Feast Day of the Conversion of St. Paul

Celebrating the Apostle Paul becoming a follower of Jesus.
According to the New Testament, before his conversion, Paul was known as Saul and was "a Pharisee of Pharisees", who "intensely persecuted" the followers of Jesus.

Charles Manson Found Guilty

January 25, 1971

The cult leader Charles Manson and three of his female followers are found guilty in the 1969 murders of Sharon Tate and six others. During the trial, Manson attempted to kill the judge while the jury was present in the room. Manson threatened the judge and then jumped over his lawyer's table and headed for the judge with a sharpened pencil, but was restrained before he was able to reach the judge.
At the trial, Manson testified before the judge, "These children that come at you with knives, they are your children. You taught them. I didn't teach them. I just tried to help them stand up. Most of the people at the ranch that you call the Family were just people that you did not want."
All four were sentenced to death, but in 1972 the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional and Manson was resentenced to life with the possibility of parole. He died in prison in 2017.

Subway Vigilante

January 25, 1985

Bernhard Goetz is acquitted by a grand jury for his 1984 shooting of four black youths in a New York subway. He shot four black youths in a N.Y. subway car, claiming he was frightened when they asked for $5. He was seen as a hero to many New Yorkers, who were tired of the crime in the city. In 1981, he was the victim of a mugging and was upset because the attacker spent less time in the police station than Goetz himself. He was further angered when his attacker was charged only with criminal mischief, for ripping Goetz's jacket. Goetz applied for a concealed handgun permit, but was denied. He then bought a 5-shot .38-caliber revolver which he carried illegally. In 1984, four youths who were on their way to steal from a video arcade, confronted Goetz on the subway asking for $5. Two of the youths had moved next to Goetz, blocking him from the other passengers. Believing that he was being set up for a mugging, Goetz pulled his gun and began shooting the youths, hitting one in the chest, one in the back, the third in the arm and left side, and the fourth in the spinal column paralyzing him.
Although at the time, the youths claimed they were only panhandling, one later admitted that they did indeed intend to rob Goetz.
He was acquitted of attempted murder and first-degree assault charges, but convicted of criminal possession of a weapon and served eight months in prison.
In a 1996 civil trial, the paralyzed youth was awarded $43 million dollars.

Jesse Jackson Calls NYC Hymietown

January 25, 1984

The political leader Jesse Jackson refers to Jews as "Hymies" and New York City as "Hymietown." At first he denied making the statements, but later admitted to them.

Paul McCartney

January 25, 1980

Japan orders the deportation of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. He had spent nine days in prison following his arrest after the discovery of marijuana in his luggage at a Tokyo airport. He could have faced a potential seven-year prison sentence.
The band's 11 scheduled concerts in Japan were canceled.
McCartney had been denied a Japanese entry visa five years earlier due to his earlier drug arrests. McCartney had been arrested for marijuana possession in Sweden 1972, Scotland in 1973, and in Los Angeles in 1975. And he was arrested again for marijuana possession in 1984 in Barbados.
His band Wings disbanded shortly after their arrival back in England.

Black Entertainment Television

January 25, 1980

Black Entertainment Television (BET) begins broadcasting. Its initial broadcasting consisted of a two hour per week block of programming on the Madison Square Garden Sports Network (renamed USA Network three months later) with programming consisting of music videos and reruns of popular black sitcoms. It became a full-fledged channel in 1983, becoming one of the most successful cable networks, and in 1991 became the first black-controlled TV company on the New York Stock Exchange.

First Joint Soviet-American Space Effort

January 25, 1964

Echo II, a passive communications satellite, is launched.

First U.S. City to Fluoridate Water

January 25, 1945

Grand Rapids, Michigan.

First Woman Anglican Priest

January 25, 1944

Florence Li Tim-Oi is ordained in China. The Japanese invasion during World War II had created a shortage of male priests in China.

First Winter Olympics

January 25, 1924

The first Winter Olympic games begin in Chamonix, France. Some of the new categories included speed skating, cross-country skiing, and ski jumping. The games ran through February.

First Transcontinental Telephone Call

January 25, 1915

Alexander Graham Bell in New York calls Thomas Watson in San Francisco and repeats his famous request "Mr. Watson, come here, I want you."

