SANDY KOZEL

The U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff on this
day in 1986. All seven of its crewmembers were killed.

President Ronald Reagan. 

Sir Francis Drake (c. 1540 – January 28, 1596) 

Sir Francis Drake was an English sea captain, slave trader, and
privateer of the Elizabethan era. Drake carried out the second
circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577
to 1580, and was the first to complete the voyage as captain
while leading the expedition throughout the entire trip. He died
of dysentery after unsuccessfully attacking San Juan, Puerto
Rico.

José Julián Martí Pérez  (January 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895)

Marti was a Cuban National Hero and an important figure in Latin
American literature. He was a poet, essayist, journalist, philosopher,
translator, professor, publisher, Freemason, and political theorist.

The Jose Marti memorial in Revolution Square at Havana, Cuba.

Vince Lombardi was named head coach of the Green Bay Packers
on this day in 1959.

Lombardi led the Packers to three straight and five total NFL Championships
in seven years, in addition to winning the first two Super Bowls at the end of
the 1966 and 1967 NFL seasons. Following his sudden death from cancer in
1970, The NFL Super Bowl trophy was named in his honor.

Vincent Thomas Lombardi (June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970)

The original Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen is the main songwriter, and founder — with brother Alex
Van Halen, singer David Lee Roth, and bassist Michael Anthony — of the 
hard rock band Van Halen. He is considered one of the best and most
influential guitarists in the history of rock music. In 2011, Rolling Stone
ranked Van Halen number eight in the list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists
and in 2012, he was voted number one in a Guitar World magazine
reader’s poll for "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

MIKE GRACIA

President Clinton with Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office.

The first European settlers in Australia, led by Captain Arthur Phillip,
landed in what became known as Sydney on this day in 1788. The
group had first settled at Botany Bay eight days before. This day is
celebrated as Australia Day.

Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964) 

Douglas MacArthur was an Army five-star general and Field
Marshal of the Philippine Army. He was Chief of Staff of the
United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent
role in the Pacific theater during World War II.

Wayne Douglas Gretzky is 57 years old today.

Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian born former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played twenty seasons in the National Hockey League
(NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "The Great One", he has
been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters, players,
and the league itself.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Phantom of the Opera" opened
at Broadway’s Majestic Theater on this day in 1988.

MIKE GRACIA

On this day in 1981, the 52 Americans held hostage by Iran for 444
days arrived in the United States and were reunited with their
families.

In Los Angeles, California on this day in 1971, cult leader Charles Manson is convicted, along with followers Susan Atkins, Leslie
Van Houten, and Patricia Krenwinkle, of the brutal 1969 murders
of actress Sharon Tate and six others.

Sharon Marie Tate Polanski (January 24, 1943 – August 9, 1969)

On this day in January 1994, Michael Jackson reached a financial settlement out of court for $23,000,000 to resolve the matter of
child sexual abuse accusations from 1993. In September 1994, 
a criminal investigation was closed.

In the U.S. on this day in 1959, American Airlines had the first
scheduled transcontinental flight of a Boeing 707.

    
    
    
    
    
  
Neil Leslie Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York.

Neil Diamond is one of the most successful recording artists in the history
of the Billboard chart. He has sold over 125 million records and is known
for hits like "Kentucky Woman," "Sweet Caroline," and "America." He
became a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and, in 2011,
he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  On January 22,
Neil Diamond announced he would be retiring from touring due to his
recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.