Rancho High School Alumni Association

World Events

Biafra surrenders after 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria (Jan. 12).
Rhodesia severs last tie with British Crown and declares itself a racially segregated republic (March 1).
US troops invade Cambodia (May 1). Background: Vietnam War
A Palestinian revolt erupts in Jordan. Forces loyal to King Hussein suppress the revolt and expel the PLO from the country.
Earthquake kills more than 50,000 in Peru (May 31).
Egyptian President Nasser dies and is replaced by Anwar el-Sadat.
Tonga (June 4) and Fiji (Oct. 10) gain independence from Britain.

U.S. Events

Kent State University in Ohio slain by National Guardsmen at demonstration protesting incursion into Cambodia (May 4).
Senate repeals Gulf of Tonkin resolution (June 24).

Economics

US GDP (1998 dollars):   $1,035.60 billion
Federal spending:   $195.65 billion
Federal debt:   $380.9 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars):  $8,734
Consumer Price Index:   38.8
Unemployment:   3.5%
Cost of a first-class stamp:   $0.06

Sports

Super Bowl
Kansas City d. Minnesota (23-7)

World Series
Baltimore d. Cincinnati (4-1)

NBA Championship
New York d. LA Lakers (4-3)

Stanley Cup
Boston d. St. Louis (4-0)

Wimbledon
Women: Margaret Court d. B.J. King (14-12 11-9)
Men: John Newcombe d. K. Rosewall (5-7 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1)

Kentucky Derby Champion
Dust Commander

NCAA Basketball Championship
UCLA d. Jacksonville (80-69)

NCAA Football Champions
Nebraska (AP, FW) (11-0-1); Texas (UPI, NFF-tie), (10-1-0) & Ohio St. (NFF-tie), (9-1-0)

World Cup
Brazil d. Italy (4-1)

Entertainment

Events

The Beatles break up. By the end of the year, each member had released a solo album.
George C. Scott gives one of film's most memorable performances in Patton. He won the Best Actor Oscar for his turn as the title character, but refused the gold statuette.
Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin both die drug-related deaths at age 27.
FCC regulations require separate ownership of television networks and studios.
Monday Night Football debuts on ABC, with Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, and Don Meredith giving play-by-play.

Movies

M*A*S*H, Patton, Love Story, Airport

Books

Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
John Berryman, Love and Fame
Nikki Giovanni, Black Talk/Black Judgement
Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gail Godwin, The Perfectionist

John Updike, Bech: A Book

Science

Biochemist Hamilton O. Smith (US) discovers a restriction enzyme that will allow biologist Daniel Nathans (US) to map a complete viral genome. Background: genetic engineering
IBM introduces the floppy disk. Background: Computers and Internet
Bar codes (computer-scanned binary signal code) are introduced for retail and industrial use in England.
The LCD (liquid crystal display) is invented by Hoffmann-La Roche (Switzerland).
The Food and Drug Administration warns that birth control pills may cause blood clots. Background: Birth & Contraception
Lithium is approved by the FDA for the treatment of manic-depression.

Deaths

Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin
Sonny Liston