June 22

Scott Winters June 22, 2025 2 Comments

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:

1832 – J.I. Howe patented the pin machine.

1847 – The doughnut was invented.

1855 – The Sault Ste. Marie Locks opened.

1868 – Arkansas was re-admitted to the Union.

1870 – Congress created the Department of Justice.

1874 – Dr. Andrew Taylor Still began the first known practice of osteopathy.

1882 – A patent was issued for the Air-Conditioned Rocking Chair. It had a propeller fan mounted overhead that was turned by the chair’s motion. The faster you rocked, the faster the fan turned.

1909 – The first transcontinental auto race ended in Seattle, WA. The race started in New York, NY.

1937 – Detroit’s Joe Louis won the title of world heavyweight champion boxer. He would hold the title for a record-setting 12 years.

1939 – The first U.S. water-ski tournament was held at Jones Beach, on Long Island, NY.

1942 – The Pledge of Allegiance was formally adopted by the U.S. Congress.

1942 – V-Mail, or Victory-Mail, was sent for the first time.

1944 – President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, commonly known as the “GI Bill of Rights”, to provide broad benefits for veterans of the war.

1946 – Jet airplanes were used to transport mail for the first time.

1959 – Eddie Lubanski rolled 24 consecutive strikes in a bowling tournament in Miami, FL.

1964 – The U.S. Supreme Court voted that Henry Miller’s book, “Tropic of Cancer”, could not be banned.

1969 – The Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, OH, caught fire, drawing national attention to water pollution, and spurring the passing of the Clean Water Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

1970 – President Richard Nixon signed the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, lowering the voting age to 18.

1973 – Skylab astronauts splashed down safely in the Pacific after a record 28 days in space.

1974 – In Chicago, IL the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) Skydeck opened.

1978 – James W. Christy and Robert S. Harrington discovered the only known moon of Pluto. The moon is named Charon.

1981 – Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to killing John Lennon six months earlier.

1982 – Pete Rose got hit number 3,772, passing Hank Aaron for second place on the all-time list.

1984 – The movie “Karate Kid” premiered in theaters.

1988 – The movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” debuted in theaters.

1992 – The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that hate-crime laws that ban cross-burning and similar expressions of racial bias violated free-speech rights.

1993 – Former First Lady Pat Nixon died at age 81.

1998 – The Supreme Court ruled that evidence illegally obtained by authorities could be used at revocation hearings for a convicted criminal’s parole.

1998 – The 75th National Marbles Tournament began in Wildwood, NJ.

1999 – Robert Downey Jr. was sentenced to six weeks in a rehab center for failing a routine drug test.

1999 – The Supreme Court ruled that persons with remediable handicaps cannot claim discrimination in employment under the Americans with Disability Act.

2001 – The movie “The Fast and the Furious” debuted in theaters.

2002 – The Disney animated feature “Lilo and Stitch” opened in theaters nationwide.

2004 – More than 500 thousand copies of Bill Clinton’s autobiography, “My Life”, sold in its first day, surpassing the nonfiction sales record set by his wife Hillary Clinton’s book, “Living History”.

2009 – Eastman Kodak Company announced that it would discontinue sales of the Kodachrome Color Film, ending it’s 74-year run as a photography icon.

2018 – The movie “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”, the fifth overall installment of the “Jurassic Park” film series, premiered in theaters.

2021 – Governor Gretchen Whitmer lifted the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Michigan.

BIRTHDAYS:

Barry Serafin – 84 years old (1941) – Journalist (TV’s “ABC World News”)

Brit Hume – 82 years old (1943) – TV Journalist

Todd Rungren – 77 years old (1948) – Singer

Alan Osmond – 76 years old (1949) – Singer (“The Osmonds”)

Meryl Streep – 76 years old (1949) – Actress (“Sophie’s Choice”, “Iron Lady”, “Kramer vs. Kramer”

Lindsay Wagner – 76 years old (1949) – Actress (TV’s “The Bionic Woman”)

Graham Greene – 73 years old (1952) – Actor (“Dances with Wolves”, “Thunderheart”, “Maverick”, “Die Hard with a Vengeance”, “The Green Mile”, “Skins”, “Transamerica”, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”, “Casino Jack”, “Winter’s Tale”, “The Shack”)

Cyndi Lauper – 72 years old (1953) – Singer (“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”)

Chris Lemmon – 71 years old (1954) – Actor (“Airport ’77”, “That’s Life!”, “Dad”)

Garry Gary Beers – 68 years old (1957) – Bass guitarist (INXS)

Bruce Campbell – 67 years old (1958) – Actor (“Evil Dead” franchise, “”Within the Woods”, TV’s “Ash vs. Evil Dead”). Born in Royal Oak, MI.

