February 29

Pat Garrett was an American sheriff born in 1850. He served as the sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, during the volatile Old West era. In 1881, Garrett famously tracked down and shot the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid. He later attempted various business ventures and authored a memoir of his law enforcement career. Garrett's life exemplified the thin line between justice and legend in frontier territories. His role in the Billy the Kid saga cemented his place in American folklore.

Robert Barrington-Ward was born in 1891 and served with distinction in the British Army during World War I. After the war, he joined The Times, rising from correspondent to editor by 1941. As editor, he steered the newspaper through World War II, overseeing pivotal coverage of military campaigns and political developments. Barrington-Ward championed rigorous reporting, editorial integrity, and modernization of journalistic practices. Under his leadership, The Times became a leading voice in post-war reconstruction debates. He died on February 29, 1948, remembered as one of Britain's most respected newspaper editors.

Melvin Purvis was a celebrated American law enforcement officer born in 1903. He joined the FBI in the late 1920s and quickly gained fame commanding efforts to capture notorious criminals such as John Dillinger, 'Pretty Boy' Floyd, and Baby Face Nelson. His charismatic leadership and success in the field helped raise the public profile of the Bureau. Purvis wrote a memoir detailing his experiences and later pursued politics, though his career was marked by controversies over tactics and credit for arrests. After leaving the FBI in 1935, he held various government and private sector roles. Purvis's dramatic pursuits and media presence left a lasting impact on popular perceptions of federal law enforcement. He died in 1960, remembered as a symbol of the fight against organized crime.

Frank Daniel was born in 1926 in Czechoslovakia and began his career as a screenwriter and director in European cinema. He later moved to the United States, where he produced and wrote films that bridged cultural boundaries. As an educator, Daniel taught at prominent film schools and mentored a generation of filmmakers. His leadership in academic programs helped shape modern screenwriting and directing curricula. Daniel's passion for storytelling and pedagogy left a lasting impact on both the industry and film education worldwide.

Born in 1930 in Kerala, P. K. Narayana Panicker dedicated his life to social reform within the Ezhava community. He served as general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, expanding its educational and welfare initiatives across the region. Under his leadership, the organization established schools, hospitals, and community centers to promote social equality. Panicker championed caste reform and worked tirelessly to uplift marginalized groups in post-independence India. He was recognized for his humanitarian efforts and received several awards for his service. Panicker passed away on February 29, 2012, leaving a lasting impact on social welfare in Kerala.

Born in 1985 in Rawalpindi, Mumtaz Qadri served as a security guard for Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. In 2011, he fatally shot Taseer in Islamabad in protest of the governor's opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Qadri was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death the same year. His execution on February 29, 2016, ignited widespread debate across Pakistan, with supporters hailing him as a defender of religious values and opponents condemning his vigilante actions. The case highlighted deep societal divisions over the application of blasphemy laws in the country. Qadri's actions and subsequent execution remain a contentious and polarizing chapter in Pakistani history.