First Ship Sunk by a Torpedo in War

January 25, 1878

A Russian boat sinks a Turkish steamer.

Shays' Rebellion

January 25, 1787

Protesting harsh conditions, Daniel Shays leads 1100 farmers in an attempt to seize a Massachusetts arsenal. They were stopped by the state militia.

Corazon "Cory" Aquino

Born January 25, 1933 d. 2009

Philippine President (1986-92). She was the first woman Philippine President and the first female president in Asia.

Dean Jones

Born January 25, 1931 d. 2015

American singer, actor. Film: That Darn Cat (1965), The Love Bug (1968), and The Shaggy D.A. (1976).

Elizabeth Allen

Born January 25, 1929 d. 2006

American singer, actress. TV: The Jackie Gleason Show (the woman who proclaimed "And away we go!"), C.P.O. Sharkey (Capt. Quinlan), and Texas (Victoria Bellman).

Eduard Shevardnadze

Born January 25, 1928 d. 2014

Soviet Union Minister of Foreign Affairs (1985-90, 1991), head of state of Georgia (1992-2003).

Mildred Dunnock

Born January 25, 1901 d. 1991

American actress. Stage: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1956, originated the role of Big Mama). Film: Death of a Salesman (1951, Willy Loman's wife), and Baby Doll (1956).

Paul-Henri Spaak

Born January 25, 1899 d. 1972

Belgian statesman, prime minister (1938-39, 1946-49), secretary general of NATO (1957-61), and the first president of the United Nations General Assembly (1946).

Virginia Woolf

Born January 25, 1882 d. 1941

English author, women's rights activist. Writings: Jacob's Room (1922).

Ernst Frederick Werner Alexanderson

Born January 25, 1878 d. 1975

Swedish-born American engineer. A pioneer in transoceanic radio communication, he developed tuned-frequency receivers. In 1927 he developed a TV with a seven-foot screen. He received 345 U.S. patents, the last filed in 1968 at age 89.

William Somerset Maugham

Born January 25, 1874 d. 1965

English author. Writings: Of Human Bondage.

Invented the Silver Suture

James Marion Sims

Born January 25, 1813 d. 1883

American physician, gynecologist. He invented the silver suture.

William Colgate

Born January 25, 1783 d. 1857

English-born American soap and toiletries maker, philanthropist, founder of what became the Colgate toothpaste company. He also helped found the American Bible Society (1816).

Robert Burns

Born January 25, 1759 d. 1796

Scottish poet. He penned the words to Auld Lang Syne (c1789).

Robert Boyle

Born January 25, 1627 d. 1691

British physicist. Father of Chemistry, creator of Boyle's Law (1662, "The pressure of gas is proportional to the number of molecules in a given space and their temperature"). Boyle is regarded as the first modern chemist.

First Vietnam Soldier to Receive the U.S. Medal of Honor

Roger Donlon (Roger Hugh Charles Donlon)

