Sir Paul Patrick Gordon Bateson, was an English biologist with interests in ethology and phenotypic plasticity. Bateson was a professor at the University of Cambridge and served as president of the Zoological Society of London from 2004 to 2014.

1938Sheila Dikshit, Indian politician, 22nd Governor of Kerala (died 2019)^[†]

Sheila Dikshit was an Indian politician. The longest-serving chief minister of Delhi, as well as the longest-serving female chief minister in Indian history, she served for a period of 15 years beginning in 1998. Dikshit led the Indian National Congress party to three consecutive electoral victories in Delhi.

1938Antje Gleichfeld, German runner^[†]

Antje Gleichfeld is a retired German middle-distance runner.

1938Bill Hicke, Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager (died 2005)^[†]

William Lawrence Hicke was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Hicke played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1959 and 1960. Hicke's younger brother is Ernie Hicke.

1938Jimmy Johnson, American football player (died 2024)^[†]

James Earl Johnson was an American professional football cornerback who played for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1961 to 1976. He was named to the first-team on the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, and in 1994, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1938Tõnno Lepmets, Estonian basketball player (died 2005)^[†]

Tõnno Lepmets was an Estonian professional basketball player, who competed for the Soviet Union. He won gold with the Soviet basketball team at the 1963 and 1967 EuroBasket. Elected to the Hall of fame of Estonian basketball in 2010. He was he long-time center (194 cm) of Estonian national team.

1938Arthur B. Rubinstein, American pianist, composer, and conductor (died 2018)^[†]

Arthur Benjamin Rubinstein was an American Emmy Award-winning composer. He composed several television series soundtracks and songs for film scores. He was frequently hired by film director John Badham, and the majority of his movie soundtracks are found in Badham's work, including Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981), WarGames (1983), Blue Thunder (1983), Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1986), Stakeout (1987), The Hard Way (1991), Another Stakeout (1993), and Nick of Time (1995). He was also member of the band The Beepers.

1938David Steel, Scottish academic and politician^[†]

David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood is a Scottish retired politician. Elected as Member of Parliament for Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles, followed by Tweeddale, Ettrick, and Lauderdale, he served as the final leader of the Liberal Party, from 1976 to 1988. His tenure spanned the duration of the alliance with the Social Democratic Party, which began in 1981 and concluded with the formation of the Liberal Democrats in 1988. As an MP, he introduced the Abortion Act 1967 which legalised abortion in the UK.

Headlines from March 31, 1938

Five Die as Navy Plane Crashes Off Hawaii; Another Machine Is Missing in War Games

Roosevelt Vote 'Purchase' Remark Stirs Resentful Attack in Senate; Johnson Opens Denunciation, Wheeler Adding Hint $1,000,000 Project for Idaho Had Part in Drive for Bureau Bill ROOSEVEL TREMARK ASSAILED IN SENATE Minton Calls for Proof Chairman Defends Actions Gannett Sees "Effrontery"

MEXICO SUFFERS FISCAL PRESSURE; Economic Woes Pile Up as a Result of Expropriation-Business Near Standstill Scope of Seizures C. T. M. Dominates Assembly MEXICO SUFFERS FISCAL PRESSURE Peso Rises Slightly Mexican Congress to Meet April 11

Mussolini Declares Italy Can Mobilize 9,000,000; Air Force Equal of Any, Powerful, Modern Navy Held Ready to Back Land Forces--Demoralizing Air War Predicted ITALY'S WAR POWER PRAISED BY IL DUCE Turns Attention to Navy New Title Created

Notable Births