May 15

Scott Winters May 15, 2025 1 Comment

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:

1862 – The U.S. Congress created the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

1905 – Las Vegas, NV, was founded when 110 acres, in what would later become downtown, were auctioned off.

1911 – The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil Company, ruling it was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

1912 – Ty Cobb, of the Detroit Tigers, rushed a heckler during a game and was suspended indefinitely.

1918 – Regular airmail service between New York (NY), Philadelphia (PA), and Washington, DC, began under the direction of the Post Office Department, which later became the U.S. Postal Service.

1926 – Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth were forced down in Alaska after a four-day flight over an icecap. Ice had begun to form on the dirigible Norge.

1926 – The New York Rangers were officially granted a franchise in the NHL. The NHL also announced that Chicago and Detroit would be joining the league in November.

1928 – Walt Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse premiered in their first cartoon, “Plane Crazy”.

1930 – Ellen Church became the first female flight attendant, flying from San Francisco, CA to Cheyenne, WY on a United Airlines flight.

1940 – McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in San Bernardino, CA.

1940 – Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the U.S.

1941 – Joe DiMaggio began his historic major league baseball hitting streak of 56 games.

1942 – Gasoline rationing began in the United States. The limit was 3 gallons a week for nonessential vehicles.

1951 – AT&T became the first corporation to have one million stockholders.

1953 – Cubmaster Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, in Manhattan Beach, CA.

1957 – Elvis Presley inhaled a cap that was on one of his teeth. He had to be taken to a Los Angeles, CA, hospital to have it removed from his lung.

1958 – Sputnik III, the first space laboratory, was launched in the Soviet Union.

1963 – The final Mercury mission, Mercury-Atlas 9, with astronaut L. Gordon Cooper on board, was launched. He became the first American to spend more than a day in space and orbited the Earth 22 times in the Mercury spacecraft named Faith 7.

1970 – President Richard Nixon appointed Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington as America’s first two female generals.

1972 – Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace was shot and paralyzed by Arthur Bremer in Laurel, MD, while campaigning for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

1980 – The first transcontinental balloon crossing of the United States took place.

1981 – Canadian TV’s “SCTV” debuted on NBC’s Friday late night schedule as “SCTV 90”.

1990 – Vincent Van Gogh’s “Portrait of Doctor Gachet” was sold for $82.5 million. The sale set a new world record.

1991 – President George Bush took Queen Elizabeth II to a baseball game played by the Oakland A’s and the Baltimore Orioles.

1997 – The Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off on a mission to deliver urgently needed repair equipment and a fresh American astronaut to Russia’s orbiting Mir station.

1998 – Sonny and Cher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2010 – Jessica Watson became the youngest person (at the age of 16) to sail, non-stop and unassisted around the world solo.

2014 – The National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated in New York, NY.

2020 – The White House introduced Operation Warp Speed to accelerate vaccine development for COVID-19.

BIRTHDAYS:

Jasper Johns – 95 years old (1930) – Artist

Wavy Gravy – 89 years old (1936) – Entertainer, peace activist

Lainie Kazan – 85 years old (1940) – Actress (“My Favorite Year”, “The Delta Force”, “Harry and the Hendersons”, “Beaches”, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”)

Graeham Goble – 78 years old (1947) – Singer (Little River Band)

Brian Eno – 77 years old (1948) – Musician (Roxy Music)

Chazz Palminteri – 73 years old (1952) – Actor (“Analyze This”, “The Usual Suspects”, “A Bronx Tale”, “Mulholland Falls”)

George Brett – 72 years old (1953) – Baseball player

Mike Oldfield – 72 years old (1953) – Musician, composer (“Tubular Bells”)

Lee Horsley – 70 years old (1955) – Actor (TV’s “Matt Houston”)

Dan Patrick – 69 years old (1956) – Former ESPN Sports Center anchor, syndicated radio program host

Giselle Fernández – 64 years old (1961) – TV host (TV’s “Access Hollywood”, “Weekend Today”, “CBS Morning News”, “Dancing With the Stars”)

Emmitt Smith – 56 years old (1969) – Football player (TV’s Season 3 of “Dancing With The Stars”, “All-Stars” season 15)

Desmond Howard – 55 years old (1970) – Football player (Detroit Lions 1999-2002), ESPN college football analyst.

David Charvet – 53 years old (1972) – Singer, actor (TV’s “Baywatch”, “Melrose Place”)

Ahmet Zappa – 51 years old (1974) – Musician

Amy Chow – 47 years old (1978) – Olympic gymnast

David Krumholtz – 47 years old (1978) – Actor (TV’s “Numb3rs”, movies “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”,”Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”, “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas”)

Jamie-Lynn Sigler – 44 years old (1981) – Actress (TV’s “The Sopranos”, “Entourage”)

TODAY IS:

National Chocolate Chip Day: Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip cookie dough pops…the possibilities are endless for tasty, irresistible treats on National Chocolate Chip Day.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Join an event or webinar, and engage in the discussion of how to make the internet more accessible to all, including a wide range of disabilities and limitations.
National Notebook Day: Open up a notebook and get writing. Jot down your to-do list, journal your thoughts, make lists or even try some creative writing with good old pen and paper.
Bring Flowers To Someone Day: Send a bouquet to someone (or someones) you care about, or go out and gather some wildflowers to show your affection on Bring Flowers to Someone Day.
National Straw Hat Day: Straw Hat Day is dedicated to celebrating straw hats' versatility and timeless appeal. It's a fun way to welcome warmer weather while acknowledging the hat's long history as both a practical item for sun protection and a fashion statement! How to Celebrate Straw Hat Day Celebrating Straw Hat Day is an...
National Nylon Stocking Day: Functional and classy, the nylon stocking is an outfit-completing accessory that has declined in popularity. Help bring it back, and feel classy and attractive.
International Conscientious Objectors Day: Not everyone agrees to pick up a weapon. Some people say no, not out of fear, but because their hearts won’t let them fight. International Conscientious Objectors Day honors those who follow their conscience, even when it costs them their freedom. These are the folks who step away from war, who...
International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day: Understand the origins of vascular birthmarks, and help get rid of any stigma and misunderstandings that have to do with these very common birthmarks.
National Aperitif Day: An aperitif is a light drink enjoyed before dinner. National Aperitif Day celebrates the habit of slowing down and easing into the evening. These drinks are usually dry, slightly bitter, or infused with herbs. Served with small bites, they wake up your taste buds without filling you up. Whether it’s...
HG Awareness Day: Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a severe pregnancy condition marked by relentless nausea and vomiting. Unlike typical morning sickness, HG can lead to significant weight loss, dehydration, and malnutrition, often requiring hospitalization. This condition affects approximately 1% of pregnancies and can have serious implications for both mother and baby. HG Awareness Day...
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day: Scams don’t always come with warning signs. One click, one call, and suddenly someone’s life savings disappear. National Senior Fraud Awareness Day shines a light on these silent attacks. It calls attention to the tricks, traps, and tactics that target older adults. These schemes are clever, sneaky, and often heartbreaking...
MPS Awareness Day: Mucopolysaccharidosis, or MPS, is a group of rare genetic disorders. These conditions prevent the body from breaking down certain complex sugars. As a result, these sugars build up in cells, causing damage over time. The effects can vary but often include developmental delays, organ issues, and physical changes. MPS Awareness...
TSC Global Awareness Day: A small patch on the skin. A seizure out of nowhere. A child not meeting milestones. At first, nothing seems connected. But for those with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, these scattered signs point to one silent force. TSC is a rare genetic condition that causes tumors to grow in organs like...
National Safety Dose Day: National Safety Dose Day focuses on the safe use of prescription medications, particularly opioids. It highlights the risks of misuse, such as addiction and overdose, and encourages individuals to follow medical guidance strictly. The day serves as a reminder to consult healthcare providers before making any changes to medication regimens...
International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day: International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day focuses on the power of skin-to-skin contact between parents and newborns. Holding a baby against bare skin helps regulate body temperature, breathing, and heart rate while also promoting weight gain. This gentle touch calms tiny bodies and strengthens emotional bonds. Parents feel more connected, gaining...
International Day of Families: Get ready for a love-filled adventure with family! Spend time with your nearest and dearest, create memories, and make the most of life's precious moments.
Peace Officers Memorial Day: Honoring those who stood unwavering in the face of challenge, dedicating themselves to the safety of communities.
Bike to Work Week: Bike to Work Week is a special time celebrated each year across the United States. This event encourages people to ride their bikes to work or anywhere else they need to go as part of a larger movement to promote cycling and its benefits. How to Celebrate Bike to Work Week Embracing...
Be Nice to Nettles Week: Be Nice to Nettles Week is a vibrant annual event that shines a spotlight on the humble nettle plant. Celebrated in mid-May, this period encourages us to appreciate the ecological and health benefits of nettles. How to Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week Here are five quirky and playful ways to dive...
Learning at Work Week: Learning at Work Week is a special time dedicated to boosting learning culture within the workplace. Celebrated annually, this initiative encourages all types of organizations to engage in activities that foster learning among their teams. The goal is to make learning an integral part of working life, benefiting individual growth and...
Christian Aid Week: Christian Aid Week is an important time that provides urgent humanitarian relief to the less fortunate and urges long-term programs to help. It calls out the plight of the suffering, giving immediate aid. But it does more; it stands up for the rights of - and demands justice for -...
Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...
National Hospital Week: Whether performing a small elective procedure or treating a life-threatening illness, hospitals are critical places that make a huge difference in the health of individuals, families and communities across the nation. National Hospital Week is here to celebrate and show appreciation for all of the different people who are integral...
National Public Gardens Week: National Public Gardens Week shines a spotlight on the incredible beauty and significance of public gardens. Held each year in early May, it's a week-long celebration designed to highlight the vital role these gardens play in our communities. From fragrant flower displays to serene landscapes, they offer more than just...
M.E. Awareness Week: M.E. Awareness Week, celebrated annually, highlights the struggles of people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). The week encourages empathy for those affected and serves as a time for people to learn more about this condition. The campaign is organized by various charities, patient groups, and healthcare professionals working together to increase...
National Salvation Army Week: Supporting those in need, providing hope, and creating positive change—efforts that embody the essence of humanitarian assistance.
I Love My State Parks Week: The United States defines up to 10,000 different areas as state parks. State parks protect more than 14 million acres of landscape, ranging from coastal beaches to forests, sandy deserts to swampland. In addition, state parks provide local residents with opportunities for recreation, access to clean and safe green spaces...