Latest news with #Coulter
Chicago Tribune
9 hours ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
La Grange hero's legacy lives as story of American Legion post namesake is shared with new generations
On February 1, 1943, a 28-year-old graduate of Lyons Township High School was scheduled to relax on one of his rare days off as an Army Air Corps bomber pilot in the European Theater during World War II. But one of the pilots scheduled to fly that day was sick, and someone had to take his place. So he volunteered. That selfless act cost Major Robert E. Coulter Jr. his life. He's memorialized in the name of La Grange's Robert E. Coulter Jr. American Legion Post 1941, but Bill Kiddon, post commander, wants to make sure the story of his heroism isn't lost to the passage of time. 'Probably the first generation or two of legionnaires know of his story,' Kiddon said during a May 22 presentation to the La Grange Area Historical Society. 'But today's generation of legionnaires don't know this story.' Kiddon spoke for 45 minutes to about 50 people at the Historical Society's Vial House Museum, 444 S. La Grange Road. The presentation included footage of air combat between American B-17s and Luftwaffe fighters filmed by an embedded Air Corps journalist. The recording included the scene of a badly damaged bomber plummeting to the ground as two parachuted flyers escape. Coulter attended Ogden Avenue School and graduated from Lyons Township High School two years ahead of his sister. He went on to earn an engineering degree from Purdue University. Kiddon related how Coulter, in October 1942, was among the first pilots to fly unescorted bombing missions, because the fighter planes at the time didn't have the fuel capacity to accompany long range bombing missions. He logged 25 missions, a marker used by the Army when pilots could be relieved of active duty. But Coulter refused to rotate out of combat. He flew 35 missions in all, bombing Nazi submarine pens, destroying a Nazi U-boat base, and leading critical bombing missions in North Africa that helped prevent the Nazis from seizing critical oil fields. 'On February 1, 1943, he was not supposed to fly that day,' Kiddon said. 'When he got down to the briefing room, he found out there was another pilot that didn't get out of the infirmary and couldn't fly. He was grounded that day, so Coulter volunteered. He said 'I'll go up.'' After completing a successful bombing run over North Africa. Coulter's plane was hit head on by a Messerschmitt Me 109. While nobody will ever know what caused the Luftwaffe pilot to steer directly into the formation, the collision ripped off one of the bomber's wings, causing it to spiral downward in flames. Three crew members — the bombardier, navigator and gunner — parachuted to safety and wound up in a German prisoner of war camp. It wasn't until August, 1943 that the wreckage of the B-17 was found just off the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. It wasn't until then that Coulter's family got the telegram dreaded by so many families during the war, that their son was no longer missing in action, but killed in action. Coulter wasn't the only family member to contribute to the war effort. His father, a member of the Federal Reserve, was involved in the war bond drive. His mother wrapped bandages for the Red Cross and then became chairperson of Red Cross fundraising and his sister married another pilot. 'It was a family of service,' Kiddon said. 'They all pitched in — not unusual for the Greatest Generation.' Kiddon noted that Coulter was keenly aware of world affairs in the late 1930s as Nazis rose to power in Germany. 'He told his parents 'we're going to war,' and wound up enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1939, around the same time Hitler invaded Poland,' Kiddon said. 'He was trained to be a pilot in Texas, and ultimately flew the famous B-17 Flying Fortress.' Within three years, Coulter was piloting a B-17 in Europe. As was the custom in those days, Coulter's plane had what came to be called 'nose art' on the front of the plane. His was 'Bat Outta Hell.' Kiddon stressed that the story of Coulter, and all the other pilots in the war, was also a story about the B-17 Flying Fortress and the challenges that came with serving in one. 'This was not a pressurized airplane,' Kiddon said. 'At 25,000 feet, it was 10 below zero; at 35,000 feet, it's 40 below zero. And this plane flew at 35,000-feet, with no bathrooms and no heat.' Kiddon said the Boeing Company built 12,700 B-17s during the war — at its peak, averaging 16 per day — and roughly 80% of the warbirds were built by women. Among those listening to the presentation were Tim and Kathy Calvert, who found out they live in the former Coulter family home on North Waiola Avenue. 'We were traveling and came home and somebody had left an article on our front porch,' Kathy said. 'If you go up our stairs, up to the attic — we have a walk-up attic — the initials R.E.C. are carved into the side,' Tim said 'It's kind of an honor to live there.' Robert Coulter's niece, Bonnie Williams, born six weeks after he died, was on hand to share family memories. 'It affects the whole family, the whole community, everybody who knew him, when somebody dies like this,' she said. Her uncle's legacy always resonated in their family. 'When they spoke of him, they spoke of all the wonderful memories,' she said. 'There was never any sadness or remorse or regret. They were very proud of him. I can't imagine losing a son, but it was a different time. He was a good person.' But even for Coulter's family, the efforts of Kiddon and the American Legion to keep his legacy alive are essential. 'To put it all together brought the whole thing to life, things that we didn't know,' Williams said. 'I learned more last year when he did the first presentation than I ever knew about it.'
