This Puzzle's Honoree and George Washington Have Something In Common (easier version)

by George Barany

This puzzle celebrated a specific personal occasion in February 2012. After solving the puzzle (spoiler), please read our "midrash."

Click here to view or download the puzzle in PDF format; here to download it as a puz file [requires Across Lite software to play]; here to solve the puzzle interactively (thanks to Jim Horne); here for the solution. Click here for the harder clues version.

Important note: Besides the fact that about a third of the clues have been made less tricky/more straightforward, you should be aware that the central square in the grid is an ampersand (&).

More puzzles here (all) and here (tributes).

E-mail barany@umn.edu to be added to a bcc distribution list.