your love and caring way towards all of humanity, which we both appreciate very much. Thank You, and Know That We Love You For Doing So!

Tony and Sharon Capobianco

[jahinton1]

Thanks for the memories, Charles. I enjoy it every year; how soon we forget.

[jahinton1]

Thanks for the memories, Charles. I enjoy it every year; how soon we forget.

[lexielou2]

I really enjoy watching CBS Sunday Morning each Sunday. But today I was disturbed when in your rememberance of the departed in 2006 you left ABC's Peter Jennings out. I feel sure that if ABC was doing the same thing that they would be sure to include Mr. Bradley! Thank you and have a great 2007.

[mdc76082]

hennighg,

MINOR! Anyone who died in 2006 should be remembered. Not just the glitziest and glamourous as we always adure to. No one life is minor. I don't care if you die and are buried in a gold casket or if you are buried in a pine box in a paupers grave, you still contributed to this great country in one way shape or form. To call a human life minor is to call yourself minute and meaningless. Sorry bub, life is too *** short to be called minor.

[facey2-2009]

I was wondering why no mention of actor Glen Ford was made passing away in 2006? He was one of my favorite actors and at the time of his passing very little mention of the event was made in the media. As I recall the program entertainment Tonight never even mentioned it.

[facey2-2009]

I am wondering why actor Glen Ford one of my favorite actors was not mentioned? I noted at the time of his passing very little mention was made in the media. Entertainment Tonight made no mention of him at all to the best of my knowledge.

[hennighg]

Steve Irwin, Steve Irwin. So one minor guy was left off. He would rate last next to the people on the list. A great list, and a nice way to remember who died in 2006. Osgood did good.

[smith721]

I was surprised and a little dismayed that Charles Osgood forgot Steve Irwin in his look back on the influential people lost in 2006.

[mgpm-2009]

James Brown had an altercation once with his wife...he wasn't a habitual woman beater. Sheesh. Give it up....he did a lot more good than bad in this life. RIP James. I agree...Steve Irwin will be deeply missed.

[veracityny]

I always enjoy watching this segment. It is nice to reflect on how these people touched our lives. I am though a bit disappointed. James Brown was convicted of domestic abuse and his image was shown quite often in this segment. I know that we try to reflect on the good people do when thinking about them, but how can we forget the bad. Also, why was Steve Irwin missing from the piece? There's a mate that will be missed.