ROSS SIMPSON

The Spanish Civil War began on this day in 1936 as Gen. Francisco Franco (below) led an uprising of army troops based in Spanish
North Africa.

It was on this day in 1969.

Senator Ted Kennedy wearing a neck brace following the accident.

Senator Ted Kennedy ran his car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island,
killing his passenger Mary Jo Kopechne. He swam free, leaving the scene,
and did not report the accident to the police for ten hours.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013)

South African revolutionary and politician who radically changed the
conditions of the Apartheid state of South Africa by addressing
institutionalized racism and inequality. He served 27 years in prison
and, upon his release in 1994, he became South Africa’s first black
chief executive, an office he served for five years.

Seven year old Ricky Skaggs on television in 1961.

Country and bluegrass singer Rickie Lee Skaggs is 64 today.

Ricky Skaggs was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this 
year. He has achieved 12 #1 hits, 8 CMA awards, and 8 ACM awards. In
1982, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the youngest to ever
be inducted at that time.

MIKE GRACIA

On this day in 1971, United States President Nixon announced he
would visit the People’s Republic of China to seek a "normalization
of relations."

President Nixon (left) shakes hands with Premier Chou En-lai of the People’s Republic of China.

Fashion Designer Gianni Versace was slain on this day in 1997.       

    
    
    
   

The suspect in the murder of Versace.

Blood on the steps of Gianni Versace’s Ocean Drive mansion in
Miami Beach.

In Seattle, WA, on this day in 1916, Pacific Aero Products was
incorporated by William Boeing. The aviation giant was later 
renamed Boeing Co.         

Famous Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn was born on this
day in 1606.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

American singer-actor Rick Springfield performs before a large
crowd at the Live Aid famine relief concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on this day in 1985.

Live Aid concert crowds at Wembley Stadium in London.

Jean-Paul Marat, a famous French revolutionary and member of the
Club des Cordeliers, was assassinated by the Girondin sympathizer Charlotte Corday on this day in 1793.

Jean-Paul Marat
(May 24, 1743 – July 13, 1793)

In New York, Civil War draft riots erupted on this day in 1863.

It was on this in 1977 when a power blackout hit the Big Apple.

Actor Harrison Ford is 76 years old today.

Iconic actor Harrison Ford’s memorable characters include Han Solo from
the original Star Wars trilogy from 1977, Indiana Jones trilogy beginning
in 1981, and Rick Deckard from the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner. He
earned Golden Globe Award nominations for his roles in Witness (1985),
The Mosquito Coast (1986), The Fugitive (1993) and Sabrina (1995). He
was ranked #1 on Empire’s 1997 list of the Top 100 Movie Stars of All
Time.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar (July 12, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC)

On this day in 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F.
Mondale named U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be
his running mate. Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice
president on a major party ticket.

Russian republic president Boris N. Yeltsin (above) announced
his resignation from the the Soviet Communist Party on this day
in 1990.

George Eastman (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932)

George Eastman was an American entrepreneur who
founded the Eastman Kodak Company and popularized
the use of roll film, helping to bring photography to the
mainstream.

George Eastman taking pictures with his Kodak
camera, 1926.

Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II 
(July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960)

Oscar Hammerstein was an American music writer,
theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) theatre
director of musicals for almost forty years. He won
eight Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for
Best Original Song.

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1940, the 114-day Battle of Britain began during World
War II.

The Telstar Communications satellite was launched on this day
in 1962. It relayed TV and telephone signals between Europe and
the U.S.

Millard Fillmore (January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874)

Following Zachary Taylor’s death, Millard Fillmore (above)
became the 13th President of the United States on this day
in 1850. He was the last member of the Whig Party to hold
the office of president.

Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850)

The identity and source of Taylor’s illness are the subject
of historical speculation, although it is known that Taylor
and several of his cabinet members had come down with
similar intestinal ailments on July 4, 1850, while attending
holiday celebrations during a fund-raising event.

Shamil Salmanovich Basayev
(January 14, 1965 – July 10, 2006) 

Basayev was a Chechen militant Islamist and
a leader of the Chechen movement.

He was killed by an explosion on July 10,
2006.  Controversy still surrounds who was
responsible for his death.

Folk singer/songwriter Arlo Davy Guthrie is 71 years older today.

Like his father, Woody Guthrie, he is known for singing songs of protest
against social injustice, and storytelling around a song.

Voice actor/comedian Melvin Jerome Blanc
(May 30, 1908 – July 10, 1989)

Having earned the nickname The Man of a Thousand Voices, Blanc is
regarded as one of the most influential people in the voice acting
industry.

Mel Blanc died of advanced coronary artery disease on this day in
1989 at Cedars-Sinai, at the age of 81.

Mel Blanc at the KGW radio studio in Portland,
Oregon, circa 1948.