Business Wire
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Former Penske Logistics VP LeAnne Coulter Joins FourKites' Strategic Advisory Council
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FourKites®, the global leader in AI-driven supply chain transformation, today announced that LeAnne Coulter, former Vice President of Freight Management at Penske Logistics, has joined its Strategic Advisory Council. Coulter brings extensive experience in freight management and logistics services to FourKites' advisory council, where she will provide strategic guidance on product innovation and market expansion. LeAnne Coulter brings extensive experience in freight management and logistics services to FourKites' advisory council, where she will provide strategic guidance on product innovation and market expansion. At Penske Logistics, Coulter was responsible for the strategic vision, growth and product development for all 4PL, freight management and brokerage services, as well as third-party carrier sourcing, acquisition and management. Her leadership helped establish Penske as a leader in comprehensive logistics solutions. "The transportation industry is primed for a fundamental shift from manual processes to AI-orchestrated operations," said Coulter. "FourKites has created a platform that not only provides data but acts on it autonomously, making complex decisions that traditionally required human intervention. This transition to self-executing systems represents the future of freight management and carrier operations." FourKites' Strategic Advisory Council brings together accomplished supply chain executives with decades of hands-on experience. The Council represents FourKites' commitment to understanding the practical realities supply chain leaders face, ensuring the company's solutions address genuine market needs. "AI-powered Digital Workers represent the next frontier of automation in freight management, fundamentally transforming how logistics operations are orchestrated. LeAnne's deep understanding of freight management operations adds invaluable perspective to our Council," said Mathew Elenjickal, Founder and CEO of FourKites. "Her experience developing sophisticated 4PL solutions at Penske aligns perfectly with our vision of creating intelligent systems that not only monitor but actively orchestrate complex logistics operations across multiple partners and modes. LeAnne's strategic insight will be instrumental as we continue to advance our Digital Workforce capabilities to address the industry's most persistent challenges." Coulter's appointment follows FourKites' evolution beyond real-time visibility to offer the industry's only Intelligent Control Tower™. This platform combines supply chain network data with digital twins and a Digital Workforce of AI agents that autonomously act on visibility data, preventing disruptions before they occur and orchestrating complex supply chain operations. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Coulter served on the Steering Committee for Penske Women in Logistics, an organization committed to advancing the careers of female associates through mentoring, networking and professional development. She is also a member of the advisory board for Wayne State University's Global Supply Chain Program, a member of the inaugural Deliver committee of the Institute for Supply Management, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and the Association for Supply Chain Management. FourKites' customer co-innovation approach has defined the company since its founding. Through initiatives like the FourKites IdeaExchange, customer challenges directly shape the company's product roadmap, with more than 60% of features originating from customer suggestions. This collaborative approach has produced breakthrough solutions, enabling FourKites to transform how enterprises manage their supply chains. About FourKites FourKites®, the leader in AI-driven supply chain transformation for global enterprises and pioneer of real-time visibility, turns supply chain data into automated action. FourKites' Intelligent Control Tower™ breaks down enterprise silos by creating a real-time digital twin of orders, shipments, inventory and assets. This comprehensive view, combined with AI-powered digital workers, enables companies to prevent disruptions, automate routine tasks, and optimize performance across their supply chain. FourKites processes over 3.2 million supply chain events daily — from purchase orders to final delivery — helping 1,600+ global brands prevent disruptions, make faster decisions and move from reactive tracking to proactive supply chain orchestration.
