A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1787 – Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1800 – Washington, DC, was established as the capital of the United States.
1896 – Guglielmo Marconi gave the first public demonstration of radio at Toynbee Hall, London.
1899 – George F. Grant, an African American dentist and golfer, receives a patent for a wooden golf tee.
1900 – Charles M. Schwab formed the United States Steel Corporation.
1901 – The first radio signal to cross the Atlantic was picked up near St. John’s Newfoundland, by inventor Guglielmo Marconi. The transmission was the letter “S” in Morse Code.
1912 – The Mother’s Day International Association was incorporated with the purpose of furthering meaningful observations of Mother’s Day.
1915 – The first all-metal aircraft, the German Junkers J1, made its first flight.
1917 – Father Edward Flanagan opened Boys Town in Nebraska. The farm village was for wayward boys. In 1979 it was opened to girls.
1925 – The Motel Inn, the first motel in the world, opened in San Luis Obispo, CA.
1946 – A United Nations committee voted to accept a six-block tract of Manhattan real estate to be the site of the UN’s headquarters. The land was offered as a gift by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
1951 – The U.S. Navy Department announced that the world’s first nuclear powered submarine would become the sixth ship to bear the name Nautilus.
1955 – British engineer Christopher Cockerell patented the first hovercraft.
1957 – Disc Jockey Al Priddy of KEX, Portland, Oregon, was fired for playing Elvis Presley’s rendition of “White Christmas”. He had violated the radio station’s ban against the song.
1964 – Filming began on the pilot for the TV show “Star Trek”.
1975 – Sara Jane Moore pleaed guilty to a charge of trying to kill President Gerald R. Ford in San Francisco the previous September.
1979 – Joe Louis Arena opened in Detroit, MI. It cost $57 million.
1985 – Dionne Warwick received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1989 – New York real estate baroness Leona Helmsley, who has been nicknamed the “queen of mean,” was fined $7 million and sentenced to four years in prison for tax invasion.
1991 – At the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) in California, the first web server outside of Europe was installed.
1995 – The U.S. Senate stopped a constitutional amendment giving Congress authority to outlaw flag burning and other forms of desecration against the American flag.
1996 – Clint Black got a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1997 – The Justice Department ordered Microsoft to sell its Internet Explorer browser separately from its Windows operating system to prevent it from building a monopoly of Web access programs.
1997 – Denver Pyle received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1998 – The House Judiciary Committee rejected censure and approved an article of impeachment against President Bill Clinton. The case is submitted to the full House.
2000 – The U.S. Supreme Court found that the recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court in the 2000 Presidential election was unconstitutional. Vice President Al Gore conceded the election to Texas Gov. George W. Bush the next day.
2000 – Timothy McVeigh, over the objections of his lawyers, abandoned his final round of appeals and asked that his execution be set within 120 days. McVeigh was convicted of the April 1995 truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, OK, that killed 168 and injured 500.
2000 – The Texas Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a record breaking 10-year, $252 million contract. The contract amount broke all major league baseball records and all professional sports records.
2000 – The movie “Air Bud: World Pup”, about a soccer playing Golden Retriever, premiered in theaters.
2001 – In Beverly Hills, CA, actress Winona Ryder was arrested at Saks Fifth Avenue for shoplifting and possessing pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription. The numerous items of clothing and hair accessories were valued at $4,760.
2007 – Frank Sinatra was honored on what would have been his 92nd birthday with the first public display of a postage stamp featuring his fedora hatted likeness.
2009 – The TV show “American Ninja Warrior” debuted on ABC.
