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Ronald Reagan
Biography > A Hero from the Heartland

1911
February 6
Born in Tampico, Illinois, to Jack and Nelle Reagan. His older brother, Neil, was born in 1908.
1920
December 6
After a series of homes in the South side of Chicago, Galesburg, Monmouth, and Tampico, the Reagans settled in Dixon, Illinois, the place Ronald Reagan considered his hometown.
1922
July 21
Baptized at the Christian Church of Dixon, Illinois.
1926 Summer
Employed as a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon, where, in the next seven summers, he was credited with saving 77 lives.
 
1927 October
Elected Dixon High School student body president.
1928

June
Graduated from Dixon High School, where he participated in basketball, drama, football and track.

September
Registered as a freshman at Eureka College.

November
Made first speech as a freshman at Eureka College.

1932

June
Graduated from Eureka College with a BA in economics and sociology. At Eureka he participated in drama, football and swimming. He also served as student body president and helped organize a student strike.

November
Cast first vote in a national election. Supported, with his father, Franklin D. Roosevelt for President.

December
Employed as a temporary staff announcer at radio station WOC in Davenport, Iowa.

1933 April
When WOC and WHO, in Des Moines, merged, Reagan moved to Des Moines, Iowa, with a permanent job as chief sports announcer. He broadcast Chicago Cubs home games based on telegraph reports from Wrigley Field.
1935 February 27
Enlisted as a private in the Army Reserve.
1937

Spring
While attending spring training, on Catalina Island, with the Chicago Cubs, he made a screen test for Warner Bros.

April 20
Signed as a contract player for Warner Bros.

April 27
Promoted to Second Lieutenant in the Reserve Corps of Cavalry.

June 7
Reported to the studio for his first Warner Bros. picture, Love is on the Air.

 




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