The world also said goodbye to U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a lion of the civil rights movement who died in July. Other former political figures who died this year include Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, New York Mayor David Dinkins, Arizona Gov. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2020 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___David Stern, 77. The guitarist who supplied the scratching, seething sound that fueled the highly influential British punk band Gang of Four. He fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma's former state epidemiologist warned that President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa in June could lead to as many as nine deaths and 228 new cases of COVID-19, according to documents released Wednesday. Wendelboe’s contract expired this summer and he no longer works for the state health department. The Tulsa Health Department does not publicly identify where potential virus transmissions occurred, so it's not clear how many people contracted COVID-19 at Trump’s rally. A spokesman for the Republican governor, who also attended Trump's rally without wearing a mask, acknowledged that members of Stitt's cabinet were briefed on Wendelboe's projections ahead of the rally. Stitt was the first U.S. governor to publicly acknowledge testing positive for COVID-19, although he has said he did not contract it at the Trump rally.

Eager to project a sense of normalcy in imagery, Trump soaked up the raucous cheers inside a warehouse Sunday night. Not since a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that was blamed for a surge of coronavirus infections has he gathered supporters indoors. A shutdown would destroy the lives and dreams of millions Americans,” said Trump, before using his inflammatory moniker for the coronavirus. The Trump campaign pushed back against the restrictions with the president saying he would support those in attendance “if the governor came after you." The rally came the night before Trump was to travel to California to receive a briefing on the devastating wildfires racing through the region.

Attendees leave a public viewing for Herman Cain, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 in Atlanta. The former Republican presidential candidate, radio host, and entrepreneur died on July 30, after being hospitalized with COVID-19 and will be laid to rest this week. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Attendees leave a public viewing for Herman Cain, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 in Atlanta. Cain “made his mark on this world" and his life will be celebrated for years to come, the Rev. “The most important decision that Herman Cain ever made was to accept Jesus as his savior." A longtime Republican, Cain was “a fierce advocate for conservative principles across the board,” Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tweeted. “Herman Cain has won the victory," he said.