July 28

Scott Winters July 28, 2025 2 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1866 – The metric system was legalized by the United States Congress for the standardization of weights and measures throughout the U.S.

1866 – Beatrix Potter was born in England. In 1894, in a letter to a critically ill child, she told a story of four little rabbits: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. The story, since published in 17 languages, was inspired by her own pet rabbit, Benjamin H. Bouncer.

1868 – The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution was declared in effect. The Amendment guaranteed African American citizenship and due process of law.

1896 – The city of Miami, FL, was incorporated.

1914 – World War I officially began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

1933 – Rudy Vallee received the very first singing telegram on his 32nd birthday.

1939 – Judy Garland recorded the song “Over the Rainbow.”

1941 – The United States House of Representatives approved plans for the Pentagon.

1945 – A U.S. Army bomber crashed into the 79th floor of New York City’s Empire State Building. 14 people were killed and 26 were injured.

1951 – The Walt Disney film “Alice in Wonderland” was released.

1978 – The movie “National Lampoon’s Animal House” debuted in theaters.

1982 – San Francisco, CA, became the first city in the United States to ban handguns.

1989 – The movie “Turner and Hooch”, starring Tom Hanks, premiered in theaters.

1993 – The Mel Brooks movie, “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”, debuted in theaters.

1995 – The movie “Waterworld” premiered in theaters.

1996 – The remains of a prehistoric man were discovered near Kennewick, WA.

1996 – Dr. Jochen Heuer of Luebeck, Germany, not only performed a successful kidney transplant operation, but also provided his own kidney for the transplant.

1998 – Bell Atlantic and GTE announced $52 billion deal that created the second-largest phone company.

1998 – Monica Lewinsky received blanket immunity from prosecution to testify before a grand jury about her relationship with President Bill Clinton.

2000 – Kathie Lee Gifford made her final appearance as co-host of the ABC talk show “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.”

2002 – After spending 77 hours in a dark and flooded shaft 240 feet below ground, nine mine workers in Pennsylvania emerged in good health.

2009 – The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court.

2018 – The longest “blood moon” eclipse of the 21st century lasted 1 hour, 43 minutes.

2022 – Catastrophic floods devastated Eastern Kentucky, resulting in 45 fatalities and damage to thousands of homes and businesses.

BIRTHDAYS:

Jim Davis – 80 a old (1945) – Cartoonist (“Garfield”)

Jonathan Edwards – 79 a old (1946) – Singer (“Sunshine”)

Linda Kelsey – 79 a old (1946) – Actress (Played Billie Newman on TV’s “Lou Grant”)

Sally Struthers – 78 a old (1947) – Actress (TV’s “All in the Family”, “Gilmore Girls”, “Gloria”, “9 to 5”)

Simon Kirke – 76 a old (1949) – Drummer (Bad Company, Free)

Lori Loughlin – 61 a old (1964) – Actress (Played Rebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis on TV’s “Full House”)

Elizabeth Berkley – 53 a old (1972) – Actress (“Showgirls”, “Cover Story”, “Roger Dodger”, TV’s “Saved by the Bell”, “Dancing With the Stars: Season 17”). Born in Farmington Hills, MI.