On this day, July 13
1847 The Mercantile Library Association, a union of several library groups, was founded.
1921 The body of Thomas F. Enright, the first American soldier killed in action in World War I, was brought home to Pittsburgh. The Enright Theater in East Liberty was later named in his honor.
1960 John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at his party’s convention in Los Angeles, outdrawing rivals including Lyndon B. Johnson, Stuart Symington and Adlai Stevenson.
1976 In a wildcat strike, pickets closed down the East Pittsburgh plant of Westinghouse Electric.
1985 Live Aid, an international rock concert, was held in London, Philadelphia, Moscow and Sydney to raise money for starving people in Africa.
2013 A jury in Sanford, Fla., cleared neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman of all charges in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager whose killing unleashed furious debate over racial profiling, self- defense and equal justice. Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” ( digital. library. pitt. edu/ chronology).
— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Game show announcer Johnny Gilbert ( TV: “Jeopardy!”), 95. Actor Patrick Stewart, 79. Actor Robert Forster, 78. Actor Harrison Ford, 77. Singer- guitarist Roger McGuinn ( The Byrds), 77. Actor- comedian Cheech Marin, 73. Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid, 71. Actress Didi Conn, 68. Actor Gil Birmingham, 66. Singer Louise Mandrell, 65. Rock musician Mark “The Animal” Mendoza ( Twisted Sister), 63. Actor- director Cameron Crowe, 62. Former tennis player Anders Jarryd, 58. Rock musician Gonzalo Martinez De La Cotera, 57. Comedian Tom Kenny, 57. Country singer- songwriter Victoria Shaw, 57. Bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent, 57. Actor Kenny Johnson,
56. Roots singer/ songwriter Paul Thorn,
55. Country singer Neil Thrasher, 54. Actor Ken Jeong, 50. Bluegrass musician Mike Barber ( The Gibson Brothers), 49. Singer Deborah Cox, 46. Actress Ashley Scott, 42. Rock musician Will Champion ( Coldplay),
41. Actor Fran Kranz, 38. Actress Aya Cash,
37. St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, 37. Actor Colton Haynes, 31. Actor Steven R. McQueen, 31. Soul singer Leon Bridges, 30. Actress Hayley Erin (“General Hospital”), 25. Actor Kyle Harrison Breitkopf, 14.
Thought for today: “Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.”