May 12

Scott Winters May 12, 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:

1781 – The British purchased Mackinac Island from the Chippewa Indians for 5,000 pounds.

1847 – William Clayton invented the odometer.

1883 – The University of Michigan played their first ever home football game against the Detroit Independents at the Ann Arbor fairgrounds. U of M won the game 40-5.

1888 – Charles Sherrill, of the Yale track team, became the first runner to use the crouching start for a fast break in a foot race.

1926 – The airship Norge became the first vessel to fly over the North Pole.

1929 – Zehnder’s restaurant in Frankenmuth, MI opened.

1932 – Ten weeks after his abduction, the infant son of aviator Charles Lindbergh was found dead in Hopewell, NJ, just a few miles from Lindbergh’s home.

1932 – A new character named Dippy Dawg appeared in the Walt Disney cartoon “Mickey’s Revue”. Dippy’s name was later changed to Goofy.

1935 – Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith (founders of Alcoholics Anonymous) met for the first time in Akron, OH, at the home of Henrietta Siberling.

1950 – The American Bowling Congress abolished its white males-only membership restriction after 34 years.

1957 – A.J. Foyt won his first auto racing victory in Kansas City, MO.

1966 – Busch Memorial Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, opened in St. Louis, MI.

1970 – Ernie Banks, of the Chicago Cubs, hit his 500th home run.

1978 – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that they would no longer exclusively name hurricanes after women. Before then, only women’s named were used. Some complained it wasn’t fair that women got all the attention for causing destruction and damage.

1993 – The final episode of TV’s “The Wonder Years”, starring Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, aired on ABC.

1999 – George Jones pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and violating the Tennessee’s open-container law in Franklin. He was fined $550.

2002 – Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in Cuba for a five day visit with Fidel Castro. It was the first time a U.S. head of state, in or out of office, had gone to the island since Castro’s 1959 revolution.

2002 – At Miami International Airport, Dionne Warwick was arrested when baggage screeners found 11 marijuana cigarettes inside her lipstick container.

2003 – New rules required airlines to increase the assumed passenger weight to 190 pounds, up from 180 pounds.

2006 – The Milwaukee Brewers gave away free tickets to a future game to fans who let a doctor check their prostrate.

2008 – The price for a one-ounce First-Class stamp increased from 41 to 42 cents.

2015 – It was announced that Verizon would be acquiring AOL.

BIRTHDAYS:

John Bucyk – 90 a old (1935) – Hockey player (Detroit Red Wings 1955-1957)

Susan Hampshire – 88 a old (1937) – Actress (“Cry Terror”, “David Copperfield”)

Millie Perkins – 87 a old (1938) – Actress (“Wall Street”, “Ensign Pulver”, “The Diary of Anne Frank”)

Billy Swan – 83 a old (1942) – Singer, songwriter (“I Can Help”)

Linda Dano – 82 a old (1943) – Actress (TV’s “Another World”)

Lindsay Crouse – 77 a old (1948) – Actress (“The Juror”, “Slap Shot”, “Traps”, “Places in the Heart”)

Steve Winwood – 77 a old (1948) – Musician (Blind Faith, Traffic, Spencer Davis Group)

Bruce Boxleitner – 75 a old (1950) – Actor (“The Babe”, “Tron”, “Tron: Legacy”, TV’s “Scarecrow and Mrs. King”, “Babylon 5”)

Gabriel Byrne – 75 a old (1950) – Actor (TV’s “In Treatment”, movies “Miller’s Crossing”, “The Usual Suspects”)

Billy Squier – 75 a old (1950) – Singer (“The Stroke”, “Everybody Wants You”)

Kix Brooks – 70 a old (1955) – Singer (Brooks and Dunn)

Lou Whitaker – 68 a old (1957) – Baseball player (Detroit Tigers 1977-1995)

Kim Greist – 67 a old (1958) – Actress (“Homeward Bound” movies, TV’s “Chicago Hope”)

