Today in History for 31st May 2024

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1919 - Indianapolis 500: Howdy Wilcox accompanied by riding mechanic Leo Banks win; driver Arthur Thurman dies in a crash on lap 45; lap 96, Louis LeCocq and riding mechanic Robert Bandini wrecked in turn 2, both burned to death
1975 - Larry Grossman and Hal Hackady's historical musical comedy "Goodtime Charley", based on King Charles VII of France, and starring Joel Grey, closes at Palace Theater, NYC, after 104 performances
1990 - BPAA US Women's Bowling Open won by Dana Miller-Mackie
2008 - Super Rugby Final, Christchurch: Canterbury Crusaders claim their 7th title with a 20-12 win over NSW Waratahs; Dan Carter kicks 4 penalties and a dropped goal for the home team
2021 - Peru says its COVID-19 death toll is three times higher than its official count (180,764 vs 68,000), making it one of the hardest hit countries per capita
2023 - Latvia elects its Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as President - first openly gay leader of a Baltic state

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Famous Birthdays

1838 - Henry Sidgwick, English philosopher (Wife at University), born in Skipton, Yorkshire, England (d. 1900)
1900 - Helma Wolf-Catz, Dutch author (Undercurrent, Coral Reef) (d. 1979)
1914 - Akira Ifukube, Japanese composer, best known for his film scores in the Godzilla films, born in Kushiro Hokkaido, Japan (d. 2006)
1950 - Edward Barker, English cartoonist, born in Birmingham, England
1955 - Tommy Emmanuel, Australian-American acoustic guitarist (Stevie's Blues), born in Muswellbrook, New South Wales
1990 - Erik Karlsson, Swedish ice hockey player (NHL - San Jose Sharks)), born in Landsbro, Sweden

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Famous Deaths

1957 - John Kilbane, American featherweight boxer and World Featherweight Champion (1912-23), dies at 68
1993 - Spuds Mackenzie [real name Honey Tree Evil Eye "Evie"], American advertisement dog for Bud Light beer, dies at 9
1993 - John Granger, American actor (Advise and Consent), dies at 69
1994 - Herva Nelli, Italian-born American soprano, dies at 85
2005 - Jaime Mendoza-Nava, Bolivian-American composer and conductor, dies at 79
2021 - Mike Marshall, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1974, 75; NL Cy Young Award 1974; Montreal Expos, LA Dodgers, Atlanta Braves), dies at 78

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