This day in history

[July 01, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, July 1, the 182nd day of 2010. There are 183 days left in the year. This is Canada Day.

Today's highlight in history:

On July 1, 1910, the original Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox for eight decades, held its opening day under the name White Sox Park. (The home team lost to the St. Louis Browns 2-0.)

On this date:

In 1860, Charles Goodyear, the inventor of vulcanized rubber, died in New York at age 59.

In 1863, the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, resulting in a Union victory, began in Pennsylvania.

In 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain as the British North America Act took effect.

In 1943, "pay-as-you-go" income tax withholding began.

In 1946, the United States exploded a 20-kiloton atomic bomb near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

In 1960, the independent Republic of Somalia was created from the merger of former British and Italian colonies.

In 1968, the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union and nearly 60 other nations signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, which considerably deregulated the U.S. trucking industry. "O Canada" was proclaimed the national anthem of Canada.

In 1997, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule after 156 years as a British colony.

In 2004, actor Marlon Brando died in Los Angeles at age 80.

Ten years ago: Vermont's civil unions law, which granted gay couples most of the rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage, went into effect. The Confederate flag was removed from atop South Carolina's Statehouse. Academy Award-winning actor Walter Matthau died in Santa Monica, Calif. at age 79.

Five years ago: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor unexpectedly announced her retirement from the Supreme Court (she was succeeded by Samuel Alito). Rhythm-and-blues singer Luther Vandross died in Edison, N.J. at age 54.

One year ago: President Barack Obama held an hour-long town hall forum on health care reform in Annandale, Va., where, in an emotional moment, he hugged cancer patient Debby Smith, a volunteer for Obama's political operation, Organizing for America. Academy Award-winning actor Karl Malden died in Brentwood, Calif. at 97.

Today's birthdays: Actress Olivia de Havilland is 94. Actor Farley Granger is 85. Actress-dancer Leslie Caron is 79. Actress Jean Marsh is 76. Actor Jamie Farr is 76. Bluesman James Cotton is 75. Actor David Prowse is 75. Cookiemaker Wally Amos is 74. Actress Karen Black is 71. Dancer-choreographer Twyla Tharp is 69. Actress Genevieve Bujold is 68. Gospel singer Andrae Crouch is 68. Rock singer-actress Deborah Harry is 65. Movie-TV producer-director Michael Pressman is 60. Actor Daryl Anderson is 59. Actor Trevor Eve is 59. Actor Terrence Mann is 59. Rock singer Fred Schneider (B-52's) is 59. Pop singer Victor Willis (Village People) is 59. Actor-comedian Dan Aykroyd is 58. Actor Alan Ruck is 54. Actress Lisa Blount is 53. Rhythm-and-blues singer Evelyn "Champagne" King is 50. Olympic gold medal track star Carl Lewis is 49. Country singer Michelle Wright is 49. Actor Andre Braugher is 48. Actress Pamela Anderson is 43. Rock musician Mark Pirro is 40. Rock musician Franny Griffiths (Space) is 40. Actor Henry Simmons is 40. Hip-hop artist Missy Elliott is 39. Actress Julianne Nicholson is 39. Actress Liv Tyler is 33. Bluegrass musician Adam Haynes (Dailey & Vincent) is 31. Actress Hilarie Burton is 28. Actress Lynsey Bartilson is 27. Actor Evan Ellingson is 22. Actors Steven and Andrew Cavarno are 18.

Thought for today: "Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people." -- David Sarnoff, American broadcasting pioneer (1891-1971)

[Associated Press]

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