Frank Perdue(transformed a backyard egg business into one of the nation’s largest poultry processors, Perdue Farms)–
Terri Schiavo(died after a national controversy about the legality of terminating her medical life-support system)–
Bob Clarke(illustrator)–
Events
Abigail Adams wrote her husband, John, at the second Continental Congress about the proposed Declaration of Independence, Remember the ladies and be more favorable and generous to them than your ancestors. –
President Van Buren issued executive order establishing 10-hour workday for federal employees –
Commodore Matthew C. Perry signed Treaty of Kanagawa of friendship and trade with Japan –
Wabash, Indiana, became first incorporated community to be completely illuminated by electricity –
The Eiffel Tower was dedicated in Paris, France –
United States took formal possession of Virgin Islands from Denmark –
Daylight Saving Time, greeted by opposition from farmers, went into effect for first time –
First dance marathon held in U.S. –
Longview Bridge (Lewis and Clark Bridge) opened in Washington/Oregon –
Act creating Civilian Conservation Corps for unemployed young men signed by President FDR –
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma opened on Broadway –
Newfoundland joined Canadian Federation as the tenth province –
The Dalai Lama fleeing Chinese occupation of Tibet, was given political asylum by India –
NATO Supreme Military Headquarters formally opened in Casteau, Belgium –
In a television speech, President Lyndon Johnson announced he would neither seek nor accept nomination for another term –
Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, Slaughterhouse Five, published –
The first U.S. satellite, Explorer I, returned to the earth’s atmosphere more than 12 years after its launch –
U.S. Army jury sentenced Lt. William Calley to life imprisonment for murder of S. Vietnamese civilians at My Lai in 1968 –
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the mechanical life sustaining system could be removed from Karen Ann Quinlan –
Team owners and the National Basketball Players Association agreed on a four-year labor contract which introduced revenue sharing for players for the first time in professional sports –
New Jersey judge Harvey R. Sorkow awarded custody of Baby M” to William and Elizabeth Stern and ruled that the surrogate parents’ contracts were constitutionally protected” –
Crayola announced that the color dandelion would be retired from its 24-crayon pack to be replaced by a color in the blue family –
Weather
March 30-31: St. Louis, Missouri, got 20.4 inches of snow in 24 hours –
The temperature reached 108 degrees F, Rio Grande City, Texas –
