Download or read book Legendary Locals of Middletown written by Robert Hubbard and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2014-04-14 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although the town benefits from a position on a major navigable waterway, Middletowns success is primarily due to the energy, creativity, and diversity of its people. These include James Riley, whose autobiography detailing his trials as a white slave in Northern Africa showed millions of Americans the evils of slavery; Max Corvo, who helped the World War II Italian underground defeat the fascist regime; and Christie Ellen McLeod, longtime chief pathologist at Middlesex Memorial Hospital. Middletown can boast of athletes such as Helen Babe Carlson, a tremendously strong competitor who participated on mens baseball teams; Willie Pep, who, while going for the world featherweight title, had a record of 134 wins and only one loss; and Corny Thompson, who sparked the University of Connecticut basketball programs rise to national prominence. More notables include Allie Wrubel, a prolific songwriter and Academy Award winner for his song Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah; Vivian McRae Wesley, a teacher, reading director, and leader of Middletowns African American community; and Francesco Lentini, who was born with three legs and appeared in every major circus and carnival.