Ving Rhames – 66 a old (1959) – Actor (“Mission: Impossible” movies, “Pulp Fiction”, “Dawn of the Dead”, “Piranha 3D”)

Billy Duffy – 64 a old (1961) – Guitarist (The Cult)

Emilio Estevez – 63 a old (1962) – Actor (“Breakfast Club”, “The Mighty Ducks” movies, “Young Guns”, “The Outsiders”, “Repo Man”, “St. Elmo’s Fire”)

Stephen Baldwin – 59 a old (1966) – Actor (“Born on the Fourth of July”, “The Usual Suspects”, TV’s “Celebrity Apprentice”)

Tony Hawk – 57 a old (1968) – Skateboarder

Kim Fields – 56 a old (1969) – Actress (Played Tootie on TV’s “The Facts of Life”, “Living Single”)

Samantha Mathis – 55 a old (1970) – Actress (“Pump Up the Volume”, “Little Women”, “The American President”, “Broken Arrow”, “American Psycho”, “The Punisher”, “Atlas Shrugged: Part II”)

Jamie Luner – 54 a old (1971) – Actress (TV’s “Just the Ten of Us”, “Melrose Place”, “Profiler”, “All My Children”)

Mackenzie Astin – 52 a old (1973) – Actor (TV’s “The Facts of Life”)

Malin Akerman – 47 a old (1978) – Actress (TV’s “Billions”, movies “Watchmen”, “Couples Retreat”)

Jason Biggs – 47 a old (1978) – Actor (“American Pie” movies, “My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Jersey Girl”)

Emily VanCamp – 39 a old (1986) – Actress (TV’s “Everwood”, “Brothers & Sisters”, “Revenge”, movies “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, “Captain America: Civil War”)

Malcolm David Kelley – 33 a old (1992) – Actor (TV’s “Lost”)

TODAY IS:

National Limerick Day: Read or write your own five-line limericks to enjoy the humorous, simple formula that has entertained children and adults alike for many generations.
National Nutty Fudge Day: Try making your own fudge, or take a fun trip with friends or family to a nearby tourist town to try out any number of flavor and flavor combinations.
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: Learn and spread awareness about the difficult disease known as fibromyalgia, which affects many men and women around the world and as of yet has no cure.
National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day:
International PMO Day: Delve into the integral role of PMOs, orchestrating seamless strategies, ensuring project success, and fostering organizational resilience.
International Day of Plant Health:
International ME/CFS Awareness Day:
National Tampon Day:
World Topiary Day:
National Hospital Day:
National YA DIG Day:
National Sapphire Segulah Day:
National Odometer Day: Be thankful for the odometer, a device that keeps track of your mileage, which in turn helps you know when and how to get your car looked at and adjusted.
International Nurses Day: Give a big thank-you to the hard-working, often under-paid medical professionals who keep hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes and hospice care running.
Buddha Day:
Cannes Film Festival:
National Stationery Week: Sharpen your pencils and break out your fine pens, and take this excuse to use some fancy stationery. Write a loved one, find a pen pal, or even make your to-do list.
American Craft Beer Week: Exploring diverse flavors and styles, American craft beer showcases innovation and craftsmanship, delighting enthusiasts worldwide.
Donkey Week:
Foster Care Fortnight:
National Nurse’s Week: Give a big thank-you to the hard-working, often under-paid medical professionals who keep hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes and hospice care running.
Bike to Work Week:
National Salt Awareness Week:
Learning at Work Week:
Tracky Dack Day:
Sun Awareness Week:
Christian Aid Week:
National Stuttering Awareness Week:
National Hoarding Awareness Week:
National Mental Health Awareness Week:
National Hospital Week:
National Public Gardens Week:
M.E. Awareness Week:
National Salvation Army Week: Supporting those in need, providing hope, and creating positive change—efforts that embody the essence of humanitarian assistance.
I Love My State Parks Week: