On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
In 1979, the world population was approximately 4,368,539,528 people[†]
1979Shane Filan, Irish singer-songwriter[†]
Shane Steven Filan is an Irish singer best known as a member of the pop vocal group Westlife, which was formed in 1998, disbanded in 2012, and regrouped in 2018. Westlife has released thirteen albums, embarked on twelve world tours, and won several awards, becoming one of the most successful musical groups of all time.
1979Amélie Mauresmo, French-Swiss tennis player[†]
Amélie Simone Mauresmo is a French former professional tennis player, tennis coach, and tournament director. She was ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 39 weeks. Mauresmo won 25 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including two majors, at the 2006 Australian Open and the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, as well as the 2005 WTA Tour Championships. She also won an Olympic silver medal in singles at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Mauresmo was known for her powerful one-handed backhand and strong net play.
1979Stiliyan Petrov, Bulgarian footballer and manager[†]
Stiliyan Alyoshev Petrov is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Petrov joined Celtic from CSKA Sofia in 1999, and won ten trophies in his time at Celtic Park, including four Scottish Premier League titles. In 2006, he moved to Aston Villa in the Premier League, along with his former manager Martin O'Neill. Petrov became club captain at Villa Park, and was an inductee to the Aston Villa Hall of Fame in 2013 having made 219 competitive appearances for the club.
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Public agencies in NYC are encouraging people to bicycle to work during gasoline crisis; are installing free bicycle racks at train stations, parking garages and municipal buildings; Bicycle Manufacturers Assn spokesman Phil Burke and City Hall Bicycle Advisory Committee spokesman Samuel Schwartz comment; illus (M)
OECD reports that US consumed less oil during first 4 months of '79 than it did in comparable period of '78, while Western Europe and Japan bumed more; officials say figures are misleading, but do indicate that US is making better progress than Europe or Japan toward their collective goal of cutting oil consumption 5% in '79; some oil experts predict that exporting countries may start shaving their new, higher pnces in order to maintain their share of international market if Saudi Arabia makes good on announced intention to raise production (M)
Article discusses forces that have taken control of US nuclear power development away from scientists and energy experts and made it a major issue in nation's political arena; says that with credibility of scientific community, Government and nuclear industry at low ebb and with public fear of radiation rising, there is consensus that the political processes offer best means of dealing with complexities, costs and uncertainties of nuclear energy; comments by Repr Morris K Udall, Dr Alvin M Weinberg (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Repr John Hinton, Dr Karl Z Morgan (Georgia Institute of Technology) and Judge David L Bazelon; Udall and Weinberg pors (M)
Pres Carter suddenly cancels speech; officials say Energy Sec James Schlesinger, Stuart E Eizenstat, his chief adviser on domestic issues, and other senior policymakers were disturbed by Carter's decision to schedule speech before necessary policy decisions were made, a decision reportedly made at urging of Jody Powell, press secretary, and Gerald Rafshoon, his media adviser (M)
Resurgence of KKK in South is seen as a reflection of widespread rise in racial feeling among whites generally; black leaders and analysts of civil rights in South say white animosity is related to new 'white backlash,' a growing national resistance to black aspirations; Steve Suitts (Southern Regional Council), Laughlin McDonald (ACLU) and Decatur Mayor Bill Dukes comment; illus of Klansmen (L)
Volkswagen chairman Toni Schmucker says co is holding talks with Chrysler Corp on cooperative venture in auto engine production, Volkswagen annual meeting, West Berlin; denies reports that Volkswagen plans to take over Chrysler; says Volkswagen has no 'concrete' plans to buy Chrysler's unused US plants
Heating oil dealers and industry spokesmen say homeowners in NY metropolitan area are buying extra fuel-storage tanks and fuel-conservation devices in record numbers (M)
Gov Carey orders NYS agencies to cut their automobile travel additional 5% to conserve gasoline; move doubles 5% reduction ordered May 15 (S)
Schmidt urges auto makers to introduce cars with lower fuel consumption; will not move, however, to apply speed limits on autobahns; scores windfall profits of nation's oil companies; por (M)
NYS Comptroller Edward V Regan charges that NYC Buildings Dept is so inefficient that thousands of building violations go uncorrected; also charges that number of abandoned buildings that should be demolished is increasing in slum areas; contends that assignment of insufficient manpower, coupled with low inspection productivity and poor performance by supporting clerical staff, has caused serious backlogs in certification of abandoned buildings for demolition (M)
3 NYC firemen rescue 12 people trapped in Bronx tenement fire, apparently started by child playing with matches (M)