Today in History

Today in History

Today is Sunday, June 19, the 171st day of 2016. There are 195 days left in the year. This is Father's Day.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 19, 1910, the first-ever Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington. (The idea for the observance is credited to Sonora Louise Smart Dodd.)

On this date:

In 1764, Jose Gervasio Artigas, considered the father of Uruguayan independence, was born in Montevideo.

In 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over, and that all remaining slaves in Texas were free -- an event celebrated to this day as "Juneteenth."

In 1934, the Federal Communications Commission was created; it replaced the Federal Radio Commission.

In 1944, during World War II, the two-day Battle of the Philippine Sea began, resulting in a decisive victory for the Americans over the Japanese.

In 1953, Julius Rosenberg, 35, and his wife, Ethel, 37, convicted of conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, were executed at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York.

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved by the U.S. Senate, 73-27, after surviving a lengthy filibuster.

In 1966, actor-comedian Ed Wynn, 79, died in Beverly Hills, California.

In 1972, Hurricane Agnes, blamed for at least 122 deaths, made landfall over the Florida Panhandle.

In 1975, former Chicago organized crime boss Sam Giancana was shot to death in the basement of his home in Oak Park, Illinois; the killing has never been solved.

In 1986, University of Maryland basketball star Len Bias, the first draft pick of the Boston Celtics, suffered a fatal cocaine-induced seizure. Artificial heart recipient Murray P. Haydon died in Louisville, Kentucky, after 16 months on the manmade pump.

In 1991, actress Jean Arthur died in Carmel, California, at age 90.

In 1999, author Stephen King was seriously injured when he was struck by a van driven by Bryan Smith in North Lovell, Maine. Britain's Prince Edward married commoner Sophie Rhys-Jones in Windsor, England.

Ten years ago: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned North Korea it would face consequences if it test-fired a missile thought to be powerful enough to reach the West Coast of the United States. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she would send National Guard troops and state police to patrol the streets of New Orleans after a bloody weekend in which six people were killed. The Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7.

Five years ago: Libya's government said NATO warplanes had struck a residential neighborhood in the capital and killed nine civilians, including two children; NATO confirmed hours later that one of its airstrikes had gone astray. Rory McIlroy ran away with the U.S. Open title, winning by eight shots and breaking the tournament scoring record by a whopping four strokes. (McIlroy shot 2-under 69 to close the four days at Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland, at 16-under 268.) Alyssa Campanella of Los Angeles won the Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas.

One year ago: The Obama admininstration released its annual terrorism report which said Iran's support for international terrorist groups had remained undiminished in the last year and even expanded in some respects. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees homered for his 3,000th career hit, becoming the 29th player in major league history to reach that milestone. (The Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 7-2.) Author James Salter, 90, died in Sag Harbor, New York.

Today's Birthdays: Pop singer Tommy DeVito (The Four Seasons) is 88. Actress Gena Rowlands is 86. Hall of Fame race car driver Shirley Muldowney is 76. Singer Spanky McFarlane (Spanky and Our Gang) is 74. Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is 71. Author Salman Rushdie is 69. Actress Phylicia Rashad is 68. Rock singer Ann Wilson (Heart) is 66. Musician Larry Dunn is 63. Actress Kathleen Turner is 62. Country singer Doug Stone is 60. Singer Mark DeBarge is 57. Singer-dancer-choreographer Paula Abdul is 54. Actor Andy Lauer is 53. Rock singer-musician Brian Vander Ark (Verve Pipe) is 52. Actor Samuel West is 50. Actress Mia Sara is 49. TV personality Lara Spencer is 47. Rock musician Brian "Head" Welch is 46. Actor Jean Dujardin is 44. Actress Robin Tunney is 44. Actor Bumper Robinson is 42. Actress Poppy Montgomery is 41. Alt-country singer-musician Scott Avett (The Avett Brothers) is 40. Actor Ryan Hurst is 40. Actress Zoe Saldana is 38. Actress Lauren Lee Smith is 36. Rapper Macklemore (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis) is 33. Actor Paul Dano is 32. Actor Giacomo Gianniotti is 27. Actor Atticus Shaffer is 18.

Thought for Today: "Becoming a father is easy enough, but being one can be tough." -- Wilhelm Busch, German illustrator and poet (1832-1908).