Today In History

Today is Wednesday, June 28, the 179th day of 2017. There are 186 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

› 1939: Pan American Airways began regular trans-Atlantic air service with a flight that departed New York for Marseilles, France.

ON THIS DATE

› 1778: The Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth took place in New Jersey; from this battle arose the legend of “Molly Pitcher,” a woman who was said to have carried water to colonial soldiers, then taken over firing her husband’s cannon after he became disabled.

› 1919: The Treaty of Versailles was signed in France, ending the First World War.

› 1950: North Korean forces captured Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

› 1964: Civil rights activist Malcolm X declared, “We want equality by any means necessary” during the Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity in New York.

› 1978: The Supreme Court ordered the University of CaliforniaDavis Medical School to admit Allan Bakke, a white man who argued he’d been a victim of reverse racial discrimination.

› 1997: In a wild rematch, Evander Holyfield retained the WBA heavyweight boxing championship after his opponent, Mike Tyson, was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear during the third round of their fight in Las Vegas.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Comedian-movie director Mel Brooks is 91. Comedian-impressionist John Byner is 80. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is 79. Rock musician Dave Knights (Procul Harum) is 72. Actor Bruce Davison is

71. Actress Kathy Bates is 69. Actress Alice Krige is 63. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway is 57. Record company chief executive Tony Mercedes is 55. Jazz singer Tierney Sutton is

54. Actress Jessica Hecht is 52. Rock musician Saul Davies (James) is 52. Actress-singer Danielle Brisebois is 48. Jazz musician Jimmy Sommers is 48. Actress Tichina Arnold is 48. Actor Steve Burton is 47. Actor Alessandro Nivola is 45. Actress Camille Guaty is

41. Rock musician Mark Stoermer (The Killers) is 40. Country singer Big Vinny Hickerson (Trailer Choir) is 34. Country singer Kellie Pickler is 31.