June 15

Scott Winters June 15, 2025 1 Comment

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:

1667 – Jean-Baptiste Denys administered the first fully-documented human blood transfusion. He successfully transfused the blood of a sheep to a 15-year old boy.

1752 – Benjamin Franklin experimented by flying a kite during a thunderstorm. The result was a little spark that showed the relationship between lightning and electricity (traditional date, the exact day is unknown).

1775 – George Washington was appointed head of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress.

1836 – Arkansas became the 25th U.S. state.

1836 – Congress suggested a way to end the Ohio-Michigan “Toledo Strip” border dispute. The idea, which was adopted, gave the Toledo area to Ohio and the vast Upper Peninsula to Michigan.

1844 – Charles Goodyear was granted a patent for vulcanization, the process that strengthens rubber.

1864 – Arlington National Cemetery was established when 200 acres around Arlington Mansion (formerly owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee) were officially set aside as a military cemetery by U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

1877 – Henry O. Flipper became the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

1878 – Eadweard Muybridge took a series of photographs to prove that all four feet of a horse leave the ground when it runs. The study became the basis of motion pictures.

1898 – The U.S. House of Representatives approved the annexation of Hawaii.

1909 – Benjamin Shibe patented the cork center baseball.

1911 – The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. was incorporated in the state of New York. The company was later renamed International Business Machines (IBM) Corp.

1916 – President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America, making them the only American youth organization with a federal charter.

1919 – Captain John Alcock and Lt. Arthur W. Brown won $50,000 for successfully completing the first, non-stop trans-Atlantic plane flight.

1921 – Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn an international aviation license.

1934 – The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded.

1948 – The first night game was played at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Detroit Tigers scored a 4-1 victory over the Athletics. A crowd of 54,480 fans were there that evening.

1952 – The Diary of Anne Frank, a true account of Jews hiding from the Nazis, was published.

1958 – Pizza Hut was founded by two college students, brothers Dan and Frank Carney, in Wichita, KS. Today Pizza Hut is the world’s largest pizza chain with 18,703 restaurants worldwide as of 2019.

1969 – The television show “Hee Haw” debuted on CBS.

1970 – Charles Manson went on trial for the Sharon Tate murders.

1973 – The George Lucas movie “American Graffiti, opened in theaters nationally.

1983 – In Grand Rapids, MI, the Grand Plaza West was officially completed. The building is a 29-story glass enclosed tower with 287 suites and guest rooms. Total cost of renovation was $68 million.

1985 – Rembrandt’s painting Danaë was attacked by a man (later judged insane) who threw sulfuric acid on the canvas and cut it twice with a knife.

1988 – The movie “Bull Durham”, starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, premiered in theaters.

1990 – The movie “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” premiered in theaters.

1992 – It was ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court that the government could kidnap criminal suspects from foreign countries for prosecution.

1992 – Vice President Dan Quayle instructed a student to spell “potato” with an “e” on the end during a spelling bee.

1994 – The animated movie “The Lion King” premiered in theaters.

1995 – O.J. Simpson found the glove didn’t fit, which eventually lead the jury to acquit him of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

1997 – The Disney animated movie “Hercules” premiered in theaters.

2007 – Bob Barker ended his 35-year run as host of the CBS game show “The Price Is Right”.

2012 – Nik Wallenda became the first person to successfully tightrope walk over Niagara Falls.

2022 – Microsoft retired the web browser Internet Explorer in favor of its new browser, Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer had been around since 1995.

