This day in history

[February 25, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Feb. 25, the 56th day of 2010. There are 309 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Feb. 25, 1940, a hockey game was televised for the first time, by New York City station W2XBS, as the New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, at Madison Square Garden.

On this date:

In 1836, inventor Samuel Colt patented his revolver.

In 1901, United States Steel Corporation was incorporated by J.P. Morgan.

In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Philander Chase Knox.

In 1919, Oregon became the first state to tax gasoline, at one cent per gallon.

In 1948, Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia.

In 1950, "Your Show of Shows," starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris, debuted on NBC-TV.

In 1964, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) became world heavyweight boxing champion by defeating Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

In 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in the wake of a tainted election; Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency.

In 1990, Nicaraguans went to the polls in an election that resulted in an upset victory for the alliance opposed to the ruling Sandinistas.

In 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, 28 Americans were killed when an Iraqi Scud missile hit a U.S. barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Ten years ago: A jury in Albany, N.Y. acquitted four white New York City police officers of all charges in the Feb. 1999 shooting death of unarmed African immigrant Amadou Diallo in the Bronx.

Five years ago: Municipal employee and church leader Dennis Rader was arrested for the BTK ("bind, torture, kill") serial slayings that had terrorized Wichita, Kan. (Rader later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 life prison terms.) A suicide bombing killed four Israelis outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, shattering an informal truce. Amnesty International founder Peter Benenson died in Oxford, England, at age 83. Hall of Fame basketball coach John Chaney was suspended for the rest of the regular season by Temple for ordering rough play by one of his players during a game against Saint Joseph's. The Walt Disney Co. agreed to sell the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to billionaire Henry Samueli and his wife, Susan, for $75 million.

One year ago: President Barack Obama introduced former Washington Gov. Gary Locke as his nominee for commerce secretary after two earlier choices dropped out. A Turkish Airlines jetliner crashed near Amsterdam's main airport, but nearly everyone on board -- 126 people -- survived; the nine dead included the pilots.

Today's birthdays: Country singer Ralph Stanley is 83. Actor Tom Courtenay is 73. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 73. Actress Diane Baker is 72. Actress Karen Grassle is 66. Humorist Jack Handey is 61. Movie director Neil Jordan is 60. Rock musician Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) is 53. Rock singer-musician Mike Peters (The Alarm) is 51. Actress Veronica Webb is 45. Actor Alexis Denisof is 44. Actress Tea (TAY'-ah) Leoni is 44. Comedian Carrot Top is 43. Actress Lesley Boone is 42. Actor Sean Astin is 39. Singer Daniel Powter is 39. Latin singer Julio Iglesias Jr. is 37. Rhythm-and-blues singer Justin Jeffre is 37. Rock musician Richard Liles is 37. Actor Anson Mount is 37. Comedian Chelsea Handler is 35. Actress Rashida Jones is 34. Actor Justin Berfield is 24. Actors Oliver and James Phelps ("Harry Potter" movies) are 24. Rock musician Erik Haager (Carolina Liar) is 23.

Thought for today: "Open-mindedness is not the same as empty-mindedness. To hang out a sign saying, 'Come right in; there is no one at home' is not the equivalent of hospitality." -- John Dewey, American philosopher and educator (1859-1952)

[Associated Press]

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