Died January 25, 2024 b. 1934

American soldier. He was the first Vietnam soldier to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor, for heroism in South Vietnam (1964).
On July 6th, 1964, Capt. Donlon was serving as the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting 5 hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, Capt. Donlon directed the defense operations in the midst of an enemy barrage of mortar shells, falling grenades, and extremely heavy gunfire. Upon the initial onslaught, he swiftly marshaled his forces and ordered the removal of the needed ammunition from a blazing building. He then dashed through a hail of small arms and exploding hand grenades to abort a breach of the main gate. En route to this position he detected an enemy demolition team of 3 in the proximity of the main gate and quickly annihilated them. Although exposed to the intense grenade attack, he then succeeded in reaching a 60mm mortar position despite sustaining a severe stomach wound as he was within 5 yards of the gun pit. When he discovered that most of the men in this gunpit were also wounded, he completely disregarded his own injury, directed their withdrawal to a location 30 meters away, and again risked his life by remaining behind and covering the movement with the utmost effectiveness. Noticing that his team sergeant was unable to evacuate the gun pit he crawled toward him and, while dragging the fallen soldier out of the gunpit, an enemy mortar exploded and inflicted a wound in Capt. Donlon's left shoulder. Although suffering from multiple wounds, he carried the abandoned 60mm mortar weapon to a new location 30 meters away where he found 3 wounded defenders. After administering first aid and encouragement to these men, he left the weapon with them, headed toward another position, and retrieved a 57mm recoilless rifle. Then with great courage and coolness under fire, he returned to the abandoned gun pit, evacuated ammunition for the 2 weapons, and while crawling and dragging the urgently needed ammunition, received a third wound on his leg by an enemy hand grenade. Despite his critical physical condition, he again crawled 175 meters to an 81mm mortar position and directed firing operations which protected the seriously threatened east sector of the camp. He then moved to an eastern 60mm mortar position and upon determining that the vicious enemy assault had weakened, crawled back to the gun pit with the 60mm mortar, set it up for defensive operations, and turned it over to 2 defenders with minor wounds. Without hesitation, he left this sheltered position, and moved from position to position around the beleaguered perimeter while hurling hand grenades at the enemy and inspiring his men to superhuman effort. As he bravely continued to move around the perimeter, a mortar shell exploded, wounding him in the face and body. As the long awaited daylight brought defeat to the enemy forces and their retreat back to the jungle leaving behind 54 of their dead, many weapons, and grenades, Capt. Donlon immediately reorganized his defenses and administered first aid to the wounded.

Mary Tyler Moore

Died January 25, 2017 b. 1936

American actress. Her first TV job was as a dancing pixie in the Hotpoint commercials (Happy Hotpoint Elf). TV: The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66, Laura Petrie) and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77, Mary Richards).

"Scarface" Al Capone

Died January 25, 1947 b. 1899

Italian-born American gangster. The FBI estimates that his organizaton made $108 million in 1927 alone. He was convicted of tax evasion and served time in Alcatraz (1931-39). Terminally ill with syphilis, he died penniless of a brain hemorrhage at home in Miami, Florida.

Edmond Halley

Died January 25, 1742 b. 1656

English astronomer, mathematician. He was the first to correctly predict the return date of a comet by predicting the 1758 return of the comet of 1682. The comet was named "Halley's Comet" in his honor. Unfortunately, he died before he could witness its return.

Cindy Williams

Died January 25, 2023 b. 1947

American actress. Film: American Graffiti (1973, Ron Howard's character's high school sweetheart). TV: Laverne & Shirley (1976-82, Shirley Feeney).

John Hurt

Died January 25, 2017 b. 1940

British actor. Film: Midnight Express (1978, British Academy Award) and The Elephant Man (1980, title role).

The Jeane Dixon Effect

Jeane L. Dixon (Lydia Emma Pinckert)

Died January 25, 1997 b. 1904

American astrologer, psychic. Dixon reportedly predicted the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in the May 13, 1956 issue of Parade Magazine, in which she stated that the 1960 presidential election would be dominated by labor and won by a Democrat who would then be assassinated or die in office. But, as the election neared, she changed her prediction, now predicting that Richard Nixon would win. Nixon lost and Kennedy won and was assassinated.
While Dixon made many correct predictions, she also made many incorrect predictions, such as predicting the start of World War III in 1958 and that the Russians would be the first to put a man on the Moon.
John Allen Paulos coined the term "the Jeane Dixon effect" - the tendency to promote a few correct predictions while ignoring a larger number of incorrect predictions.
President Nixon followed her predictions and met with her in the Oval Office in 1971. She was also one of several astrologers, including Joan Quigley, who gave advice to the Reagans.

Dan Barry

Died January 25, 1997 b. 1923

American cartoonist. He drew the Tarzan (1947-48) and Flash Gordon (1951-90) comic strips. He also wrote and drew for the Indiana Jones comic books.

Ava Gardner

Died January 25, 1990 b. 1922

American actress, Hollywood's leading lady of the 1940s and '50s.

Irene Castle

Died January 25, 1969 b. 1893

American dancer. She and her husband Vernon Castle popularized the Fox-trot dance (c1912).

Gregory IV

Died January 25, 844 b. ????

Italian religious leader, 101st Pope (827-844). He declared that All Saints Day would be celebrated on November 1st.