June 28, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, James Remnant!

150 years ago
1865

Defense
The Army of the Potomac was disbanded.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Ken Williams. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Williams was an outfielder in the major leagues from 1915-1929, spending 10 years (1918-1927) with the St. Louis Browns. His best season was 1922, when he hit .332 and led the American League in home runs (39); runs batted in (155); and total bases (367), was second in slugging average (.627), home run percentage (6.7) and stolen bases (37), and third in runs (128). From 1921-1927 Mr. Williams was near the top of the American League in home runs, home run percentage, and slugging average. In 1925 he led the AL with a slugging average of .613. Ken Williams died on January 22, 1959 at the age of 68.

120 years ago
1895

Central Americana
El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua formed the Greater Republic of Central America.

Law
The U.S. Court of Private Land Claims rules James Reavis' claim to Barony of Arizona was "wholly fictitious and fraudulent."

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Honeyboy Edwards. U.S. musician. David Edwards was a Delta blues singer-songwriter and guitarist who performed and recorded on his own and with artists such as Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, and Johnny Shines in a career spanning eight decades, and was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. He died of congestive heart failure at his home in Chicago on August 29, 2011 at the age of 96, six weeks after announcing his retirement, and hours before he was scheduled to give a performance. 80 years ago
1935

Golf
Alf Perry won the British Open at Muirfield in Scotland with a 5-uner-par score of 283, 4 strokes ahead of Alf Padgham. First prize money was £100.

75 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Italo Balbo, 44. Italian politician. Mr. Balbo was a Fascist leader who served as Marshal of the Air Force in the regime of Duce Benito Mussolini, and was Governor General of Libya from 1933-1940. He was killed by friendly fire while attempting to land at Tobruk, Libya.

War
The Japanese military mission arrived in Indochina and demanded the right to supply Japanese forces in China by way of the French railroad. French General Eugene Mittelhauser ordered cessation of hostilities by troops under his command in Syria.

World events
Romania ceded Bessarabia (current-day Moldova) to the U.S.S.R. after facing an ultimatum. Soviet troops marched into the areas to occupy them.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom officially recognized General Charles de Gaulle as "leader of all free Frenchmen, wherever they may be."

The Japanese government demanded that the Netherlands East Indies permit an increased Japanese economic role.

Politics and government
The Republican National Convention at Philadelphia Convention Hall nominated New York lawyer Wendell Willkie as the Republican Party's candidate for President of the United States in the November 1940 election. Mr. Willkie was nominated at 1 A.M. on the sixth ballot, taking 654 votes to 318 for U.S. Senator Robert Taft (Ohio). That night, the convention's closing session nominated U.S. Senator Charles McNary (Oregon) on the first ballot as Mr. Willkie's vice presidential running mate.





Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making it a crime to encourage insubordination or disloyalty among the military, or to distribute literature toward that end.

Economics and finance
The New York Federal Reserve Bank established a Foreign Property Control division to scrutinize the volume of securities pouring into the United States from Europe.

70 years ago
1945

War
U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur announced the liberation of the Philippine island of Luzon at 6:30 A.M., 5 months and 19 days after the beginning of its invasion by U.S. forces.

Politics and government
Poland's Soviet-allied Provisional Government of National Unity was formed.

The United States War Department designated General Mark Clark as head of the U.S. forces that would occupy Austria.

Protest
A day-long strike of students was reported in Argentina.

Energy
The U.S. Office of Scientific and Research Development was established by executive order to direct the development of atomic energy.

Communications
American Telephone & Telegraph announced plans to install a mobile radio-telephone system in motor vehicles and principal cities which would enable citizens to have two-way communications similar to walkie-talkies.

Economics and finance
U.S. War Manpower Commission Commissioner Paul McNutt estimated that employment in munitions plants had declined by 600,000 between March 15-June 1945 and that unemployment in the industry would increase to 1,800,000 by June 1946.

60 years ago
1955

At the movies
Not as a Stranger, produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, and starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Gloria Grahame, and Broderick Crawford, opened in theatres.



50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son--France Gall (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Crying In The Chapel--Elvis Presley

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 L-O-N-E-L-Y--Bobby Vinton
2 A Walk in the Black Forest--Horst Jankowski and his Orchestra
3 Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte--Patti Page
4 Wonderful World--Herman's Hermits
5 What Do You Want with Me--Chad & Jeremy
6 Voodoo Woman--Bobby Goldsboro
7 Bring it on Home to Me--The Animals
8 Cara, Mia--Jay & the Americans
9 Tossin' and Turnin'--The Guess Who
10 Catch the Wind--Donovan

Singles entering the chart were Yes, I'm Ready by Barbara Mason (#36); What's New Pussycat? by Tom Jones (#37); Marie by the Bachelors (#38); Set Me Free by the Kinks (#39); and Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows by Lesley Gore (#40).

