It is Sunday, May 11, 2025, marking the 131st day of the year with 234 days remaining. On this day in history, a significant event took place in 1997 when the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue made history by defeating chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in a six-game match in New York. This victory marked the first time a computer had won against a reigning world champion in chess.
In addition, on this date in 1935, the Rural Electrification Administration was established as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. In 1946, the first CARE packages were sent to Europe to provide relief to the hungry population in postwar Europe. A devastating tornado struck Waco, Texas in 1953, claiming the lives of 114 people and injuring nearly 600. In 1960, Israeli agents captured Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The espionage trial of Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo, known as the “Pentagon Papers” case, concluded in 1973 with Judge William M. Byrne dismissing all charges due to government misconduct. Reggae artist Bob Marley passed away in a Miami hospital in 1981 at the age of 36. In 1984, Claus Barbie, the Nazi Gestapo chief, also known as the “Butcher of Lyon,” went on trial in Lyon for crimes against humanity and was later found guilty.
Tragedy struck in 1996 when an Atlanta-bound ValuJet DC-9 caught fire shortly after takeoff from Miami and crashed into the Florida Everglades, resulting in the loss of all 110 individuals on board.
Celebrating birthdays today are rock singer Eric Burdon (84), actor Frances Fisher (73), former MTV VJ Martha Quinn (66), Olympic boxing gold medalist Mark Breland (62), actor Tim Blake Nelson (61), basketball Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson (44), former NFL quarterback Cam Newton (36), Latin pop singer Prince Royce (36), actor Lana Condor (28), and singer-actor Sabrina Carpenter (26).
This day in history is filled with significant events and milestones that have shaped our world. Let us take a moment to reflect on the past and appreciate the progress we have made.
