Years Ago

Today is Tuesday, July 5, the 186th day of 2011. There are 179 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1811: Venezuela becomes the first South American country to declare independence from Spain.

1865: William Booth founds the Salvation Army in London.

1935: President Franklin Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act.

1946: The bikini, created by Louis Reard, is worn by Micheline Bernardini during a poolside fashion show in Paris.

1947: Larry Doby makes his debut with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first black player in the American League.

1971: President Richard Nixon certifies the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which lowers the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

1975: Arthur Ashe becomes the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title as he defeats Jimmy Connors.

VINDICATOR FILES

1986: F. James McDonald, president of General Motors Corp., and Owen Bieber, president of the United Autoworkers Union, will come to Lordstown to mark the 20th anniversary of the GM complex.

A building at the Zambelli International fireworks factory near New Castle is leveled by an explosion while the Zambelli family was in New York City coordinating the spectacular fireworks display commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.

A new three-year work agreement ratified by Cold Metal Products Co. Inc. hourly employees will result in the replacement of outdated slitting equipment at the Youngstown plant.

1971: Some 440 students out of an enrollment of 13,471 at Youngstown State University achieve a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the spring quarter.

1961: Three Youngstown men receive suspended $10 fines and lectures from Municipal Judge Forrest J. Cavalier after pleading guilty to charges of possession of fireworks.

A team of eight chestnut ponies owned and driven by Richard Noble of Berlin Center will be a special attraction at Youngstown’s 18th annual charity horse show at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

1936: A bicycle trend is returning, reminiscent of the Gay ’90s, and hundreds of local bicyclists are attracted by the beauties of Mill Creek Park.

R.D. McGill, Mahoning County administrator of the WPA, says 400 names will be trimmed from employments lists, bringing the total to 5,900 to be in compliance with an order by the state administrator.