Died on this date
Red Nichols, 60. U.S. bandleader. Ernest Loring Nichols was a cornetist who recorded prolifically in the 1920s and '30s with his band Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, as well as recording under other names. He was leading a revived version of the Five Pennies in an engagement at the Mint Hotel in Las Vegas when he died of a heart attack in his hotel room.

Music
The album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) by the Beach Boys was released on Capitol Records.

The Beatles continued their European tour with two shows at Teatro Adriano in Rome.

Politics and government
Gyula Kallai took office as Prime Minister in Hungary, but Janos Kadar still led the Hungarian Communist Party.

Communications
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson called European capitals to inaugurate intercontinental telephone service via the "Early Bird" communications satellite.

Transportation
Ontario Premier John Robarts opened the Trans-Canada Highway from Fort Frances east to Atikokan.

Boxing
Former U.S. Olympic trials heavyweight champion Buster Mathis (1-0) made his professional debut, scoring a technical knockout of Bob Maynard (1-3) in the 2nd round of their scheduled 6-round bout at Paul Sauve Arena in Montreal.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Tornerò--I Santo California

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): If You Go--Barry & Eileen

#1 single in the U.K.: I'm Not in Love--10 C.C.

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Love Will Keep Us Together--The Captain & Tennille (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Love Will Keep Us Together--The Captain & Tennille
2 Wildfire--Michael Murphey
3 Love Won't Let Me Wait--Major Harris
4 When Will I Be Loved--Linda Ronstadt
5 I'm Not Lisa--Jessi Colter
6 Listen to What the Man Said--Wings
7 The Hustle--Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony
8 Thank God I'm a Country Boy--John Denver
9 Magic--Pilot
10 Only Women--Alice Cooper

Singles entering the chart were Oh Me, Oh My (Dreams in My Arms) by Al Green (#77); Bluebird by Helen Reddy (#78); Send in the Clowns by Judy Collins (#82); Touch the Hand by Conway Twitty (#85); 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle) by the Gary Toms Empire (#91); How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved by You) by James Taylor (#92); Get Down Tonight by K.C. and the Sunshine Band (#93); Third Rate Romance by Amazing Rhythm Aces (#95); Fame by David Bowie (#97); Chocolate City by Parliament (#99); and Rendezvous by the Hudson Brothers (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Wildfire--Michael Murphey
2 Love Will Keep Us Together--The Captain & Tennille
3 Hey You--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
4 Only Women--Alice Cooper
5 I'm Not Lisa--Jessi Colter
6 Old Days--Chicago
7 When Will I Be Loved--Linda Ronstadt
8 The Hustle--Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony
9 The Last Farewell--Roger Whittaker
10 Listen to What the Man Said--Wings

Singles entering the chart were Sexy by MFSB (#82); Disco Queen by Hot Chocolate (#86); Just a Little Bit of You by Michael Jackson (#88); Everytime I Touch You by Charlie Rich (#89); I've Been Hurt (So Many Times) by Carla Whitney (#92); Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith (#93); At Seventeen by Janis Ian (#94); You Make Me Want to Be by Dan Hill (#95); Feelin' That Glow by Roberta Flack (#96); Morning Beautiful by Tony Orlando and Dawn (#97); Mary Ann by Andy Kim (#98); Do it in the Name of Love by Ben E. King (#99); and Look at Me by the Moments (#100).

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CKRC)
1 Sister Golden Hair--America (5th week at #1)
2 Magic--Pilot
3 Love Will Keep Us Together--The Captain & Tennille
4 Thank God I'm a Country Boy--John Denver
5 Hey You--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
6 Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)--The Doobie Brothers
7 When Will I Be Loved--Linda Ronstadt
8 Listen to What the Man Said--Wings
9 Bad Time--Grand Funk
10 Wildfire--Michael Murphey
11 Only Women--Alice Cooper
12 Old Days--Chicago
13 Hit the Road Jack--Stampeders
14 I'm Not in Love--10 C.C.
15 Pinball Wizard--Elton John (LP track)
16 I Don't Like to Sleep Alone--Paul Anka
17 It's All Down to Goodnight Vienna--Ringo Starr
18 Killer Queen--Queen
19 Midnight Blue--Melissa Manchester
20 How Long--Ace
21 Love Won't Let Me Wait--Major Harris
22 I'm on Fire--Dwight Twilley Band
23 One of These Nights--The Eagles
24 The Hustle--Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony
25 Jackie Blue--The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
26 Black Friday--Steely Dan
27 I'm Not Lisa--Jessi Colter
28 I Know What You Need--A Foot in Coldwater
29 Please Mr. Please--Olivia Newton-John
30 Shining Star--Earth, Wind & Fire

Died on this date
Rod Serling, 50. U.S. writer. Mr. Serling was one of the most famous writers during the "Golden Age" of television in the 1950s. He was best known as the host and principal writer of the series The Twilight Zone (1959-1964), for which he won two of his six Emmy Awards. He won an Emmy for Requiem for a Heavyweight (1956), one of the best dramas in television history. Mr. Serling's last notable role was as host and sometime writer on Rod Serling's Night Gallery (1970-1973). He died of a heart attack.