Tracy Pollan – 65 years old (1960) – Actress (TV’s “Family Ties”)

Amy Brenneman – 61 years old (1964) – Actress (TV’s “The Leftovers”, “Private Practice”, “Judging Amy”, “NYPD Blue”)

Dan Brown – 61 years old (1964) – Author (“The Da Vinci Code”)

Paula Irvine – 57 years old (1968) – Actress (“Phantasm II”, TV’s “Beverly Hills, 90210”, “Growing Pains”, “Santa Barbara”)

Mary Lynn Rajskub – 54 years old (1971) – Actress (TV’s “24”). Born in Detroit, MI.

Carson Daly – 52 years old (1973) – TV personality (TV’s “The Today Show”, “The Voice”, “Later”, “TRL”)

Donald Faison – 51 years old (1974) – Actor (TV’s “Scrubs”, “Clueless”, “Felicity”, “The Exes”)

TODAY IS:

National Kissing Day: When lips meet and hearts flutter, the world feels like it's spinning in slow motion, and for a moment, nothing else matters.
World Rainforest Day: Donate or volunteer your time to helping or raising awareness about how we can save the rainforests, and keep these crucial ecosystems alive.
National Chocolate Eclair Day: Try baking your own éclair, or shop around for the perfect flavor of chocolate éclair, a fried dough filled with rich, creamy sweetness and topped with chocolate.
National Onion Ring Day: Crisp, fried, a bit sweet—onion rings are the fancy cousin of the French fry. Have a taste-test with various dipping sauces, or get samples from different places.
National Limoncello Day: Capturing the essence of sun-kissed citrus, this zesty liqueur unfolds a vibrant, refreshing symphony of Italian flavors.
Windrush Day: Celebrating the profound contributions and enduring legacy of a significant historical moment—a tapestry woven with resilience and strength.
National Time Management Month: National Time Management Month is a vibrant time to reassess how we manage our schedules. This month-long event highlights the value of organizing our tasks effectively. By improving our time management, we can boost productivity and reduce stress. Everyone, from students to professionals, can benefit from honing these skills. The main...
B Kinder Day: Spread kindness and love to your friends, family, and community to honor the life of 12-year-old Billie Kinder, who spent her life making the world better.
National HVAC Tech Day: Every year on this day, we celebrate National HVAC Tech Day, a day dedicated to the skilled technicians who keep our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems running smoothly. This special day shines a spotlight on these professionals who work tirelessly to ensure our comfort at home and at work, no...
National Pet Choking Prevention Day: National Pet Choking Prevention Day is all about raising awareness of hidden dangers that threaten our pets. It highlights everyday items—like chew toys, food bits, cords, and small household objects—that can block an animal’s airways. Veterinarians treat over 200,000 choking cases each year in the U.S. alone. That figure doesn’t even...
Positive Media Day: With fear, hatred, and sadness crossing our television and computer screens all day, Positive Media Day is a time to step back and boost the positive stories.
International Being You Day: International Being You Day is a celebration of individuality, self-acceptance, and the courage to be different. Too often, people hide parts of themselves to fit in or meet expectations. This day invites everyone to step away from those pressures and enjoy the freedom of being themselves! How to Celebrate International Being...
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.
DeafBlind Awareness Week: Promoting understanding and support for those with dual sensory loss fosters inclusion, empowerment, and community connection.
Learning Disability Week: Understanding diverse learning needs empowers educators to create inclusive environments where every student can thrive and succeed.
English Wine Week: English Wine Week is a vibrant celebration of the burgeoning English wine industry. It's an opportunity for wine enthusiasts to explore the diversity and quality of wines produced across the country. Vineyards open their doors, offering a range of activities like tours, tastings, and special events. This week is not...
Animal Rights Awareness Week: Animal Rights Awareness Week is a significant event celebrated every year during the third week of June. This week is dedicated to educating people about the importance of animal rights globally. It provides a platform to discuss how animals are unfairly used in industries such as entertainment, cosmetics, and science...
National Lightning Safety Awareness Week: National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, celebrated in June, sparks crucial conversations about a powerful natural phenomenon. This week is vital because lightning strikes can be deadly, causing significant injuries and fatalities each year. Despite its potential dangers, lightning often doesn't receive the attention it deserves compared to other weather-related threats. How to...
Windjammer Days: Windjammer Days is a lively celebration where elegant tall ships sail into Boothbay Harbor’s calm waters. The day bursts with energy as colorful vessels glide in and gather off Cabbage Island. Crowds line the shore, cheering and snapping photos as sails unfurl and boats drift under bright skies. That harbor...
Refugee Week: Being a refuge is more than seeking shelter. It’s about finding a community that celebrates the vibrant tapestry of stories and cultures that refugees bring with them. How to Observe Refugee Week Throw a Culture Bash Why not kick things off with a festive gathering? Invite friends or community members to share...