Obituaries in the news

Eugene Dahl

FARGO, N.D. (AP) _ Eugene Dahl, who helped found the company now known as Bobcat and served as a North Dakota state lawmaker, has died. He was 83.

Dahl's son, Howard, said his father died Wednesday in Fargo after battling cancer for a year and suffering a heart attack a month ago.

Dahl and his four brothers-in-law developed the Melroe Manufacturing Co., now known as Bobcat, before selling it in 1970.

Dahl then became a leader of Steiger, a Fargo company that helped pioneer big four-wheel-drive tractors. The former Steiger plant is now operated by CNH.

After leaving Steiger, Dahl helped sons Howard and Brian start Concord Inc., a maker of air seeders.

Dahl also served two terms in the North Dakota House of Representatives.

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Frank Schweihs

CHICAGO (AP) _ Frank "The German" Schweihs, reputedly one of Chicago's most feared mob enforcers, has died while awaiting trial on charges he took part in a conspiracy that included numerous organized crime murders. He was 78.

Schweihs, who had cancer, died Wednesday night after he was taken from the federal government's Metropolitan Correctional Center to Thorek Memorial Hospital, authorities said. He had been in federal custody for more than two years.

Prosecutors said Schweihs was responsible for killing two people: a Phoenix man who mobsters deemed a potential federal witness and a suburban Chicago businessman who had evidence that might have sent another mobster to prison.

Star witness Nicholas Calabrese, brother of one of the defendants, testified Schweihs came up with the idea of using an Uzi submachine gun to murder Tony "The Ant" Spilotro, the Chicago mob's longtime man in Las Vegas.

Spilotro was the inspiration for the Joe Pesci character in the movie "Casino."

Calabrese said the Schweihs plan called for gunning down Spilotro, his brother Michael and defense attorney Oscar Goodman. The plan fell through.

Federal law enforcement officials said Schweihs specialized in beatings and murders, and they had hoped to put him in prison for life. His trial was scheduled to begin on Oct. 28.

Prosecutors had hoped to try Schweihs along with five others in a landmark mob conspiracy trial last fall, but he was deemed too ill to take part.

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Barbara Ann Teer

NEW YORK (AP) _ Barbara Ann Teer, who founded the National Black Theater in Harlem, has died. She was 71.

Teer's daughter, Sade Lythcott, said her mother died Monday in Harlem of natural causes.

Teer was a dancer and actress who appeared in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. After growing tired of being offered stereotypical roles by white producers, she became an advocate for black artists and black culture.

In 1968, Teer founded the National Black Theater, which produces shows, lectures, workshops, classes and exhibits.

A native of East St. Louis, Ill., she moved to New York City after earning a bachelor's in dance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.