What Happened On
Beginning of the AIDS Epidemic
June 5, 1981
A report is issued concerning an unexplained outbreak, among homosexual men, of a type of pneumonia which usually affects only cancer patients.
The first known AIDS death occurred in 1969, although the cause of the 15-year-old boy's death wasn't determined until 1987.
Apple II Computer
June 5, 1977
The Apple II goes on sale. At a cost of $1298, it was one of the first microcomputers sold fully assembled.
Robert F. Kennedy Shot
June 5, 1968
24-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Bishara Sirhan shoots Robert F. Kennedy three times. Kennedy died the following day. Five other people were wounded. Kennedy had just won the California primary. After addressing his supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California, he was leaving the hotel kitchen when Sirhan approached and began firing. He had been advised by his bodyguard to avoid the kitchen.
Rosa Parks being fingerprinted
Rosa Parks being fingerprinted
Bus Segregation Ruled Unconstitutional
June 5, 1956
An Alabama federal court ruled that any law requiring racially segregated seating on buses violated the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This was a result of the year-long bus boycott that started when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
First Person on FBI Ten Most Wanted
June 5, 1949
Thomas Holden kills his wife and her two brothers. After fleeing across state lines, he became the first person listed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list when it was first published the following year.
He was eventually captured and died in prison.
Holden and Francis Keating robbed payroll deliveries, trains, and banks, becoming one of the most notorious holdup teams by the end of the 1920s. They were captured and convicted in 1928 and each sentenced to 25 years in prison.
After two years, they escaped Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and went on to form a new gang, committing a series of daylight robberies during 1930 and 1931. They were recaptured and returned to Leavenworth, where Holden was paroled in 1947. Two and a half years later, Holden killed his wife and two of her brothers during a drunken family argument.
Lizzie, her home, father, and stepmother murdered
Lizzie, her home, father, and stepmother murdered
Lizzie Borden Murders
June 5, 1893
The trial of Lizzie Borden begins for the murders of her father and stepmother. They had been axed to death in their home. She was acquitted 15 days later.
"Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one."
Simon Legree beats Uncle Tom
Simon Legree beats Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom's Cabin
June 5, 1851
Harriet Beecher Stowe's epic story of slavery, Uncle Tom's Cabin begins appearing in serial form in a Washington D.C. anti-slavery newspaper. The following year the book version was published, becoming the first American novel to sell 1,000,000 copies.
Elizabeth Smart
June 5, 2002
Elizabeth Smart is abducted at knife point from her bedroom in her family's home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was rescued 9 months later when her kidnappers were recognized from the TV show America's Most Wanted. Her abduction has been the subject of numerous books and films.
Youngest Female Pilot to Cross the Atlantic
June 5, 1994
12-year-old Vicki Van Meter takes off from Maine, following Amelia Earhart's historic route. She arrived in Scotland two days later.
Also, when she was 11, she became the youngest pilot to fly east to west across the continental United States of America, and the youngest female pilot to cross in either direction.
After battling depression, she committed suicide at the age of 26.
Youngest College Graduate
June 5, 1994
10-year-old Michael Kearney receives his bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of South Alabama.
Kearny got his high school diploma at age 6 and associate degree at age 8. At the age of 14 he obtained a master's degree in chemistry at Middle Tennessee State University. At age 18 he obtained his master's degree in computer science at Vanderbilt University.
He won $1,000,000 on the AOL game Gold Rush (2006), but only $25,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (2008). He was also a contestant on Million Dollar Password (2009), but he did not pass the elimination round.
First Woman Jockey to Win a Triple Crown Race
June 5, 1993
Julie Krone riding Colonial Affair in the Belmont Stakes.
Lightning Strikes
June 5, 1976
Roy C. Sullivan is struck by lightning for the 6th of his record-breaking 7 times. Source: Guinness Book of World Records
Six-Day War
June 5, 1967
The Six-Day War begins when Israeli jets attack and destroy most of Egypt's, Jordan's, and Syria's air forces.
First Black U.S. Air Force Academy Graduates
June 5, 1963
Charles Vernon Bush, Isaac Sanders Payne, IV and Roger Bernard Sims.
First Black Referee for a Heavyweight Boxing Championship
June 5, 1952
Zack Clayton officiates Jersey Joe Walcott's win over Ezzard Charles in Philadelphia to retain his title.
Gold Standard Dropped
June 5, 1933
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill making it illegal to require payments in gold or any other particular currency.
Birthdays
William Boyd
Born June 5, 1895 d. 1972
American actor. He played Hopalong Cassidy in the movies and television. His Hopalong Cassidy character was the first licensed character to appear on a metal lunchbox (1950).
Boyd's charisma and good looks helped make him a matinee idol in the 1920s, earning a salary of over $100,000 a year. In 1935, he was offered the supporting role of Red Connors in the movie Hop-Along Cassidy, but asked for and got the title role. The films were box office hits in the 1930s, but by the late 1940s "B" westerns were being phased out. Boyd mortgaged everything he owned to buy the rights to his films and licensed them to NBC television where they were edited to broadcast length and became an instant hit. In 1949, Hopalong Cassidy became the first network television Western series and the films earned Boyd millions, mostly from merchandising and endorsement deals. In 1950, more than 100 companies manufactured $70 million of Hopalong Cassidy products.
Boyd enlisted in the army during World War I, but was exempt from military service because of a "weak heart".
Film: The Road to Yesterday (1925).