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
Inside the charming and immaculate East Lothian home that's on sale for offers over £1m
As far as romance goes, it's hard to top an Arts and Crafts property. It's something to do with the red clay tiled roofs, the asymmetry, and the sense of light and space inside. Kittlestane in Longniddry is a good case in point. This beautiful five bedroom and three bathroom house has just come on the market through Coulter's estate agent at offers over £1m. We asked the current resident, Stephanie Wason, who owns the property with her husband Sam Wason, to tell us more about the beautiful family home that they share with their three children. Tell us about the building It was built in the Thirties during the Arts and Crafts era. It's got loads of beautiful windows that flood the house with light, and we especially love the original octagonal windows that are in the family room, as well as the downstairs WC and the master bedroom – all echoing the shape of the turret and the main bedroom. These features give the house so much charm and character. The décor is very clean and neutral – is that your preferred style? I love clean, neutral, modern interiors that complement the original features and essence of this house. It actually took a couple of goes to get it right – a great month for the painters! –because I originally tried to replicate the style we had in our Morningside townhouse, but it didn't suit this coastal, slightly more dramatic house. It's a balance to complement the original building with my style and practical modern family life. Now, it feels just right. Tell us about the lovely pastel bathroom – how did you come up with the idea? I fell in love with the Cole & Son Nuvolette wallpaper with clouds on it, so I took it into a bathroom showroom, where I spotted the perfect pink basin. It came together from there. The room has underfloor heating too, so it's as cosy as it is pretty, and the hexagonal tiling is a nod to the quirky windows. Which is your favourite room? Our main living room. It strikes the balance I love – clean and modern but with traditional tones. The glass doors opening out onto the garden are amazing most of the year, and when it's not quite warm enough, we light the huge fire. I painted the fireplace and beams in a very pale Kensington Rose (by Mylands) – it's nearly white with a subtle pink undertone. It's such a fresh combination with the contrast of our navy Long Island sofa (from honestly the comfiest sofa we've ever had. It's my favourite room because it's where we spend the most time as a family and we have so many lovely memories of being in there.. What have been your happiest times in the house? There've been loads – BBQs and garden parties with friends and family, of course – but some of the best times have just been us five enjoying the house together. The kids play for hours in the garden – there's always something to discover – and the house is great for everyone doing their own thing but then coming back together. We love weekends with no plans, just enjoying the space and the garden and gin and tonics in the sun once the kids have gone to bed. Tell us more about the garden – are there any plants or trees that really thrive? We inherited an absolutely beautiful garden. The previous owner was a brilliant gardener and put so much thought into it. Throughout the year, something's always in bloom – from rhododendrons and roses to hostas, and we've got some amazing trees, including a quaking aspen, Japanese acer, cedar tree and fruit trees: plum, pear and apple. I love cutting flowers from the garden to make posies – my youngest called them 'Kittlestane buffets' when he was wee and couldn't say bouquets, so that name has stuck, We've added a greenhouse and raised beds where we grow fruit and veg. The kids are really into the project and there's something so rewarding about eating food you've grown yourself. What's it like living in Longniddry? Any favourite restaurants, shops or things to do? It's brilliant – I honestly wish we weren't leaving. The community is amazing. We were welcomed straight away and it's felt like home ever since. We're at the beach constantly; the kids love it, and we've had some brilliant BBQs there with friends while they run wild. I love a bit of cold water swimming (well, dunking!). We live on a golf course, which my husband is very happy about. The girls love Foxlake for wakeboarding and surfing, and my son's always off playing rugby, football or tennis – the courts are just a minute's walk from the house. The new development in Longniddry village is bringing even more amenities, like a Margiotta with Waitrose stock, a gym, yoga and massage studio, and a new café. Our go-to restaurant is The Leddie in Aberlady, which we can walk or cycle to, and we've got high hopes for the new owners of the Longniddry Inn. I really think Longniddry is the best place to live in East Lothian – it's just 18 minutes by train into Edinburgh, but you get peace, community, and the beach – all without the crowds you get in the more touristy spots. It's still a private, calm, and genuinely special place to live. For more information on the property, see 1 . The living space with dual aspect views Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo Sales
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghost of Brooks Patterson and specter of Donald Trump collide in Oakland County
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter's recent State of the County speech was held on the campus of the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit. Prayer rooms were made available for attending Muslims observing Ramadan. It was another in a string of signs that Oakland County has come a long way from the lily-white, country-club image cultivated by Coulter's predecessor, the late L. Brooks Patterson. Coulter, an openly gay Democrat, was named to replace Patterson after he died in 2019, and has twice been reelected to the top county post. He's maintained Patterson's emphasis on providing quality government services and fiscal discipline ― including maintaining Oakland's coveted AAA bond rating ― but Coulter has set a different tone in this once staunchly Republican county. And he says he's taking a broader view of county government's responsibilities at a time of great upheaval, which he largely blames on the actions of President Donald Trump's administration. 