NAMES IN THE NEWS : Mr. Bojangles Honored--Late

The White House celebrated Mr. Bojangles’ birthday today, nearly six months late.

President Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating May 25, 1989, as “National Tap Dance Day.” Legendary tap dancer Bill (Bojangles) Robinson was born May 25, 1878, and died in 1949.

The resolution was sponsored in the House by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and more than 100 other lawmakers. It passed the House on May 25 but didn’t win Senate passage until Oct. 27.

Robinson ran away from his Richmond, Va., home at 8 to become a stableboy at a Washington race track. He danced his way to stardom in vaudeville and Hollywood films, including several with Shirley Temple.