Today in History for May 2003

Months in 2003: January February March April June July August September October November December

Historical Events

Events 1 - 12 of 12

1st - 2003 invasion of Iraq: In what becomes known as the "Mission Accomplished" speech, U.S. President George W. Bush declares that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended" on board the USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of California.
3rd - New Hampshire's famous Old Man of the Mountain collapses.
10th - The May 2003 tornado outbreak sequence takes place.
12th - The Riyadh compound bombings, carried out by Al Qaeda, kill 26.
12th - Fifty-nine Democratic lawmakers bring the Texas Legislature to a standstill by going into hiding in a dispute over a Republican congressional redistricting plan.
16th - In Casablanca, Morocco, 33 civilians are killed and more than 100 people are injured in the Casablanca terrorist attacks.
21st - An earthquake hits northern Algeria killing more than 2,000 people.
22nd - In Fort Worth, Texas, Annika Sörenstam becomes the first woman to play the PGA Tour in 58 years.
23rd - The euro exceeds its initial trading value as it hits $1.18 for the first time since its introduction in 1999.
25th - Néstor Kirchner becomes President of Argentina after defeating Carlos Menem. He is the first elected President since the economic crisis.
26th - Only three days after a previous record, Sherpa Lakpa Gelu climbs Mount Everest in 10 hours 56 minutes. The tourism ministry of Nepal confirms this record in July that year.
28th - Peter Hollingworth becomes the first Governor-General of Australia to resign his office as a result of criticism of his conduct.

Famous Weddings

Weddings 1 - 8 of 8

3rd - "Friends" actor Matt LeBlanc (35) weds former model Melissa McKnight (38) at a private estate overlooking Anini Beach in Kilauea, Hawaii
10th - "Broadway" singer-actress Carol Channing (82) weds Harry Kullijian at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto, California
10th - Fashion designer Shoshanna Lonstein (28) weds investment analyst Joshua Gruss at the Metropolitan Club in New York City
10th - "Ocean's Eleven" director and producer Steven Soderbergh (40) weds former fashion model Jules Asner (35) in Manhattan, New York
13th - Former NBA star Dennis Rodman (42) weds Michelle Moyer on a small civil ceremony in Newport Beach, California
18th - Actress Rena Sofer (34) weds director and producer Sanford Bookstaver (29) in Malibu, California
24th - Oscar winning-actress Kate Winslet (27) weds director Sam Mendes (36) in Anguilla Island
24th - Actor and film director Kenneth Branagh (42) weds film art director Lindsay Brunnock in a secret ceremony

Famous Divorces

Divorces 1 - 1 of 1

27th - Actress Angelina Jolie (26) divorces actor Billy Bob Thornton (47) due to irreconcilable differences

Famous Deaths

Deaths 1 - 30 of 30

1st - Miss Elizabeth, American wrestler (b. 1960)
3rd - Suzy Parker, American actress (b. 1932)
5th - Walter Sisulu, South African activist (b. 1912)
6th - Art Houtteman, baseball player (b. 1927)
9th - Russell B. Long, U.S. Senator from Louisiana (b. 1918)
10th - Milan Vukcevich, Yugoslavian chemist and chess problem composer (b. 1937)
11th - Noel Redding, English bassist (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) (b. 1945)
12th - Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, French UN High Commissioner for Refugees (b. 1933)
14th - Dave DeBusschere, American basketball player (b. 1940)
14th - Wendy Hiller, British actress (b. 1912)
14th - Robert Stack, American actor (b. 1919)
15th - June Carter Cash, American musician and singer (b. 1929)
15th - George Francis, British gangster (b. 1940)
16th - Mark McCormack, American businessman (b. 1930)
17th - Frank "Pop" Ivy, American and Canadian football coach (b. 1916)
18th - Anna Santisteban, Puerto Rican beauty contest organizer (b. 1914)
18th - Barb Tarbox, Canadian anti-smoking crusader (b. 1961)
21st - Frank D. White, American politician (b. 1933)
21st - Alejandro de Tomaso, Argentine-Italian racing driver and car manufacturer (b. 1928)
Country Singer June Carter Cash (15th) 22nd - Ousmane Zongo, Burkinabé shooting victim
23rd - Jean Yanne, French actor and director (b. 1933)
24th - Rachel Kempson, English actress (b. 1910)
25th - Jeremy Michael Ward, American musician (The Mars Volta) (b. 1976)
26th - Kathleen Winsor, American writer (b. 1919)
27th - Luciano Berio, Italian composer (b. 1925)
28th - Oleg Makarov, cosmonaut (b. 1933)
28th - Martha Scott, American actress (b. 1912)
28th - Ilya Prigogine, Russian-born physicist and chemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (b. 1917)
29th - David Jefferies, British motorcycle racer (b. 1972)
30th - Mickie Most, English record producer (b. 1938)