Hello. We have arrived at the first weekend in July!
Thanks for making us part of your day. Each Saturday morning we like to take a lighter look at some events that have paved the way to this day. It’s like a little “scroll down memory lane.” So, grab your favorite morning sippin’ drink and lets peek back before we move forward, shall we?
Today is Saturday, July 3rd, the 184th day of the year. There are 181 days until the end of the year.
On this day:
In 1863, the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania ended as the Northern troops forced Confederate soldiers to retreat.
In 1878, John Wise of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was the pilot for the first flight of a dirigible.
In 1937, Del Mar race track opened in Del Mar, California.
In 1939, “Blondie” was heard for the first time on CBS Radio.
In 1945, a passenger car rolled off the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company plant in Detroit, Michigan, for the first time in three years. Automobile production had stopped because of World War Two.
In 1953, Harry Belafonte, Janet Leigh, and Tony Curtis were featured on the cover of “Ebony” magazine. It marked the first time a black person and two whites were seen together on a magazine cover.
In 1965, animal star Trigger, Roy Rogers’ famous horse, died at the age of 33. Rogers had Trigger mounted and put on display at the Roy Rogers Museum.
In 1971, the Doors lead singer Jim Morrison died in Paris at the age of 27.
In 1986, Russian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov became a citizen of the United States.
In 1987, British millionaire Richard Branson and Swedish-born Per Lindstrand became the first hot-air balloon travelers to cross the Atlantic. The duo was forced to jump into the sea as their craft went down off the coast of Scotland.
In 1989, actor and cartoon voicist Jim Backus died at the age of 76. Backus is best remembered for his role as the Millionaire castaway Thurston Howl III on TV’s “Gilligan’s Island.” He was also the voice of the cartoon character “Mr. Magoo.”
In 2000, tap dancing legend Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers fame died on this date at the age of 76.
In 2001, country singer Johnny Russell died at the age of 61.
In 2004, seventeen-year-old Russian Maria Sharapova stunned top-seeded and two-time defending champion Serena Williams in straight sets to capture the Wimbledon women’s singles crown. Competing in her first-ever Grand Slam final, Sharapova became the second youngest Wimbledon champion after a 16-year-old Martina Hingis in 1997, and the first Russian to win a Wimbledon title.
In 2009, in an unexpected move Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced her plans to resign her post as governor. Palin was the vice presidential running mate for Arizona Senator John McCain during his unsuccessful bid for presidency in 2008. She resigned her post as governor one year before her term was scheduled to end.
In 2012, TV legend Andy Griffith died on this date at the age of 86. Griffith was best known for his work on his self-titled 1960s TV series “The Andy Griffith Show,” and the legal drama “Matlock,” which ran from 1986 to 1995.
In 2013, Egyptian leader Mohammed Morsi was deposed from power after Egypt’s army gave Morsi an ultimatum to make major political concessions or resign. Morsi rose to power through the Muslim Brotherhood, winning Egypt’s presidential election on June 30, 2012 to become the first democratically elected president of the country.
In 2018, Cardi B became the first female rapper to have two number one Billboard hits on the U.S. charts.
And that brings us here to today. So, whatever your 7.3.2021 has in store, here’s wishing you a day full of moments worthy of recording in your own personal history books.
Thanks for stopping by.