'The current turmoil in our county comes on top of a period of tremendous economic and societal disruption caused by Covid,' Coulter said in the March State of the County speech. Coulter's administration reflects a remarkable transition in Oakland County politics. After decades of Republican control, only one elected countywide GOP official remains: Sheriff Michael Bouchard. Democrats hold a seven-seat majority on the 19-member county board of commissioners. Patterson was a combative, business-oriented Republican who took an 'Oakland County first' approach to regional governance and economic development efforts. He was also a notorious Detroit basher, often using racially tinged language to demean the majority-Black city. It was something that, unfortunately, endeared him to many of his constituents. Perhaps Patterson's worst moment was a 2014 New Yorker magazine profile in which he said Detroit should become 'an Indian reservation, where we herd all the Indians into the city, build a fence around it, and then throw in the blankets and corn.' Opinion flashback: Noted troll Brooks Patterson makes Klan joke, proves obsolescence But Patterson's administration of the state's second-largest county, from a business perspective, was largely successful. During his 26 years leading the county, Oakland consistently outperformed the state and many of its national peers in job growth, incomes and economic output. Oakland County's economic engine has continued to roar under Coulter's leadership. Its median family income of $121,915 in 2023 was highest among the 30 largest counties in the state. Twenty-two percent of all goods and services generated in Michigan are produced in Oakland, the most of any county. The county's gross domestic product was higher than the GDP of 14 states in 2022, according to a 2024 University of Michigan forecast. Coulter has implemented a number of new programs, and expanded some of Patterson's, to help residents find housing, navigate college applications, financial aid and student loan forgiveness, and obtain health care. 'We've stretched beyond the role of normal county government because that's what the times demanded of us,' he said. Related: From Oakland County to Downriver, protesters rally against Trump, Musk and deportations And despite Trump's efforts to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government, business and academia, Coulter is unapologetic in promoting DEI throughout his administration. 'I'm proud of the county's effort to create a welcoming county, a diverse workforce and to address the historic biases and stereotypes in all that we do,' Coulter said. Oakland County voters opposed Trump in all three of his elections for president by wide margins. That's not surprising, considering college-educated voters, especially women, are Trump's kryptonite. Fifty percent of Oakland County adults possess a bachelor's degree or higher, second only to Washtenaw County, according to Census figures. Under Patterson's leadership, Oakland County's growth largely happened in the open spaces of the northern and western portions of the county. Chrysler, now Stellantis, built a sprawling tech center in Auburn Hills and moved its headquarters there from Highland Park. Much of the county's residential growth has been concentrated in newer suburbs, such as Novi, Rochester Hills and South Lyon. Coulter, a former mayor of Ferndale, an inner-ring suburb, is focusing economic development efforts on revitalizing some of the county's older communities. His administration is in the midst of a massive $60 million-plus effort to restore Pontiac's downtown. The county is demolishing the long-vacant Phoenix Center, and is planning to move 700 county workers from the county's government complex to a new building downtown. Pontiac was once a booming auto manufacturing town, home to the Pontiac and GMC divisions of General Motors. But its massive auto plants closed decades ago decimating the city's economy. More than a quarter of its residents live in poverty. 'This is a turning point for Pontiac's future,' Coulter said in announcing the redevelopment project in April. 'For decades, many have disinvested in downtown Pontiac, limiting its potential.' Kurt Metzger, a longtime metro Detroit demographer and former mayor of Pleasant Ridge in Oakland County, told me Patterson was 'one of the very, very few' Republicans he has ever voted for. Patterson's creation of the tech corridor Automation Alley, and his emphasis on financial integrity and providing effective services were strong points, he said. But, Metzger said, ultimately he couldn't stomach Patterson's divisiveness. 'I disliked his personality, racism and lack of collaboration,' Metzger said. He stopped voting for Patterson in 2012. Coulter has maintained the county's coveted AAA bond rating ― the highest possible, lowering the cost of issuing debt ― supported public transit and championed regionalism, Metzger said. 'His social consciousness is the polar opposite of Brooks,' he said. Patterson was known to toss sharp barbs at opponents and friends alike. Some of his outlandish remarks made even his supporters cringe. You won't likely find Coulter doing that. 'Oakland County is in a stronger position today than it was 10 years ago,' he said. 'And we have gotten here without drama, destruction or division.' Rick Haglund is a retired reporter and business columnist who covered Michigan economics and government at newspapers throughout the state. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump, Coulter and ghost of Brooks Patterson collide in Oakland County
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘Sunny and pleasant' forecast expected for Mother's Day weekend
A family take pictures in the shade on a hot day in Toronto on Thursday, June 23, 2022. Moms across the city will be getting a gift from Mother Nature this weekend with a stretch of 'dry, bright, and comfortable' weather, CP24's Meteorologist Bill Coulter says. 'One of the best Mother's Day gifts this year may be the weather,' Coulter said. Environment Canada is calling for a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 16 C on Friday. More sunshine is in the forecast on Saturday, along with a high of 22 C, about four degrees warmer than the average for this time of year. Sunday will be slightly cooler, with the national weather agency calling for a high of 16 C. The 'sunny and pleasant weather' will still make outdoor activities enjoyable on Mother's Day, Coulter added. 'Monday promises another stellar day with a light warm wind and a high of 24 C,' Coulter said. While showers are possible mid-week, daytime highs are expected to remain above 20 C next week.
