May 15

Scott Winters May 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:

1862 – The U.S. Congress created the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

1905 – Las Vegas, NV, was founded when 110 acres, in what would later become downtown, were auctioned off.

1911 – The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil Company, ruling it was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

1912 – Ty Cobb, of the Detroit Tigers, rushed a heckler during a game and was suspended indefinitely.

1918 – Regular airmail service between New York (NY), Philadelphia (PA), and Washington, DC, began under the direction of the Post Office Department, which later became the U.S. Postal Service.

1926 – Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth were forced down in Alaska after a four-day flight over an icecap. Ice had begun to form on the dirigible Norge.

1926 – The New York Rangers were officially granted a franchise in the NHL. The NHL also announced that Chicago and Detroit would be joining the league in November.

1928 – Walt Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse premiered in their first cartoon, “Plane Crazy”.

1930 – Ellen Church became the first female flight attendant, flying from San Francisco, CA to Cheyenne, WY on a United Airlines flight.

1940 – McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in San Bernardino, CA.

1940 – Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the U.S.

1941 – Joe DiMaggio began his historic major league baseball hitting streak of 56 games.

1942 – Gasoline rationing began in the United States. The limit was 3 gallons a week for nonessential vehicles.

1951 – AT&T became the first corporation to have one million stockholders.

1953 – Cubmaster Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, in Manhattan Beach, CA.

1957 – Elvis Presley inhaled a cap that was on one of his teeth. He had to be taken to a Los Angeles, CA, hospital to have it removed from his lung.

1958 – Sputnik III, the first space laboratory, was launched in the Soviet Union.

1963 – The final Mercury mission, Mercury-Atlas 9, with astronaut L. Gordon Cooper on board, was launched. He became the first American to spend more than a day in space and orbited the Earth 22 times in the Mercury spacecraft named Faith 7.

1970 – President Richard Nixon appointed Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington as America’s first two female generals.

1972 – Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace was shot and paralyzed by Arthur Bremer in Laurel, MD, while campaigning for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

1980 – The first transcontinental balloon crossing of the United States took place.

1981 – Canadian TV’s “SCTV” debuted on NBC’s Friday late night schedule as “SCTV 90”.

1990 – Vincent Van Gogh’s “Portrait of Doctor Gachet” was sold for $82.5 million. The sale set a new world record.

1991 – President George Bush took Queen Elizabeth II to a baseball game played by the Oakland A’s and the Baltimore Orioles.

1997 – The Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off on a mission to deliver urgently needed repair equipment and a fresh American astronaut to Russia’s orbiting Mir station.

1998 – Sonny and Cher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2010 – Jessica Watson became the youngest person (at the age of 16) to sail, non-stop and unassisted around the world solo.

2014 – The National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated in New York, NY.

2020 – The White House introduced Operation Warp Speed to accelerate vaccine development for COVID-19.

BIRTHDAYS:

Jasper Johns – 95 a old (1930) – Artist

Wavy Gravy – 89 a old (1936) – Entertainer, peace activist

Lainie Kazan – 85 a old (1940) – Actress (“My Favorite Year”, “The Delta Force”, “Harry and the Hendersons”, “Beaches”, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”)

Graeham Goble – 78 a old (1947) – Singer (Little River Band)

Brian Eno – 77 a old (1948) – Musician (Roxy Music)

Chazz Palminteri – 73 a old (1952) – Actor (“Analyze This”, “The Usual Suspects”, “A Bronx Tale”, “Mulholland Falls”)

George Brett – 72 a old (1953) – Baseball player

Mike Oldfield – 72 a old (1953) – Musician, composer (“Tubular Bells”)

Lee Horsley – 70 a old (1955) – Actor (TV’s “Matt Houston”)

Dan Patrick – 69 a old (1956) – Former ESPN Sports Center anchor, syndicated radio program host

Giselle Fernández – 64 a old (1961) – TV host (TV’s “Access Hollywood”, “Weekend Today”, “CBS Morning News”, “Dancing With the Stars”)

Emmitt Smith – 56 a old (1969) – Football player (TV’s Season 3 of “Dancing With The Stars”, “All-Stars” season 15)

Desmond Howard – 55 a old (1970) – Football player (Detroit Lions 1999-2002), ESPN college football analyst.

David Charvet – 53 a old (1972) – Singer, actor (TV’s “Baywatch”, “Melrose Place”)

Ahmet Zappa – 51 a old (1974) – Musician

Amy Chow – 47 a old (1978) – Olympic gymnast

David Krumholtz – 47 a old (1978) – Actor (TV’s “Numb3rs”, movies “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”,”Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”, “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas”)

Jamie-Lynn Sigler – 44 a old (1981) – Actress (TV’s “The Sopranos”, “Entourage”)

TODAY IS:

National Bike to Work Day: Improve your health and help the environment at the same time by leaving the car at home and taking your bike to work for at least one day of the year.
National Chocolate Chip Day: Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip cookie dough pops…the possibilities are endless for tasty, irresistible treats on National Chocolate Chip Day.
National Work From Home Day: Take your work home with you and do your job from the comfort of your home office, or even your couch and sweatpants, and see how your productivity changes.
National Pizza Party Day: Make your own pizza at home, order in, or gather some friends for a pizza crawl through town to enjoy the ever popular Pizza Party Day.
National NASCAR Day: Rev your engines for NASCAR! The high-speed thrills, heart-pumping action, and fierce competition make for an unforgettable experience. So strap in and hold on tight, it's going to be a wild ride!
National Endangered Species Day: Many magnificent species of animal and insect are at risk of going extinct, so join the cause by volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness of these threats.
Hats for Headway Day:
International Day of Families: Get ready for a love-filled adventure with family! Spend time with your nearest and dearest, create memories, and make the most of life's precious moments.
National Nylon Stocking Day: Functional and classy, the nylon stocking is an outfit-completing accessory that has declined in popularity. Help bring it back, and feel classy and attractive.
National Straw Hat Day:
Do Lunch with Your Dog Day:
International Conscientious Objectors Day:
International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day: Understand the origins of vascular birthmarks, and help get rid of any stigma and misunderstandings that have to do with these very common birthmarks.
International Virtual Assistants Day: Boost awareness about the role of virtual assistants in the world of business, a gig often taken by freelancers that keeps the business community running.
International Casinos Day:
Asphalt Day:
HG Awareness Day:
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day:
MPS Awareness Day:
TSC Global Awareness Day:
National Safety Dose Day:
National Defense Transportation Day:
International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day:
Peace Officers Memorial Day: Honoring those who stood unwavering in the face of challenge, dedicating themselves to the safety of communities.
Shades Day: Wear a stylish (or unstylish, you do you) pair of shades, post a pic, and help raise awareness about and aid for the many struggling families in the UK.
Bring Flowers To Someone Day: Send a bouquet to someone (or someones) you care about, or go out and gather some wildflowers to show your affection on Bring Flowers to Someone 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.
Foster Care Fortnight:
Bike to Work Week:
National Salt Awareness Week:
Be Nice to Nettles 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: