September 26

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:

1789 – Thomas Jefferson was appointed America’s first Secretary of State. John Jay was appointed the first chief justice of the U.S. Samuel Osgood was appointed the first Postmaster-General. Edmund Jennings Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General.

1903 – The Grand Rapids Speedrome, in Comstock Park, MI, opened for auto racing on its one mile track. It closed in 1966. It was located about where US-131 is today.

1905 – Albert Einstein published his first paper on the special theory of relativity.

1914 – The Federal Trade Commission was established by the Federal Trade Commission Act.

1934 – The steamship RMS Queen Mary was launched.

1949 – A new “Stadium” opened in Grand Rapids, MI. The first act was Spike Jones. The venue was located at 2500 Turner Avenue. It was most recently known as the DeltaPlex, before closing in 2022.

1955 – The New York Stock Exchange suffered its worst decline since 1929 upon receiving word of President Eisenhower’s heart attack.

1960 – Chicago, IL, was host to the first televised debate between Presidential candidates Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy.

1962 – The television show “The Beverly Hillbillies” debuted on CBS.

1964 – TV’s “Gilligan’s Island” premiered on CBS. The series ran until September 4, 1967.

1969 – “Abbey Road”, the last recorded album by The Beatles, was released.

1969 – The television show “The Brady Bunch” premiered on ABC.

1973 – The Concorde made its first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic in record-breaking time.

1975 – The movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” opened in theaters.

1981 – The Boeing 767 made its maiden flight in Everett, WA.

1985 – Shamu was born at Sea World in Orlando, FL. Shamu was the first killer whale born in captivity to survive.

1986 – A television episode of “Dallas” aired in which Bobby Ewing returned from the dead.

1986 – William H. Rehnquist was sworn in as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court following the retirement of Warren Burger. Antonin Scalia became the 103rd Associate Justice.

1988 – Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal in the 100 m sprint at the Seoul Olympics for failing a drug test.

1990 – The Motion Picture Association of America announced its new rating, NC-17. The rating was designed to bar those under 17 from certain films without the commercial stigma of the old X rating.

1990 –  The first musical police drama “Cop Rock” premiered on TV. Thankfully it only lasted 11 episodes!

1991 – Four men and four women began their two-year stay inside the sealed off structure known as “Biosphere II”, in Oracle, AZ. The project was intended to develop technology for future space colonies.

1993 – The eight people who had stayed in “Biosphere II” emerged from their sealed off environment.

1995 – The prosecution began its closing arguments in the murder trial of O.J. Simpson.

1996 – Astronaut Shannon Lucid returned to Earth after being in space for 188 days. She set a time record for both a U.S. astronaut in space and longest time spent by a woman in space in the world.

2006 – Facebook was opened up to everyone at least 13 years or older who had a valid email address.

2016 – In the first presidential debate Hillary Clinton faced Donald Trump at Hofstra University. It set the record as the most-watched debate in American history, with 84 million viewers.

2024 – Hurricane Helene made landfall in Perry, FL as a Category 4 hurricane, killing over 250 people, causing $78.7 billion in damage and became the deadliest hurricane in the mainland United States since Katrina.

BIRTHDAYS:

Jonathan Goldsmith – 87 years old (1938) – Actor

David Frizzell – 84 years old (1941) – Country music singer-songwriter and guitarist

Kent McCord – 83 years old (1942) – Actor

Jan Brewer – 81 years old (1944) – Politician, 22nd Governor of Arizona

Mary Beth Hurt – 79 years old (1946) – Actress

Louise Simonson – 79 years old (1946) – Author

Lucius Allen – 78 years old (1947) – Basketball player

Dick Roth – 78 years old (1947) – Swimmer

Jane Smiley – 76 years old (1949) – Novelist

Douglas A. Melton – 72 years old (1953) – Biologist and academic

Craig Chaquico – 71 years old (1954) – Guitarist

Kevin Kennedy – 71 years old (1954) – Baseball player, manager, and sportscaster

Cesar Rosas – 71 years old (1954) – Mexican-American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Carlene Carter – 70 years old (1955) – Singer-songwriter

Steve Butler – 69 years old (1956) – Race car driver and engineer

Linda Hamilton – 69 years old (1956) – Actress

Bob Staake – 68 years old (1957) – Author and illustrator

Michael Dweck – 68 years old (1957) – Photographer and director

Robert Kagan – 67 years old (1958) – Greek-American historian and author

Richard B. Weldon Jr. – 67 years old (1958) – Sailor and politician

Rich Gedman – 66 years old (1959) – Baseball player and coach

Jeanie Buss – 64 years old (1961) – Sports executive

Cindy Herron – 64 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Melissa Sue Anderson – 63 years old (1962) – American-Canadian actress

Al Pitrelli – 63 years old (1962) – Guitarist and songwriter

Joe Nemechek – 62 years old (1963) – Race car driver

Dave Martinez – 61 years old (1964) – Baseball player and coach

Craig Janney – 58 years old (1967) – Ice hockey player

Jim Caviezel – 57 years old (1968) – Actor

Ben Shenkman – 57 years old (1968) – Actor

Sheri Moon Zombie – 55 years old (1970) – Actress and fashion designer

Ras Kass – 53 years old (1972) – Rapper and producer

Beto O'Rourke – 53 years old (1972) – Politician

Shawn Stockman – 53 years old (1972) – Singer

Marty Casey – 52 years old (1973) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Julienne Davis – 52 years old (1973) – Actress, producer, and screenwriter

