News of the day: 1961

Friday, Sept. 22, 2000 | 9:12 a.m.

March 5: Unanimous Decision Over Sugar Ray; Fullmer Still Champ

Story: Gene Fullmer was still middleweight champion of the world this morning -- and deservedly so -- but Sugar Ray Robinson was the hero of millions of TV fight fans throughout the country who admire sheer, unadulterated guts.

Fullmer, 29, fighting the "pressure" fight he promised, ended the Sugarman's dreams of a sixth 160-pound title last night at the Las Vegas Convention Center before 7,410 fans by scoring a unanimous 15-round decision over the 40-year-old Robinson.

May 5: Yank Spaceman Set For Big Hop Today

Story: Chances are good that America's first space flight will "Go" this morning.

That was the word from the weatherman, from "prime astronaut" Alan B. Shepard Jr., from his Mercury-Redstone rocket and cabin combination and from officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Unless the weather turns sour again, or something else unguessable happens, Shepard will leap 115 miles into space and 290 miles down the Atlantic missile range at around 8 a.m.

June 21: First National Flight

Story: A Lockheed Electra turbo-prop airliner touched down at McCarran Field and the roar of its engines linked Las Vegas on a direct flight to Miami and other major cities on the southern transcontinental route.

The landing of the big 81-seat craft at 8:08 p.m. inaugurated National Airlines' new coast-to-coast service by way of Las Vegas.