Happy 70th Birthday to the talented and inspiring Geena Davis! Known for her memorable performances in iconic films like Thelma and Louise and A League of Their Own, Davis has made a profound impact on both the entertainment industry and the world of sports. She earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Accidental Tourist in 1988. A proud member of Mensa, she has dedicated her efforts to advocating for improved representation of women in children’s media and serves as the president of the Women’s Sports Foundation.
In addition to her acting success, Davis has an impressive athletic background. She competed against 300 other women for a spot on the U.S. Olympic archery team, achieving an impressive 24th place just two years after starting the sport. In recognition of her advocacy work, she received the Hollywood Hero award in 2007, highlighting her commitment to promoting gender equality in sports and media.
On this date, we also celebrate other significant moments in history. For instance, 91 years ago, The Wilderness Society was established by a group of passionate individuals determined to protect and preserve natural wilderness areas. Their efforts have resulted in the conservation of over 111 million acres across 44 states.
In the early years, this organization played a crucial role in legal battles and activism, including stopping a dam from being constructed on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument. By 1953, they began working diligently to safeguard Alaska’s northeastern corner, which was becoming known as “the last great wilderness.” Their advocacy led to President Dwight D. Eisenhower protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge just seven years later.
In 1956, Howard Zahniser, a dedicated Wilderness Society leader from Pennsylvania, drafted groundbreaking legislation aimed at protecting wilderness areas throughout the United States. His bill underwent numerous revisions and public hearings before ultimately leading to the signing of The Wilderness Act by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. This landmark legislation established a framework for conserving America’s most pristine wildlands, immediately designating 9.1 million acres into the National Wilderness Preservation System for future generations to cherish.
Additionally, on this day 44 years ago, the legendary B.B. King generously donated his extensive collection of approximately 20,000 blues records to the University of Mississippi, helping to create The Blues Archive at their Center for the Study of Southern Culture. Today, this archive stands as the largest of its kind in the country and one of the largest globally, now housing around 70,000 records of blues, jazz, and other Southern music genres, with B.B. King’s collection being a treasured part of it.