Dr. Luke – 52 years old (1973) – Record producer and songwriter

Gary Hall Jr. – 51 years old (1974) – Swimmer

Jake Paltrow – 50 years old (1975) – Director and screenwriter

Jaycie Phelps – 46 years old (1979) – Gymnast

Brooks Orpik – 45 years old (1980) – Ice hockey player

Christina Milian – 44 years old (1981) – Singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress

Serena Williams – 44 years old (1981) – Tennis player

Zoe Perry – 42 years old (1983) – Actress

Nev Schulman – 41 years old (1984) – Photographer, television host, and producer

Greg Stiemsma – 40 years old (1985) – Basketball player

Sean Doolittle – 39 years old (1986) – Baseball player

Chris Archer – 37 years old (1988) – Baseball player

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – 32 years old (1993) – Basketball player

Jack Conger – 31 years old (1994) – Swimmer

Shake Milton – 29 years old (1996) – Basketball player

Frankie Amaya – 25 years old (2000) – Soccer player

TODAY IS:

• National Singles Day: Living life solo means endless freedom, personal growth, and opportunities for spontaneous adventures. It's a unique journey worth cherishing!
• National Alpaca Day:
• National Hunting and Fishing Day: The sun rising, the cool breeze on your face, the sound of nature — there's nothing like the thrill of the hunt or the catch of the day.
• International Rabbit Day®: If you have a pet rabbit, pamper them! If not, do your research and decide if these adorable little creatures could be the right fit for your home.
• National Dumpling Day:
• Human Resource Professional Day: Thank your HR department for the work they do, and attend a seminar or event to learn more about how they can help you and your co-workers in the workplace.
• National Chimichanga Day:
• National Johnny Appleseed Day:
• European Day of Languages: Diverse European languages weave a tapestry of communication, uniting cultures through a rich linguistic mosaic.
• Lumberjack Day: Dress up as a lumberjack, eat a hearty meal, and honor the venerable, crucial, and often dangerous profession of lumberjacking with a thanks to lumberjacks.
• National Day of Praise and Worship:
• Better Breakfast Day: Take stock of your usual breakfasts, and start your day off even better by making healthier choices that will keep you full and fueled, all day long.
• National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day: Raising awareness on the silent struggle, promoting mental health for those who protect and serve our communities.
• Shamu the Whale Day:
• National Ghost Hunting Day: Join the thrill of investigating haunted locations, the unexplained, and searching for evidence of the afterlife.
• Family Health and Fitness Day: Nurturing well-being within the home strengthens relationships, promotes happiness, and ensures a supportive environment for everyone.
• International Lace Day: Intricate designs, and a touch of elegance — lace needlework is a graceful art form that transforms fabric into a masterpiece of beauty.
• Save Your Photos Day: Get your photos organized and find the best way to protect them: back them up on thumb drives, get a photo album, upload them to cloud or social media, etc.
• Love Note Day: Leave a little love note in an unexpected place to tell someone how you really feel, whether that’s your life partner, or a close friend or family member.
• National Key Lime Pie Day:
• National Mesothelioma Awareness Day:
• Stanislav Petrov Day: Honoring and celebrating the former Soviet military officer known for his critical role in preventing nuclear war during the Cold War.
• Macmillan Coffee Morning:
• National Seat Check Saturday:
• National Situational Awareness Day:
• World Contraception Day:
• National Public Lands Day: Enhancing community spaces fosters environmental stewardship, promotes civic pride, and creates cleaner, more enjoyable public areas for all.
• Mid-Autumn Festival: During this enchanting celebration, families gather under the moonlit sky to relish delightful treats, share laughter, and celebrate unity and abundance.
• International Week of Deaf People: Promoting understanding and inclusion enhances communication, fosters empathy, and empowers those with hearing loss in our communities.
• Rtveli:
• Sea Otter Awareness Week:
• National Eye Health Week:
• ​Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week:
• National Older Workers Employment Week:
• Fiesta de San Pacho:
• National Jeans for Genes Day:
• National Surgical Technologists Week:
• National Coding Week:
• National Indoor Plant Week :
• Small Pet Rodent Awareness Week : Embracing a tiny companion, discover joy in caring for a pocket-sized friend, adding warmth to daily life.
• Hispanic Heritage Month: Join an event, forum, or exhibition for Hispanic Heritage Month, and appreciate the art, history, and cultural offerings of this rich and expansive heritage.
• World Mitochondrial Disease Week:
• Deaf Dog Awareness Week :
• Farm Animal Awareness Week:
• World Reflexology Week: Highlighting the benefits of this holistic therapy promotes understanding of its role in enhancing well-being and relaxation.
• National Parent Teacher Home Visits Week: Building bridges through educator and family interactions, strengthening support networks to nurture student growth and achievement.
• Thinking of You Week: Surprising a loved one with heartfelt words in the mail can uplift spirits and remind them they're cherished beyond measure.

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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.