Rancho High School Alumni Association

World Events

British overcome Argentina in Falklands war (April 2-June 15).
Israel invades Lebanon in attack on PLO. (June 4). Background: Arab-Israeli Wars
Princess Grace, 52, dies of injuries when car plunges off mountain road; daughter Stephanie, 17, suffers serious injuries (Sept. 14).
Lebanese Christian Phalangists kill hundreds of people in two Palestinian refugee camps in West Beirut (Sept. 15).
Leonid I. Brezhnev, Soviet leader, dies at 75 (Nov. 10). Yuri V. Andropov, 68, chosen as successor (Nov. 15). Background: Rulers of Russia since 1533

U.S. Events

John W. Hinckley, Jr. found not guilty because of insanity in shooting of President Reagan (June 21).
Alexander M. Haig, Jr., resigns as Secretary of State (June 25).
Equal Rights Amendment fails ratification (June 30).

Economics

US GDP (1998 dollars):   $3,242.10 billion
Federal spending:   $745.76 billion
Federal debt:   $1137.3 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars):  $20,171
Consumer Price Index:   96.5
Unemployment:   9.7%
Cost of a first-class stamp:   $0.20

Sports

Super Bowl
San Francisco d. Cincinnati (26-21)

World Series
St. Louis Cardinals d. Milwaukee Brewers (4-3)

NBA Championship
LA Lakers d. Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)

Stanley Cup
NY Islanders d. Vancouver (4-0)

Wimbledon
Women: Martina Navratilova d. C. Evert Lloyd (6-1 3-6 6-2)
Men: Jimmy Connors d. J. McEnroe (3-6 6-3 6-7 7-6 6-4)

Kentucky Derby Champion
Gato Del Sol

NCAA Basketball Championship
North Carolina d. Georgetown (63-62)

NCAA Football Champions
Penn St. (11-1-0)

World Cup
Italy d. W. Germany (3-1)

Entertainment

Events

Michael Jackson releases Thriller, which sells more than 25 million copies, becoming the biggest-selling album in history.
John Belushi dies of a drug overdose at age 33.
Cats opens on Broadway. Becomes Broadway's longest-running play.

Movies

E.T. – the Extra-Terrestrial, Tootsie, Gandhi, The Verdict

Music

Michael Jackson, Thriller

Books

Thomas Keneally, Schindler's List
Alice Walker, The Color Purple

Science

A permanent artificial heart is implanted in a human for first time in Dr. Barney B. Clark, 61, at University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City (Dec. 2). Background: Health & Nutrition
The space shuttle Columbia makes its first mission, deploying two communications satellites (Nov. 16). Background: US Staffed Space Flights
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) diagnostic machines are introduced in Britain.
Washington University in St. Louis develops the Flavr Savr tomato, the first genetically-engineered plant approved for sale.

Deaths

John Belushi
Ingrid Bergman
Leonid Brezhnev
Grace Kelly
Satchel Paige