Today In History
Today is Saturday, March 19, the 79th day of 2016. There are 287 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
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.
ON THIS DATE
1918: Congress approved daylight saving time.
1931: Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gambling.
1941: Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra recorded “Green Eyes” and “Maria Elena” for Decca Records.
1951: Herman Wouk’s World War II novel “The Caine Mutiny” was first published by Doubleday.
1976: Buckingham Palace announced the separation of Princess Margaret and her husband, the Earl of Snowdon, after 16 years of marriage.
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
Former White House national security adviser Brent Scowcroft is 91. Theologian Hans Kung is 88. Author Philip Roth is 83. Actress Renee Taylor is 83. Actress-singer Phyllis Newman is 83. Actress Ursula Andress is 80. Singer Clarence “Frogman” Henry is 79. Singer Ruth Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) is 70. Actress Glenn Close is 69. Film producer Harvey Weinstein is 64. Actor Bruce Willis is 61. Actress-comedian Mary Scheer is 53. Playwright Neil LaBute is 53. Actor Connor Trinneer is 47. Rock musician Gert Bettens (K’s Choice) is 46. Rapper Bun B is 43. Rock musician Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World) is 40. Actress Abby Brammell is 37. Actor Craig Lamar Traylor is 27. Actor Philip Bolden is 21.