July 4, 1918. Born Esther Pauline Friedman at Sioux City, IA, the advice columnist was beloved worldwide. In 1955 she won a contest to be the new Ann Landers columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. For 47 years, with spunky yet compassionate replies that were a refreshing change from prior columnists styles, she helped everyday people overcome their problems. A trademark admonishment was 40 lashes with a wet noodle. (Her twin sister, Pauline Friedman, followed in her footsteps with a Dear Abby column.)
By 2002 her column was carried in more than 1,200 newspapers worldwide and had a readership of 30 million. She died June 22, 2002, at Chicago, IL.
Image:Public domain, rights transferred to Library of Congress through Instrument of Gift.”