Serge Reding, 33. Belgian weightlifter. Mr. Reding won the silver medal in the +90 kilogram class at the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, and silver medals in three world championships from 1969-1974. He died of a heart attack in Manila.

Music
Tim Buckley concluded a tour with a concert in Dallas before a sellout crowd of 1,800.

Baseball
Tony Conigliaro hit a home run in his first at bat with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League after being demoted from the Boston Red Sox.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): 19--Paul Hardcastle (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Live is Life--Opus (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Herb Schumm, 42. Canadian football player. Mr. Schumm was a guard with the Edmonton Eskimos (1963-1965) and Calgary Stampeders (1966-1973). He played in the Grey Cup games of 1968, 1970, and 1971, playing on the winning side in 1971. Mr. Schumm scored the only point of his CFL career on September 3, 1973, when he concluded a punting exchange on the last play of the Labour Day game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by punting the ball 40 yards into the end zone to give the Stampeders a 25-24 win. He was the younger brother of Howie Schumm, a linebacker with the Eskimos (1959-1972) and Stampeders (1969). Herb Schumm died in Calgary of an undisclosed illness.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Montreal (4-0) 9 @ Toronto (2-2) 8
British Columbia (3-1) 21 @ Saskatchewan (2-2) 3
Edmonton (1-3) 34 @ Calgary (2-2) 33

Chris Woods caught 3 touchdown passes for the Eskimos as they edged the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium, and his last one, late in the game, gave the Eskimos their first pre-season win in two years.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Put 'Em Under Pressure--The Republic of Ireland Football Squad (5th week at #1)

Abominations
Michel Legere, Mayor of Hull, Quebec, said that a visit from Queen Elizabeth II was not appropriate so soon after the collapse of the Meech Lake constitutional accord: "We don’t want her here, but it’s nothing personal. When the Queen visits, she represents Canada, and she represents the refusal of the distinct society."

Health
Canadian Health Minister Perrin Beatty announced a $112-million national AIDS strategy, to stop transmission, search for a cure, and treat sufferers. It also included a national registry, an AIDS secretariat, and education programs.

Scandal
The prosecution presented its key piece of evidence at the trial of Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry--a videotape apparently showing Mr. Barry smoking crack in a room at the Vista International Hotel in Washington. The defense contended that the tape supported the entrapment defense.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (0-1) 19 @ Toronto (1-0) 60
Edmonton (0-1) 23 @ British Columbia (1-0) 24

20 years ago
1995

Education
This blogger was at Eastwood Junior High School in Edmonton representing the northern Alberta branch of the Monarchist League of Canada, presenting the Monarchist League Award of $25 to the "Year 8 student who has demonstrated significant academic improvements, excellent citizenship and is involved in school activities." This year's winner was Donald Whiskeyjack.

Scandal
Webster Hubbell, a close friend of U.S. President Bill Clinton and former associate attorney general in the U.S. Justice Department, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax evasion and mail fraud, and ordered to pay $135,000 in restitution. Documents submitted at the sentencing hearing showed that Mr. Hubbell had defrauded the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Arkansas and 15 of its clients of $482,410 and had failed to pay $143,747 in taxes on the embezzled money.

Economics and finance
Hours before 100% tariffs on imports of Japanese luxury cars to the United States were to go into effect, the two countries reached an agreement whereby the major Japanese auto manufacturers announced that they would buy more parts from the U.S. and other countries and increase production at U.S. plants in return for the U.S. dropping its plan to impose the tariffs. The Japanese auto firms agreed to import $6 billion in parts within two years. The Japanese government said that it would make it easier for U.S. manufacturers of auto parts to sell replacement parts in Japanese repair shops, and it endorsed an increase in the number of Japanese dealerships that would sell American cars.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (0-1) 15 @ Ottawa (1-0) 25

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Michael P. Murphy, 29. U.S. military officer. Lieutenant Murphy was a U.S. Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan. He, along with fellow SEALs Danny Dietz and Matthew Axelson, were killed while fighting Taliban forces, and 16 U.S. Special Operations Forces soldiers were killed when their helicopter was shot down while trying to rescue them.