BIRTHDAYS:
Bob Pettit – 93 years old (1932) – Basketball player and coach
Dionne Warwick – 85 years old (1940) – Singer
Bob Thompson – 83 years old (1942) – Jazz pianist, composer and arranger
Don Keith – 78 years old (1947) – Writer
Gorman Thomas – 75 years old (1950) – Baseball player
Cathy Rigby – 73 years old (1952) – Gymnast
Rafael Septién – 72 years old (1953) – Mexican-American football player
Sheila E. – 68 years old (1957) – Singer and musician
Sheree J. Wilson – 67 years old (1958) – Actress
Tracy Austin – 63 years old (1962) – Tennis player and sportscaster
Arturo Barrios – 63 years old (1962) – Mexican-American runner
Mike Golic – 63 years old (1962) – Football player and radio host
Haywood Jeffires – 61 years old (1964) – Football player and coach
John Randle – 58 years old (1967) – Football player
Mädchen Amick – 55 years old (1970) – Actress and director
Jennifer Connelly – 55 years old (1970) – Actress
Regina Hall – 55 years old (1970) – Actress
Bernard Lagat – 51 years old (1974) – Kenyan-American runner
Mayim Bialik – 50 years old (1975) – Actress, neuroscientist, and author
Orlando Hudson – 48 years old (1977) – Baseball player
Garrett Atkins – 46 years old (1979) – Baseball player
Nate Clements – 46 years old (1979) – Football player
John Salmons – 46 years old (1979) – Basketball player
Eddie Kingston – 44 years old (1981) – Wrestler
Andrew Whitworth – 44 years old (1981) – Football player and commentator
Pat Calathes – 40 years old (1985) – Greek-American basketball player
T. J. Ward – 39 years old (1986) – Football player
Dawin – 35 years old (1990) – Singer-songwriter
Tyron Smith – 35 years old (1990) – Football player
Lucas Hedges – 29 years old (1996) – Actor
Ed Oliver – 28 years old (1997) – Football player
TODAY IS:
- Gingerbread House Day: Get creative decorating a tiny, edible home and have a friendly competition with family to see who can make the tastiest, prettiest, gingery house.
- National Poinsettia Day: These festive plants, with their vibrant red and green foliage, add a cheerful touch to homes during the holiday season.
- International Sound Check Day: International Sound Check Day might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of celebrations, but it carries its own charm. It’s that playful moment before the spotlight turns on, when performers and sound engineers test voices, instruments, and speakers together. The famous “one, two, one, two”...
- National Ambrosia Day: National Ambrosia Day is a delightful celebration dedicated to the sweet and creamy dish known as ambrosia. This fruity salad, often enjoyed during the holiday season, brings a taste of the mythical "food of the gods" to our tables. The dish's vibrant mix of fruits like pineapple, mandarin oranges, and...
- National Salesperson Day: These are the folks who can chat up a storm about anything from the weather to your wildest dreams, and you'll end up buying something anyway.
- Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts: The Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts invites us to explore the hidden corners of our minds. It's a day that encourages people to acknowledge the thoughts they usually keep to themselves. These ideas might be uncomfortable, odd, or simply not shared aloud. This observance reminds us that everyone experiences such thoughts, and...
- International Universal Health Coverage Day: Imagine needing help but not being able to afford it. That’s the reality for millions when it comes to health care. International Universal Health Coverage Day calls attention to this gap and urges change. The goal is simple—make sure every person, everywhere, can get the medical support they need without...
- National Ding-A-Ling Day: Reconnecting with loved ones, engaging in heartwarming conversations to strengthen bonds and share cherished moments.
- International Day of Neutrality: Have you ever imagined a world where countries choose peace over conflict? The International Day of Neutrality encourages nations to stay impartial during disputes. By not taking sides, they help prevent wars and foster understanding. This approach promotes dialogue instead of division, creating opportunities for peaceful solutions. Neutrality isn't about...
- Lost & Found Day: Don't worry when you lose something precious — it might just be waiting for you in the magical world of the lost and found.
- Zagreb Advent: Zagreb Advent is a magical celebration that transforms Croatia's capital into a winter wonderland. The streets light up with festive decorations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wooden stalls filled with handmade crafts and delicious treats line the squares, and the air is filled with the scent of mulled wine and...
- Advent: Advent marks a period of eager anticipation and preparation for Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Each year, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which can fall anywhere between November 27 and December 3, ending on Christmas Eve, December 24. This timing reminds us that the holiday...
- Clerc-Gallaudet Week: Clerc-Gallaudet Week is a special time when people stop and recognize two key figures who changed Deaf education in America. Laurent Clerc and Thomas Gallaudet weren’t just teachers — they were trailblazers who believed every Deaf child deserved a chance to learn and be heard. Their teamwork opened the door for...
- National Handwashing Awareness Week: National Handwashing Awareness Week highlights the importance of keeping our hands clean. This week reminds us how simple actions can protect our health. Clean hands can stop the spread of germs, making everyone safer. Handwashing is celebrated for many reasons. First, it reduces the risk of getting sick. By washing hands...
- Blue Christmas: While most people are at home opening presents, emergency workers are on duty, ensuring the safety of their communities over the holidays.
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
