On this day

March 17, 1939

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Notable Births

Jim Gary

1939Jim Gary, American sculptor (died 2006)[โ€ ]

Jim Gary was an American sculptor popularly known for his large, colorful creations of dinosaurs made from discarded automobile parts. These sculptures were typically finished with automobile paint although some were left to develop a natural patina during display outdoors.

Bill Graham (Canadian politician)

1939Bill Graham, Canadian academic and politician, 4th Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs (died 2022)[โ€ ]

William Carvel Graham was a Canadian lawyer, academic and politician. Graham served as the minister of foreign affairs, minister of national defence, leader of the opposition and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. After leaving politics, he was the chancellor of Trinity College at the University of Toronto.

Robin Knox-Johnston

1939Robin Knox-Johnston, English sailor and first person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe[โ€ ]

Sir William Robert Patrick Knox-Johnston CBE RD* is a British sailor. In 1969, he became the first person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. Along with Sir Peter Blake, he won in 1994 the second Jules Verne Trophy, for which they were also given the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards. In 2007, at the age of 67, he set a record as the oldest yachtsman to complete a round the world solo voyage in the Velux 5 Oceans Race.

Giovanni Trapattoni

1939Giovanni Trapattoni, Italian footballer and manager[โ€ ]

Giovanni Trapattoni, popularly nicknamed "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian former football manager and former player, considered the most successful club coach of Italian football. A former defensive midfielder, as a player he spent almost his entire club career with AC Milan, where he won two Serie A league titles, and two European Cups, in 1962โ€“63 and 1968โ€“69. Internationally, he played for Italy, earning 17 caps and being part of the squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile.