Today in history

Today is Monday, May 25, the 145th day of 2009. There are 220 days left in the year. This is the Memorial Day observance. On this date in 1979, 273 people die when an American Airlines DC-10 crashes on takeoff from Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Six-year-old Etan Patz disappears while on his way to a school bus stop in lower Manhattan; his fate has never been determined.

In 1787, the Constitutional Convention begins meeting in Philadelphia after enough delegates show up for a quorum. In 1895, playwright Oscar Wilde is convicted of a morals charge in London; he is sentenced to two years in prison. In 1916, the Chicago Tribune publishes an interview with Henry Ford in which the American industrialist is quoted as saying, “History is more or less bunk.” In 1935, Babe Ruth hits the 714th and final home run of his career, for the Boston Braves, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

May 25, 1984: The General Motors Corp. announces it will spend $6 billion on plant expansion, including $100 million at Packard Electric and the Lordstown plants in Trumbull County.

President Reagan signs legislation allowing the government to borrow another $30 billion, raising the national debt to more than $1.5 trillion.

Consumers Water Co. says it will go forward with a $40,000 land-use study of a proposed bio-technical park at Liberty Lakes, which a Battelle Memorial Institute officer said could serve as a keystone for revitalization of the area.

May 25, 1969: Commencement services for more than 5,000 high school seniors of public and parochial schools throughout Mahoning County will be held from May 31 through June 20. The late dates reflect Youngstown’s semester extension due to closure of city schools when money ran out in November.

The Boardman Board of Education hires 71 new teachers and needs only three more to complete staff assignments for the 1969-70 school year.

Polo season in the Canfield Fairgrounds opens Memorial Day when Mahoning Valley meets the Cleveland Lancers. Veteran John Zedaker will captain the local team again.

Marine Col. David E. Lownds, who led the 73-day defense of Khe Sanh against two North Vietnamese army divisions, addresses a number of Memorial Day observances in Mahoning County. He is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.

May 25, 1959: Richard Harter, 15, convicted of second degree murder of Youngstown railroader Edward Craven, is taken to the Ohio Penitentiary to begin serving a life sentence. Gov. Michael DiSalle revealed that he had considered commuting Harter’s sentence, but decided against it.

Fifty-two sixth grade students from Coitsville School visit the nation’s Capitol and pose for a photograph with U.S. Rep. Michael J. Kirwan.

Jack Alan Gruber, a member of Troop 19, receives his Eagle Scout award at Rodef Sholom Temple.

May 25, 1934: More than 300 men and women representing various civic, professional and religious organizations attend an organization meeting of the Youngstown Metropolitan Area Citizens Association and call for a “new deal” in law enforcement.

“Miss Youngstown” will be selected at the Aut Mori Grotto May Party at Idora Park from among 16 of the city’s most beautiful girls.

Councilman E.D. Haseltine and Council President Myron Williams say they do not believe vice conditions in Youngstown are as bad as in most other cities, but Williams acknowledges that the lottery activities have grown into a racket that is controlled by “certain interests.”