Two True Stories

The man in the picture above is Calvin Duncan. I can’t believe he is smiling after all he has been through. At age 19, he was wrongfully imprisoned for 28 years at a Louisana Prison. While in prison, he studied law and began to help himself and other inmates file appeals and motions for procedural improvements. The woman in the picture is Stephanie Cull. She helped Duncan write his memoir after his release from prison. Their work is not done. They continue to help the wrongfully imprisoned work through the legal system so that justice can be done. A fascinating TRUE story.

The woman above is Roxie Laybourne. Chris Sweenedy have written the story of her life as the Smithsonians’s first forensic ornithologist. So, just what is a forensic ornithologist? First of all, she was an expert on bird feathers. She could tell what bird any feather had come from. That skill was very important to the FBI in solving many crimes. It was also an important skill for the aviation industry. She helped identify bird species when bird strikes disabled a plane. In addition, Roxie Laybourne was another pioneer for women in science. Her perserverance equalled her skill. It shouldbe a good read.