Today In History
Today is Friday, March 19, the 78th day of 2021. There are 287 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
› 2013: Pope Francis officially began his ministry as the 266th pope, receiving the ring symbolizing the papacy and a wool stole exemplifying his role as shepherd of his 1.2-billion strong flock during a Mass at the Vatican.
ON THIS DATE
› 1931: Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gambling.
› 1942: During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered men between the ages of 45 and 64, inclusive, to register for non-military duty.
› 1962: Bob Dylan’s first album, titled “Bob Dylan,” was released by Columbia Records.
› 1966: The Texas Western Miners defeated the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats, 72-65, to win the NCAA Championship played in College Park, Maryland; making the contest especially noteworthy was that Texas Western became the first basketball team to start five Black players in a national title game as it faced an all-white Kentucky squad.
› 1977: The series finale of “Mary Tyler Moore” aired on CBS-TV, ending the situation comedy’s seven-season run.
› 1979: The U.S. House of Representatives began televising its floor proceedings; the live feed was carried by C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network), which was making its debut.
› 1991: Polish President Lech Walesa arrived in Washington for his first state visit to the United States.
› 2003: President George W. Bush ordered the start of war against Iraq. (Because of the time difference, it was early March 20 in Iraq.)
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Actor Renee Taylor is
88. Actor Ursula Andress is 85. Singer Clarence “Frogman” Henry is
84. Singer Ruth Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) is
75. Actor Glenn Close is
74. Actor Bruce Willis is 66. Actor-comedian Mary Scheer is 58. Playwright Neil LaBute is 58. Actor Connor Trinneer is 52. Rock musician Gert Bettens (K’s Choice) is
51. Rapper Bun B is 48. Rock musician Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World) is 45. Actor Virginia Williams is 43. Actor Abby Brammell is 42. MLB pitcher Clayton Kershaw is 33. Actor Craig Lamar Traylor is 32. Actor Philip Bolden is 26.