BIRTHDAYS:

Muff Winwood – 82 a old (1943) – Bass guitarist (Spencer Davis Group)

Janet Lennon – 79 a old (1946) – Singer (The Lennon Sisters)

Simon Callow – 76 a old (1949) – Actor (“Amadeus”, “Four Weddings and a Funeral”)

Russell Hitchcock – 76 a old (1949) – Singer (Air Supply)

Steve Walsh – 74 a old (1951) – Singer (Kansas)

Jim Belushi – 71 a old (1954) – Actor, comedian (“K9”, “Red Heat”, TV’s “According to Jim”)

Terri Gibbs – 71 a old (1954) – Country singer (“Somebody’s Knockin'”)

Julie Hagerty – 70 a old (1955) – Actress (“Airplane!”, “Airplane II: The Sequel”, “A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy”, “Lost in America”, “A Master Builder”)

Brett Butler – 68 a old (1957) – Baseball player

Wade Boggs – 67 a old (1958) – Baseball player

Helen Hunt – 62 a old (1963) – Actress (“As Good As It Gets”, “The Sessions”, “Cast Away”, “What Women Want”, “Pay It Forward”, “Twister”, TV’s “Mad About You”)

Scott Rockenfield – 62 a old (1963) – Drummer (Queensrÿche)

Courteney Cox – 61 a old (1964) – Actress (TV’s “Friends”, “Cougar Town”, Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” video, movies “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”, the “Scream” series)

Ice Cube – 56 a old (1969) – Rapper, actor (“Ride Along”, “21 Jump Street”, “First Sunday”, “Are We There Yet?”, “Are We Done Yet?”, “xXx: State of the Union”, “Three Kings”, “Barbershop”, “Friday”, “Boyz n the Hood”, “Anaconda”)

Idalis DeLeón – 56 a old (1969) – Actress, MTV VJ (TV’s “Living Single”, movie “Ride”)

Leah Remini – 55 a old (1970) – Actress (TV’s “The King of Queens”, “It’s All Relative”, author “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology”)

Neil Patrick Harris – 52 a old (1973) – Actor (TV’s “How I Met Your Mother”, “Doogie Howser MD”, the “Harold and Kumar” movies, “Starship Troopers”)

Billy Martin – 44 a old (1981) – Guitarist, keyboardist (Good Charlotte)

Denzel Whitaker – 35 a old (1990) – Actor (“The Great Debaters”, “Training Day”)

TODAY IS:

Nature Photography Day: Get out of the house and capture the beauty of nature on your own camera. Even if it’s just taking a walk with your smartphone, you’re sure to find something snap-worthy.
National Lobster Day: Whether you’re a long-time lobster aficionado or someone who’s still hesitant about seafood, now’s the time to give this classic marine delicacy a try.
Global Wind Day: Harnessing the strength of natural forces, providing a sustainable and clean energy solution for a greener future.
Beer Day Britain: Brits, now is the time to gather together and participate in one of your country’s greatest traditions: Beer Day Britain! Grab a glass, a pint, or a pitcher to share.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Many elderly people face financial, emotional, and physical abuse. Help raise awareness and put a stop to this tragedy on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Magna Carta Day: Britain’s Magna Carta has served as the template for many new governments, outlining rights and powers. For a fun craft, try making your own Magna Carta.
National Smile Power Day: Show off your dimples and pearly whites and harness the true power of a smile. It releases chemicals that make you feel happier, more confident, and more relaxed.
National Bug Busting Day:
National Kiss a Wookiee Day:
National Foam Party Day:
International Women in Mining Day: Exploring underground, these resilient women delve into the Earth's depths, extracting treasures that shape industries and communities.
National Prune Day:
Sneak a Kiss Day:
International Working Animal Day: Honoring the tireless collaborators, creatures contributing silent efforts, weaving indispensable threads into the fabric of human progress.
National Megalodon Day:
Waste & Recycling Workers Week: Give a big thanks to the men and women who keep your community sanitary and hygienic on Garbage Man Day, or Waste & Recycling Workers Week.
Learning Disability Week: Understanding diverse learning needs empowers educators to create inclusive environments where every student can thrive and succeed.
Oxfam Water Week:
Scleroderma Awareness Week:
Animal Rights Awareness Week:
British Heart Week:
Refugee Week: