February 4, 2013

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Rosa Parks. U.S. civil rights pioneer. Miss Parks instigated one of the major events in the civil rights movement when, on December 1, 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to a white passenger after the white section had been filled. Her arrest for violating the city's segregation law led to a boycott by Negroes of Montgomery's buses. Miss Parks died on October 24, 2005 at the age of 92.

Dick Seaman. U.K. auto racing driver. Mr. Seaman won the German Grand Prix in 1938 and finished second in that year's Swiss Grand Prix. He was fatally injured in a crash while leading the Belgian Grand Prix, and died on June 25, 1939 at the age of 26.

70 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Frank Calder, 65. Canadian hockey executive. Mr. Calder was the first president of the National Hockey League from 1917 until his death. He was succeeded in his office by Red Dutton. The Calder Memorial Trophy is given annually to the NHL's top rookie player, and the Calder Cup is awarded annually to the winners of the American Hockey League championship.

60 years ago
1953

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Home Service
Tonight's episode: The Three Students

I Was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews
Tonight’s episode: The Sleeper

40 years ago
1973

War
International inspection teams in Vietnam were sent to the countryside to monitor the cease-fire that had come into effect six days earlier.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Major Tom (Völlig Losgelöst)--Peter Schilling (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Karen Carpenter, 32. U.S. singer. Miss Carpenter and her brother Richard were one of the most popular acts in pop music from 1970-1977, accumulating 12 U.S. top 10 hit singles. Three hit #1: (They Long to Be) Close to You; Top of the World; and Please Mr. Postman. Five more hit the #2 position: We've Only Just Begun; Rainy Days and Monday; Superstar; Hurting Each Other; and Yesterday Once More. Their last hit was a remake of Beechwood 4-5789 in the spring of 1982. Karen died after a long battle with anorexia nervosa, and remains the most famous person to have succumbed to the condition.

Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President George Bush continued his western European tour with a stop in Geneva, Switzerland, where he met with Soviet delegates to the arms reduction talks. Nothing more encouraging was reported than a frank exchange of views.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (6th week at #1)

Crime
U.S. federal grand juries in Miami and Tampa returned indictments against Panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega, accusing him of protecting and otherwise helping international drug traffickers, and allowing the laundering of drug profits through Panamanian banks. Gen. Noriega denied the charges. He and 15 others were named in the Miami indictments, which charged that he had assisted the Medellin drug cartel, which was linked to 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States.

Labour
Thousands of British seamen continued a strike after their union had called an end to the action.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): No Limit--2 Unlimited

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Benyoucef Benkhedda, 82. Leader of the Provisional Government (Premier) of Algeria, 1961-1962. Mr. Benkhedda was one of the leaders of the Algerian revolution and was leading the government when Algeria's independence from France was recognized, but he was soon pushed aside by a faction led by Ahmed Ben Bella.

World events
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was renamed the State Union of Serbia and Monenegro, and adopted a new constitution.