February 3rd
1468
Johann Gutenberg, German printer and inventor, died.
1690
The first paper money in America was issued by the colony of Massachusetts.
1809
The territory of Illinois was created.
1834
Wake Forest University is established.
1870
The 15th Amendment (black suffrage) passed.
1876
Albert Spalding and his brother started a sporting goods store. They manufactured the first official baseball, tennis ball, basketball, golf ball and football.
1913
The 16th Amendment, establishing federal income tax, was ratified.
1917
The U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Germany.
1924
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, died in Washington, D.C., at age 67.
1959
Rock singers, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and Big Bopper died in a plane crash.
1995
Col. Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot the space shuttle when the Discovery blasted off.
1998
Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker, the first woman to be executed in the United States since 1984.
2001
The XFL debuted. The Las Vegas Outlaws beat the New York/New Jersey Hitman 19-0 and the Orlando Rage beat the Chicago Enforcers 33-29.
Birthdays
69 Fran Tarkenton Football Hall of Famer
67 Dory Funk, Jr. Professinal wrestler
66 Blythe Danner Actress
64 Bob Griese Football Hall of Famer
59 Morgan Fairchild Actress
56 Fred Lynn Baseball player
53 Nathan Lane Actor ("The Producers")
48 Marty Jannetty Professional wrestler
47
Demented Cigar Asylum Inmate
41 Vlade Divac Basketball player
39 Retief Goosen Professional golfer
33 Isla Fisher Actress
?
TripleF Cigar Asylum Inmate
70 Gertrude Stein 2/3/1874 - 7/27/1946 American writer
84 Norman Rockwell 2/3/1894 - 11/8/1978 American illustrator
33 Kerry Von Erich (The Texas Tornado) 2/3/1960 - 2/18/1993 Professional wrestler