Invented the Zippo Lighter
George G. Blaisdell
Born June 5, 1895 d. 1978
American businessman. Invented the Zippo cigarette lighter (1932). The lighters were so popular among military personnel that during World War II, Zippo ceased civilian production and only produced lighters for the military.
The Zippo lighter's distinctive click received a U.S. trademark in 2018.
Pancho Villa (José Doroteo Arango Arámbula)
Born June 5, 1878 d. 1923
Mexican revolutionary. He raided Texas and New Mexico, and led revolutions against Mexico.
Discovered Adding Sugar to Wine to Increase Alcohol Content
Jean-Antoine Chaptal
Born June 5, 1756 d. 1832
French chemist. He developed the process of adding sugar to unfermented wine to increase its alcohol content. He also coined the name "nitrogen" and wrote the first book on industrial chemistry.
Chad Allen
Born June 5, 1974
American actor. TV: St. Elsewhere (the autistic child Tommy).
Kenny G (Kenneth Bruce Gorelick)
Born June 5, 1956
American Grammy-winning saxophonist. He is the highest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era. He holds the Guinness Record for holding the longest saxophone note - 45 minutes and 47 seconds (1997). Music: Duotones (1986) and Breathless (1992, The #1 selling instrumental album of all time).
Bill Moyers
Born June 5, 1934
American Emmy-winning journalist. TV: A Walk Through the 20th Century.
My Left Foot
Christy Brown
Born June 5, 1932 d. 1981
Irish author, artist. Born with cerebral palsy, his left foot was the only part of his body not affected by paralysis. The 1989 movie My Left Foot was based on his 1954 autobiography - which he typed with his left foot.
Robert Lansing (Robert Brown)
Born June 5, 1928 d. 1994
American actor. TV: Twelve O'Clock High (Gen. Savage) and The Equalizer (Control).
Bill Hayes (William Foster Hayes III)
Born June 5, 1925 d. 2024
American singer, actor. Music: The Ballad of Davy Crockett (1955, #1). TV: Days of Our Lives (1970-2024, Doug Williams).
Richard Scarry
Born June 5, 1919 d. 1994
American children's author, creator of Lowly Worm. His 250 books sold over 100 million copies in over 30 languages. Writings: Best Word Book Ever (1965) and Cars and Trucks and Things That Go (1974).
John Couch Adams
Born June 5, 1819 d. 1892
English astronomer. In 1845, he correctly predicted the existence of the planet Neptune, which was discovered the following year.
Adam Smith
Born June 5, 1723 d. 1790
British moral philosopher, political economist, author. His book, Wealth of Nations (1776), was the first systematic formulation of classical English economics.
Deaths
Bradbury's Golden Apples of the Sun, published in Planet Stories
Bradbury's Golden Apples of the Sun, published in Planet Stories
Ray Bradbury
Died June 5, 2012 b. 1920
American science-fiction author. Writings: The Martian Chronicles (1950) and Fahrenheit 451 (1953).
Ronald Reagan (Ronald Wilson Reagan)
Died June 5, 2004 b. 1911
American politician. American politician, actor, 40th U.S. President (1981-89), 33rd Governor of California (1967-75), president of the Screen Actors Guild (1947-52, 59-60). Film: Knute Rockne - All American (1940, the Gipper).
Quote: "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Happy Birthday to You
Mildred J. Hill
Died June 5, 1916 b. 1859
American schoolteacher. She composed Happy Birthday to You (1893). Originally called Good Morning to All, the lyrics - written by her sister Patty Hill - were changed in 1924 to the now familiar words. It has become the most sung song in the world.
Turned Down Role of James Bond
Richard Johnson
Died June 5, 2015 b. 1927
British actor. He was the first choice for the role of James Bond in the film series, but turned it down making way for Sean Connery. Film: The Haunting (1963) and Zombi 2 (1979).
Mel Tormé (Melvin Howard Tormé)
Died June 5, 1999 b. 1925
American singer, actor. "The Velvet Fog." He co-wrote Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (1946). Music: Careless Love (1949, #1). TV: Night Court (Judge Stone's favorite).
Jeanette Nolan
Died June 5, 1998 b. 1911
American actress. TV: The Virginian (Holly Grainger).
Conway Twitty (Harold Lloyd Jenkins)
Died June 5, 1993 b. 1933
American Grammy-winning country singer. Music: After The Fire is Gone (1971, Grammy). In 1982 he opened Twitty City, a nine-acre tourist attraction outside of Nashville.
Max Lerner
Died June 5, 1992 b. 1902
Russian-born journalist, educator.
Min Chueh Chang
Died June 5, 1991 b. 1908
Chinese-born American biologist. Co-inventor of the birth control pill.
Thornton Waldo Burgess
Died June 5, 1965 b. 1874
American author of children's books. Creator of Peter Rabbit and the briar patch, Reddy Fox, and Grandfather Frog.
Burgess' Peter Rabbit was based on Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit.
O. Henry (William Sydney Porter)
Died June 5, 1910 b. 1862
American short story author. He served three years in prison for embezzling bank funds.
Red Badge of Courage
Stephen Crane
Died June 5, 1900 b. 1871
American author. Writings: Red Badge of Courage (1895), a war novel set during the American Civil War. It is about a young Union Army private who, after fleeing from the field of battle, is overcome with shame and longs for a wound, a "red badge of courage", to counteract his cowardice.
Louis X
Died June 5, 1316 b. 1289
"The Quarreller," King of France (1314-16).