Sights and sounds of this day in 2001, when America suffered the worst terrorist attack on its soil.

From left to right: Sir Hugh Beaver, the first Guinness World Records book, Ross and Norris McWhirter, Norris McWhirte today.

On August 27, 1955, the first edition of “The Guinness Book of Records” is published in Great Britain; it quickly proves to be a hit. Now known as the “Guinness World Records” book, the annual publication features a wide
range of feats related to humans and animals.

The inspiration for the record book can be traced to November 1951, when
Sir Hugh Beaver, managing director of the Guinness Brewery (founded in
Dublin in 1759), was on a hunting trip in Ireland. After failing to shoot a
golden plover, Beaver and the members of his hunting party debated
whether the creature was Europe’s fastest game bird but were unable
to locate a book with the answer.

Thinking that patrons of Britain’s pubs would enjoy a record book which
could be used to settle friendly disagreements, Beaver decided to have
one produced. He hired twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter, the
founders of a London-based agency that provided facts and statistics
to newspapers and advertisers.

The fastest game bird is the golden plover (below), in case you were
wondering!

SANDY KOZEL

Retired Scottish actor Sir Thomas Sean Connery
is 89 today.

James Bond: 1962-1969 and 1983

1989

On August 24, 1981, Mark David Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to
life for the murder of John Lennon, a founding member of The Beatles.

On December 8, 1980, Chapman shot and killed the 40-year-old singer,
songwriter, outside Lennon’s New York City apartment building, the
Dakota, where he lived with his wife Yoko Ono and their young son
Sean.

John Lennon signs an autograph for Mark Chapman (right) – his murderer. December 8, 1980.

Mark David Chapman turned 64 in May.

Chapman’s requests for parole have all been
denied and he continues to serve time in a 
New York prison.

Retired singer Kenneth Ray Rogers is 81 today.

Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, sometimes billed as The First Edition, was an eclectic rock band whose styles ranged from rock
and roll to R&B, folk, and country.

Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers