Bottom of the News… Friday, April 23, 2010

Good morning my fellow Rotarians. This morning I’d like to share with you events from this week in history as the bottom of our news…

On April 22, 1915… During WW I, for the first time, German forces shocked allied soldiers by using lethal chlorine gas as a weapon and it initially devastated the Allied line. Within a year the allies developed their own chemicals and more importantly, the French invented the first gas masks.

This week in 1918… The young 10-year old General Motors (GM) became the world's largest auto firm by acquiring Chevrolet Motor Company. GM founder Billy Durant, a carriage maker, grew GM rapidly through acquisitions of Buick Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Oakland Motor. By 1921 with GM struggling financially, GM was bought out by the DuPont family.

In 1945… Adolf Hitler finally admits the war is lost and that suicide would be his only recourse. A week later Italian dictator Bnito Mussolini was shot by his own fellow Italians as he attempted to flee the country to Switzerland.

In 1954… Senator Joseph McCarthy began hearings investigating the US Army for being ‘soft’ on communism. For the first time, senate hearings were televised and McCarthy spent most of that year attacking many groups accusing them for harboring communists. By December the Senate censored McCarthy and very quickly he became a hopeless alcoholic; three years later he died.

April 1968… In typical ‘60’s fashion a social controversial musical premiered on Broadway. The New York Times call it a “cultural upheaval” and a "tribal love-rock musical.” It was HAIR and they took the country by storm with their musical and the ‘60’s era-defining song "The Age of Aquarius."

This week 1972… J. Edgar Hoover dies after serving nearly 50 years as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Hoover was credited as the driving force in building and shaping the FBI to become one of the most powerful government agencies on the planet.

April 22, 1986… Boston Red Sox pitcher, Roger Clemens, becomes the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game. The game was against Seattle at Fenway Park. Ten years later, Clemens repeats the feat, the only player in baseball history to do that twice.

This week 2004… Pat Tillman, former NFL player, was killed by friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan. Tillman had decided in May of 2002 to give up his pro football career to enlist in the U.S. Army. He decided to fight for his country after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Tillman was 27. Yes, the good sometimes do die young, but I thank God every day for thousands of men and women like Pat Tillman who volunteer to defend and protect our country.

And there you have it, events this week in history, our News for this Friday, April 23, 2010. ###