It’s Oct. 26, and that means there’s less than a week left in National Pizza Month, a tradition that began in 1987.  The first pizzeria in America was opened in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi in New York City, but nowadays you don’t need to travel far to enjoy a good slice of pizza.   Pizzerias make up approximately 17 percent of all restaurants in America.  If you’re feeling extra festive and want to combine two October holidays into one — try this Halloween  recipe for Pizza Mummies.

1979  South Korean President Killed

There were conflicting reports over circumstances of Park Chung-hee’s death.

1984 Baby Receives Baboon Heart Transplant

At Loma Linda University Medical Center in California, surgeons replaced 14-day-old “Baby Fae’s” heart with that of a baboon.  “Baby Fae’s” own heart was missing parts from the left side, and she would not have been able to survive with it.  The surgery was experimental, but doctors believed that an infant had a stronger chance of survival with an animal heart than an older person with a more developed immune system.   “Baby Fae’s” body rejected the transplant and she died on Nov. 24, 1984.

1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Agreement

President Clinton served as a witness during Middle East peace treaty signing between Israel and Jordan.

2001 President Bush Signs PATRIOT Act

Just more than a month after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, President Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act.   The anti-terrorism act superseded all state laws, and gave the government greater surveillance powers.  Critics of the law felt that it infringed on basic civil rights.

2003 Wildfires in California

Santa Ana winds fueled destructive wildfires in Southern California.

Famous Birthdays

1946 Pat Sajak

1947 Hillary Clinton

1961 Dylan McDermott

1963 Natalie Merchant

1965 Kelly Rowan

1967 Keith Urban

1973 Seth McFarlane

Jump back to Oct. 25: Day in History.

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